A NEW LOOK for your HOME

PAINTING is one of the best ways to improve the appearance of a home. A shabby home will look clean and new after being painted. Keeping a home regularly painted also increases the lifespan of the wood siding. If wood is left unpainted, it can deteriorate in the sun, rain and wind. Here is a practical guide to painting the outside of your home.

The first step in painting the outside of your home is preparing the walls. Trim back all bushes and plants that are touching the walls or getting in the way. Remove all window shutters, hardware and light fixtures.

Clean the walls by using a high pressure washer or a hose with a strong spray nozzle. The high pressure will remove most of the peeling paint. Spray under the eaves and down the wall to get rid of dirt, spider webs and debris.

Go over every wall and repair cracks in the plaster or wood. Scrape off old peeling paint with a putty knife or sander on all wood trimming or siding. Look for rotten wood and insect damage and repair with patching material. Scrape off old putty around wood windows and recaulk them.

Once your house is ready to paint, you need to decide what to paint first. A good idea is to always paint on the shaded side of the house. If the sun is too hot on the paint, it can bubble up and peel off . It is also best to paint the walls and then the trim, doors and shutters. Lay plastic over any plants or objects that you do not want paint on.

Lay tarps on the ground around the area you are painting. Place large pieces of cardboard on the ground to cover patios and driveways.

If you have a large house, consider using a paint sprayer which is much quicker with better coverage. You can rent paint sprayers from most paint stores or equipment rental shops. Sprayers are not that expensive and you can keep them for 24 hours or more. If it is windy, skip using a sprayer.

To spray, use an even back and forth motion and do not overspray in one area as you will have drips. Use a large piece of cardboard as your spray guard so you don’t get paint on windows or other places. Stand back and assess the area to see if you missed any spots. Once the walls are painted, then you can brush and roll the trim.

If you cannot spray the house, you will need to purchase rollers and brushes. Buy rollers that are made for your type of house. They have deep pile rollers for stucco and low pile for smooth siding. Look for rollers that spin smoothly.

You will regret buying a cheap roller that does not spin freely as your arms will tire out fast. Buy extensions for the high spots and make sure you have a good ladder. Paint the corners first with a brush and then roll each wall. As a final touch, go back and paint the trim.