How to Paint Exterior Walls
The exterior of your house may need to repainted due to harsh weather and sun fading. Painting the exterior is not hard. There are four steps that should be done to assure a nice even finish. Before starting to paint, you will want to make sure the weather will be suitable.
Things You'll Need
- exterior primer
- exterior paint
- paint brushes
- safety glasses
- paint scraper
- painters caulk
- 100-grit sandpaper
- hand sander
- ladder
- Make sure the temperature outside is at least 60 degrees Fahrenheit before painting. You will also want to make sure there is no rain in the forecast for a day or two.
- Set up your ladder in a safe level place.
- Put your safety glasses on. This will protect your eyes while scraping so no paint chips will fall into them.
- Scrape your exterior wall where paint is chipping or peeling away.
- Fill in any cracks with painters caulk.
- Allow the caulk to set.
- Using 100-grit sandpaper on your hand sander, sand any uneven or rough spots of wood.
- Wash the exterior wall with a mild soap and water. If you are using a pressure washer, make sure the pressure is not set to high as this may damage your wood.
- Rinse the soap off the exterior wall with clean clear water.
- Allow the wall to dry completely.
- Apply your exterior primer using a wide paint brush and follow the grain of your wood. You may need more than one coat of primer. If this is the case, allow the primer to dry between coats.
- Allow to dry completely.
- Paint the wall using long smooth strokes. Start at the top of the wall and work your way down. Remember to follow the grain of the wood. If you need to apply a second coat, allow the first coat of paint to dry thoroughly before continuing with a second coat.