How To Paint A House Exterior Yourself?
RH Business Marketing Solutions
Exterior home painting is a basic aspect of home maintenance. Over time, even painted houses will show some amount of wear and tear. This is a normal process since our homes are subject to seasonal changes and climatic conditions as well as other environmental factors such as pollution.
All homeowners will have to consider painting the exterior of the home at some point. You might have invested in a splendid architectural design for your home (or not) and you probably take great interest in maintaining the landscape of your home (it does not matter if you do). Based on this, a dull exterior can dampen the look and appeal of your home. No matter what your home arrangement is, that is a fact!
Painting a house exterior is a major project. But if you want to give your home a new lease of life by updating the exterior paint of your dwelling, and you are confident of getting the job done, then go ahead with a DIY home exterior painting project.
If you are ready for a DIY home exterior painting project, then consider the tips and techniques on how to paint your home exterior like a pro.
Painting your Home Exterior – What you should know
Painting your house exterior is a big job. Perhaps your house just needs a quick retouch of paint here and there. Or you want to go in for a complete change with a brand new color shade for your home. Either way, painting a house exterior is a major project and it requires proper planning and implementation if you want to ensure lasting results from the paintwork.
Painting the exterior of your home is different from interior painting in several ways. Consider the following.
The scale and scope of painting your home exterior are larger when compared to an interior painting project because you will be painting a much larger surface area.
You will be dealing with heights – so that requires a lot of safety preparations.
You will be working with paint that is thicker because the paint used for home exteriors has to be durable and weatherproof.
Unlike when painting home interiors where paint is applied using a brush and roller, exterior home painting is easier when done with a paint sprayer.
Home Exterior Painting Supplies
Before you get started with your DIY home exterior painting project, there are a few supplies that you should have on hand.
Consider the following:
Exterior paint.
Paint Sprayer.
Ladder.
Caulk or putty.
Plastic Sheeting.
Sandpaper.
Drop cloths.
Rags.
Bucket of water.
Hose, scrubbing brush.
Mask or inhalator.
Gloves.
Safety Goggles.
What type of Paint to Choose for your DIY Home Exterior Painting Project?
Choosing the right type of paint for your DIY home exterior painting project is crucial because you want the type of paint that is durable and has been tested to weather environmental elements.
Exterior paints are typically latex based. This makes them thicker and tougher when compared to the paints that are used in interior painting jobs.
Simple 5-Step DIY Paint Your Home Exterior Guide
Now that you are ready with all your supplies, it is time to get started with the DIY painting of your home exterior project.
Consider the following 5-step process:
Step 1 – Prepare the House for Painting
Start by prepping the house for exterior painting. Of course, the first stage will include gathering all of your supplies and other important material and ensuring they are ready for the job such as the paint, paint sprayer, and plastic sheeting among other things as mentioned above, that you will require.
Prep your work area by doing the following:
Clean the exterior of your house before you start – this will help the primer and paint stick to the surface better. You can do a simple wash with a hose and a pump sprayer and then use a scrubbing brush to remove the dirt and grime.
Note: Use a power washer only if you are comfortable and familiar with using one.
Take the drop cloths and tape or cover the spots that you don’t want touched when you start painting. These include the windows and trims and the area near the bottom of your home walls.
Remove chipped or flaking paint from the walls.
Paint will hold on better if the surface you are painting is clean and smooth – sanding can help you clear out any bumps or lumps that can spoil the finished look after a fresh coat of paint.
Step 2 – Get the Paint Sprayer Ready
Make sure your paint sprayer is ready for use.
With the sheeting in place, you can open your paint and get started.
There are different types of paint sprayers. So, depending on the type you have, you will have to follow the instructions to fill the paint sprayer and get it ready to apply the paint.
Again, depending on the type of paint sprayer you are using for your DIY home exterior painting project, you might have to refill the sprayer as and when required.
Step 3 – Start Painting Your Home Exterior
Your home/work area is prepped, and your painting gear is ready to use, now comes the fun part – get started with painting.
You might want to take a few practice shots at spraying before you go full speed. So spray the paint and check the type of nozzle setting that works best. Also, check the distance you will have to spray from – you should be able to gauge these after a few practice sprays.
Note: The best setting will disperse a wide and flat spray of paint – this will prevent the formation of clumps or too much paint in one area.
For the best spread and coverage of fresh paint on the painting surface, make sure you spray from several feet away.
Ensure every fresh coat of paint on a new surface (as you move up) overlaps with the previous line of paint that you applied so the blending is neat.
Step 4 - Touch Up and Fix any Errors
Once you are done, fix any errors or touch up areas as and when you see necessary. Ideally, this is something that should handle as you are painting. Having said that, there will always be a few missed spots or areas where you might want to touch up to give your work a clean and smooth finish.
Watch out for paint that has bled through the edges of the plastic sheeting. Also, check if the ground near the bottom walls has paint drops. You want to clean these up immediately before they dry and become difficult to remove.
You also want to watch out for regular paint dripping along the side of your house. This can happen – and if left unchecked, once it dries, it can leave ungainly streak marks.
These are the little fixes that you want to address as quickly as possible.
Step 5 - Clean Up
Once you have completed all the painting work, the cleaning-up process is necessary.
Consider the following:
Clean up your paint sprayer. If you don’t, your paint sprayer can get clogged making it difficult or impossible for you to use the next time.
You can use simple water to clean the paint sprayer. Clean the tubing by running water through the paint sprayer. It’s a salient idea to open up the nozzle and do a deeper cleaning. Do this before the paint dries up.
Next, clean up your plastic sheeting.
Check for any mistakes. Look at the surfaces you covered and if you find paint in places where it shouldn't be, then clean it up quickly before the paint dries.
And that's it – your DIY home exterior painting project is complete!
Final Thoughts
You can use the above 5-step DIY paint your home exterior guide when planning your exterior painting project for your home.
If, however, you require home exterior painting professionals, you should consider partnering with our team of painting professionals.
With years of industry experience, our team of home exterior painting professionals will work with you in keeping with your budget and your home exterior painting requirements.
So, get in touch with us and schedule a consultation for your home exterior painting job today!