How to Make Exterior Painting A Breeze

Nothing can make your home feel as fresh and new as an exterior paint job. Here are the steps to take to make painting the outside of your home a little easier.

TAKE A DAY TO WASH THE EXTERIOR OF YOUR HOME

Keeping your home looking great on the outside starts with a yearly cleaning. If you aren’t already cleaning your exterior once a year, this is a great time to start. The easiest way to do so is with a pressure washer. If you don’t own a pressure washer, you can rent one. You will also need protective eyewear, cleaning solution made for pressure washers, and a stiff brush. You’ll want to soak the entire surface to get rid of any loose debris, and then you’ll use large sweeping motions to clean each wall from bottom to top. Start at least 10 feet from the exterior walls to prevent causing any damage, and use low settings when cleaning doors and windows.

USE A WEEKEND TO MAKE ANY NEEDED REPAIRS

After making sure the exterior is clean, you’ll want to take a weekend to make any repairs needed before painting.  You will want to sand, fill and weatherproof the surfaces on the first day and use the next day to prime any stains. Things to add to your to-do list include:

-Replacing any rotted trim or siding

-Sanding protruding burrs or paint drips

-Patching and filling holes with the appropriate filler

-Replacing old caulk

SET ASIDE A MONTH TO PAINT YOUR HOME’S EXTERIOR

During the first week, you will want to upgrade the front door casing if needed. Once that is completed, you can use your second week to begin painting. You will want to use a roller brush for the large areas and an angled brush for any edges. Always work from top to bottom to prevent paint drippings. Save trim painting for the end! For your third week, you will need to sand out any paint drips or small issues and paint your second coat. Use the last week of the month to add any changes needed. If you want to change your front door color or any fixtures, wrap up the month by doing so!