?
Paint the Exterior of Your Home
Painting the exterior of your home yourself is an exciting, economical and easy way to give your home a complete makeover. Not only will painting update your home, but it will also protect it for years to come. The steps below will provide you with the direction you need to make your project a success!
Consult the experts at your local True Value store for the right advice and products. Here's how to get started:
Step 1. Consider the Surface
Before you begin, know what surface you're going to paint. It is recommended to use latex paint instead of oil-based for long-lasting protection. If your home is older, it may already have many layers of oil-based paint on its surface. In that case, use oil-based paint as your basecoat, then apply exterior latex paint over it. For wood surfaces, never apply oil-based paint over latex paint as the combination tends to cause peeling.
When repainting aluminum siding, use an exterior oil-based primer or one designed for aluminum surfaces. Top with exterior latex paint. For masonry surfaces such as brick, concrete and stucco, prime with a masonry/stucco primer/sealer or an exterior latex primer. Top with exterior latex paint.
Step 2. Choose your Color Palette
Experts advise using a combination of colors when repainting your home. Choose colors that provide a contrast to neighbors' homes but avoid clashing. Take the time to find a palette that harmonizes with your home's surroundings yet stands out from the crowd.
Exterior color options can be narrowed significantly by examining the home's architectural style. For example, Victorian Queen Anne style homes can be painted in rich, complex color combinations such as gold, bronze or green. Tudor style homes, on the other hand, are traditionally painted white or buff with brown or black framing. Modern ranch houses are usually painted white, but some deviation to natural colors is acceptable as well.
The surface material of your home can also make a difference when choosing colors. Stucco calls for neutral colors such as tan or off-white. Brick is complemented best by tans, yellows and reds. The experts at True Value can help you choose the perfect color combinations, or visit TrueValuePaint.com for color selection ideas and tips.
Step 3. Purchase the Right Amount of Paint
Once you've decided what colors to paint, you'll need to know how much to buy. A good rule of thumb for estimating is to multiply the length of each surface by its height and add another 30% for good measure. Typically, one gallon of paint will cover 200-350 sq. ft. Buy more than you think you need; you can always use the extra to touch-up trim.
Helpful Tip:
< back to top
Step 4. Protect Your Area
Be watchful of your property and your neighbors'. Use tarps or drop cloths to cover cars, patio furniture, shrubs and anything else you don't want spattered. Although you're painting outside, it's a good idea to cover the ground so you don't get paint on the walkway and yard. Remove all screens, light fixtures, plumbing outlets, electrical covers, shutters and address numbers/placards or cover with painter's tape before you begin.
Step 5. Remove Loose Paint
Remove peeling or flaking paint by sanding and scraping. Scrape first using a large scraper, then rent or buy a disc sander. Begin sanding with the coarse abrasive and finish with the fine one. It's particularly important to smooth the edges between the painted and scraped areas as painting will accentuate any ridges and edges left behind.
Safety Alert!
- If your home was built before 1978, test the exterior with a lead testing kit to determine whether it contains any lead-based paint. Lead poses a serious health hazard, especially to children and pregnant women. To protect yourself and your family, avoid scraping or sanding lead-based paint.
- When using a ladder to reach high areas invest in an adjustable ladder stabilizer that attaches to ladders and braces onto the roof.
Step 6. Clean and Prepare Surfaces
The most important step in applying a paint finish to exterior surfaces is to prepare the surfaces properly. Eliminate dirt and mildew by applying a mixture of trisodium phosphate (TSP) and bleach with a long-handled brush. Then thoroughly wash all siding with a pressure washer loaded with a mild detergent. Let dry completely before painting. When cleaning stucco homes, or if the surface is chalky or crumbly after cleaning, also apply a masonry surface conditioner.
Use exterior spackling compound to repair any holes or damaged areas. With wood, it's also important to caulk joints and cracks in areas such as trim and window frames using paintable caulk. Use an old screwdriver to scrape out old caulk and clean the joint using a brush. Allow to dry completely before applying paintable caulk with a caulking tool.
< back to top
Step 7. Prime and Paint
Paint rollers make great exterior priming and painting tools, especially for stucco and brick, which can be difficult to paint over. If desired, use a sprayer but watch your surroundings to avoid spillage. Make sure to use a high-quality paint primer, like True Value WeatherAll® primer, before you paint. This seals porous surface material so the topcoat won't soak in and dry unevenly, and helps prevent peeling, rusting and bleed-through (especially on wood and concrete).
When you're ready, pour True Value WeatherAll® paint into a paint tray and coat your roller. Follow the ''top-down'' rule - work from the top of the home down to get the most even coverage. Finish with the trim. Go over the paint surface with a roller when you're done to balance coverage. Use paint brushes for windows, trim, cracks and crevices. Use two coats for optimal results.
Helpful Tips:
- Use ladder mitts to prevent paint from scraping off. Another useful product is a pot hook, which allows you to hang the paint bucket from your ladder for easy access.
- Avoid ridges and lap marks on a flat surface by always stroking into the wet paint, never away from it. As you finish painting one area and move on to the next, blend each new stroke of the brush toward the wet paint previously applied so the layers blend evenly.
Step 8. Paint Front Door
The outside of your front door is an opportunity to add contrast to the rest of your paint job. A new coat of glossy paint in a bold, cheerful color adds style and will make your home look attractive and unique. First, remove the door from the frame and remove the doorknob. Protect any hardware with painter's tape. Prime all door surfaces completely, including the front, back and all four outside edges. Paint over the primer with an angled sash brush, painting the corners of the raised panels first. Work from top to bottom and use at least two coats. Reinstall the door when you're finished.
Step 9. Clean Up
Thoroughly rinse roller covers and brushes in water (or paint thinner, if you're using oil-based products) until it runs clear and squeeze them out to remove excess liquid. Store in plastic bags. Remove the drop cloths and pull off the painter's tape at a 45-degree angle to avoid removing any paint.
Congratulations, you're finished! Consult the experts at your local True Value store on maintenance and care to make your paint job last.
For more projects, go to TrueValuePaint.com. >
< back to top
print project | email