How to Properly Paint Your Home’s Exterior

Give your house a fresh, updated look with exterior paint.

Exterior Color

See these tips on choosing the right color for your home’s exterior.

Materials Needed:

exterior flat or eggshell paint
exterior semigloss paint
pressure washer
paint sprayer
paintbrush
painter’s tape
drop cloths
ladder

paint scraper
stain-blocking primer
epoxy filler
medium-grit sanding block
spackle knife
exterior caulk
caulk gun
plastic sheeting

Step 1: Pressure-Wash Walls

To ensure best coverage, remove dirt and dust buildup from house using a pressure washer. TIP: Work your way from top to bottom of house in a smooth, controlled manner, overlapping each stroke by 8 inches.

Step 2: Repair Damaged Surfaces

Walk around entire perimeter of house taking note of damaged surfaces such as: wood, masonry, metal, siding or stucco. Apply epoxy filler to cracks or holes using spackle knife. Once dry, lightly sand using medium-grit sanding block.

Step 3: Remove Loose Paint

Once exterior is dry, walk around perimeter of house taking note of any loose or chipped paint. Place drop cloths along ground, then remove chipped and loose paint using paint scraper or medium-grit sanding block.

Step 4: Caulk Trim

Fill any gaps between house and trim around doors and windows using exterior caulk and caulk gun. If house has mixed materials such as siding and brick, add caulk along surface where different materials meet.

Step 5: Prime Stains

Examine exterior for any stains or visible wood knots. Apply one coat of stain-blocking primer to area using paintbrush.

Step 6: Protect Doors, Windows and Lights

Cover doors, windows and lighting fixtures using plastic sheeting and painter’s tape.

Step 7: Paint Exterior

Load flat or eggshell exterior paint color into paint sprayer. Depending on intensity of hue, apply one or two coats of flat or eggshell exterior paint to entire house. Be sure to work your way from top to bottom in a smooth, controlled manner, overlapping each stroke by 8 inches. TIP: When changing exterior color from light to dark or dark to light, start with a coat of primer to ensure proper coverage. Primer is not necessary when a fresh coat of existing color is being applied.

Step 8: Paint Trim and Doors

Remove plastic sheeting from doors, windows and lighting fixtures. Add two coats of exterior semigloss paint color to woodwork and doors using paintbrush. Remove drop cloths.

November 19, 2019/1 Comment/by Erick Daza

How to Properly Paint Your Home’s Exterior

How to Properly Paint Your Home’s Exterior

Materials Needed:

Step 1: Pressure-Wash Walls

Step 2: Repair Damaged Surfaces

Step 3: Remove Loose Paint

Step 4: Caulk Trim

Step 5: Prime Stains

Step 6: Protect Doors, Windows and Lights

Step 7: Paint Exterior

Step 8: Paint Trim and Doors

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