Fix it and clean it
Begin the actual work by taking care of any necessary repairs. Replace or re-secure siding, gutters, trim boards, etc. Repair windows and doors, weatherstripping, roofing and any other damaged areas; a fresh coat of paint over a cracked board won’t solve a problem, it’ll just postpone it! Recaulk siding, trim, windows and doors as needed.
Next, thoroughly clean the outside of the house. This will remove surface dirt that will prevent the new paint from sticking, as well as help to reveal other problem areas that need to be addressed. Use a garden hose and sprayer or a pressure washer with a wide nozzle. Use a soft- or medium-bristle nylon brush on a pole for best dirt removal.
Now you need to remove any loose or peeling paint. Use a paint scraper, hand sander, or electric sander. Work with the grain of the wood to avoid raising grain fibers, and be careful not to dig into the wood’s surface. Remove enough of the old, loose paint until you’re sure that you’re back into solid paint that’s well adhered. Be sure you feather the edges of the old paint so that the scraped areas won’t show through the new paint.
Next, apply a good-quality primer over any bare wood. Make sure all the surfaces are completely dry, both from washing and from the effects of winter weather; priming over damp wood will cause the primer to fail prematurely. For areas that are very dry or badly weathered, apply two coats of primer to equalize paint absorption with the rest of the siding.
If you’ve done a lot of sanding and scraping, a light final washing may be required to remove residual dust. Once again, be sure the house is completely dry before painting.
Have a home repair or remodeling question for Paul? He can be reached by email at improving yourhome@ykwc.net.