So you’re finally painting your home’s exterior! Maybe you bought your home because you loved the interior, but you’ve been living with ugly mint green shingles ever since.
Maybe your home was custom built and you chose the exterior color. However, after twenty years, it’s looking old and tired. Maybe you’re planning a do-it-yourself project, but it’s definitely worth considering an experienced professional painting company such as Vancouver Painters for the best results.
You’ll definitely enjoy the finished results of exterior painting once it’s done. You may even feel like your home is brand new! However, first you’ll need to have lots of patience with the process.
But don’t be put off! If you follow these easy ten steps, you will simplify the process and help insure great results:
Plan Ahead!
If you haven’t had much-or any-experience with exterior painting, you probably don’t know where to start. It’s important to make a detailed
plan before beginning:
- Which parts of the painting can be broken into sections?
- Which sections must be done together?
- Identify areas of potential trouble and plan how to tackle them.
- Test for lead paint before starting, especially for homes built before 1979
- If lead is detected, you may need the old paint completely sanded or scraped off before repainting
- A professional painting company can address all of these issues for you·
Pet Protection
You’ll need to protect your outdoor pet(s) from paint, chemicals, power tools, etc. You’ll also need to protect your work-in-process paint job
from the pets.
- In the prep stage, you’ll be moving supplies around outside which could accidentally harm pets
- Sanding and scraping can be dangerous, especially if pets ingest falling debris or other foreign substances
- To avoid injuries, keep your pet(s) indoors temporarily, arrange for a pet sitter, or board your pet(s)
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Scaffold and Ladder Setup
- If your project involves multi-story painting, it’s vital for safety and access to all exterior areas to set up appropriate ladders and possibly scaffolding
- Outdoor scaffolding is trickier than indoor because ground stability needs consideration
- A ladder set on stable concrete could sink into soft soil once someone steps on it.
- If the ladder shifts with someone working at the top, a serious accident could occur
- Professional painters, such as Vancouver Painters, have extensive experience with safe and effective ladder and scaffolding set up
Covering Ground During Paint Prep
- Keeping shrubs, plants, and flower beds protected is crucial
- Light-weight canvas tarps provide protection
- Coverings will avoid most or all of paint debris clean up in bushes, shrubs, etc.
- Before placing drop cloths or ladders, try to avoid delicate plants or move them temporarily to pots for safety
- Securely protect water features like waterfalls or koi ponds
- Pre-planning saves costly repairs and aggravation later
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Tape Around or Remove Obstacles
- Painter’s tape is essential to avoid painting over objects you don’t want painted like hose racks and outlet boxes
- If possible, removed items which are not to be painted
- Removing or taping will help maximize speed and efficiency in exterior painting
- Most taping or removing will be on the ground level, but make sure to put safety first when using ladders
- Read up on extension ladder safety beforehand
Scraping and Scraping
- Surface prep is the bulk of work during prep phase
- Sanding and scraping are the most difficult tasks in this stage
- Unpainted surfaces require loose and flaking paint to be removed
- Most painted surfaces require loose and flaking paint be removed
- Painted surfaces need edges sanded flush
- This tiring and tedious process if a critical part of prep
- Painting over flaking paint causes fresh paint to flake off
- Painting without sanding causes large, unsightly “divot” areas
- Power sanders save time, but require proper respiration and dust control
Surface Cleaning and Repairs
- Repair areas damaged by insects, animals, weather, etc.
- After repairs, clean exterior with an air spray or wipe down
- Areas of intense dirt may need scrubbing
- Use a power washer if necessary
- Always power wash in a downward direction
Weather Watching
- Watch for rain, cold, or hot weather forecasts
- Products like paints and caulk have temperature limits
- Read labels carefully for temperature guidelines
- Humidity slows cure times
- Check that paint is dry before adding next coat
- Consider sun patterns for curing times
Plan Spill Clean-Up
- Reduce stress by having spill supplies handy
- For latex paint: water and clean rags
- For oil or enamel paint: mineral spirits and thinner
- Check manufacturer directions and recommendations
Final Swatch Test
- Before beginning, test a paint swatch on surface
- Ensure it matches the color you chose
- Careful checking avoids painting the wrong shade or type of paint
- After the hard work, kick back and enjoy
