Spring Ready: Exterior Painting Prep Tips to Get the Job Done Like a Pro

An otherwise pristine home can lose its curb appeal due to faded or flaking paint. Conversely, a fresh exterior paint job can elevate a lackluster house’s appearance to passersby. This transformation not only boosts curb appeal but also shields the home from elements and pests like carpenter bees, prolonging its durability. Spring, with its dry and moderate weather, is ideal for painting, ensuring optimal drying and protection against the harsher conditions to come. In this article, we’ll explore essential tips for a successful exterior painting project.

Assessing Your Home’s Exterior

A side effect of an exterior paint job is that when done properly, it will reveal problems with the home that might have otherwise gone unnoticed. The first step of any paint job is to thoroughly inspect the home for these types of problems, which can hinder the final result. Some of the things to look for when assessing the exterior are:

• Peeling or blistering paint
• Cracks in the siding
• Wood rot
• Signs of mold or mildew 

While assessing the home, pay particularly close attention to the areas around openings. Door frames, window sills, and trim are all areas where damage is likely to occur, and also likely to go unnoticed. 

Choosing the Right Paint and Tools

Paint comes in many different types. The first, most obvious thing to look for is exterior paint. Paint meant for interiors isn’t designed to handle the rough conditions an exterior surface is subject to. Look for weather-resistant paint and be sure to use a quality primer to prepare the surface.

Your choice of color can also have an impact on the result. Darker colors may fade faster and lighter tones may reflect heat. Whichever color you choose, you must also decide whether you’d like a glossy, matte, or satin finish, and pay attention to ensure you select the right type.

Some tools you’ll need to complete the exterior paint job include:

• Brushes for detailed work
• Rollers for larger surface
• A sturdy ladder to reach high areas
• Masking tape to cover areas that need no paint
• Safety gear like gloves and goggles

Preparing the Surface

With your safety gear on, you can start to prepare the surface for its paint job. This multi-step process is outlined below:

• Clean the surface, preferably with a power washer. This will remove dirt, grime, and some loose paint.
• Scrape off any peeling or blistered paint that will prevent proper adherence to the new coats.
• Wherever there are rough spots, sand the surface to a smooth finish.
• Repair any areas from your assessment in the first step.
• Apply masking tape to areas that won’t be painted.

Priming Your Exterior

Primer adheres to the surface of a home better than paint does. And paint adheres to the surface of the primer very well. This is what makes a coat or two of primer an essential part of a long-lasting paint job. Not all primers serve the same task. Some adhere best to wood, some to stucco, some to metal, and so on. Be sure to pick the primer that matches the surface you’ll be using it on. Also, pay particular attention to areas where existing paint is thinning or non-existent. 

Painting Techniques and Tips

First-time painters often make mistakes. The tips below will help make your painting efforts more successful.

• Apply paint in even, long strokes, working from top to bottom. 
• Use brushes for edges and small areas, and rollers for large surfaces. 
• Avoid painting in extreme temperatures or direct sunlight. 
• Make sure there’ll be no rain until the paint has had time to dry.
• Apply multiple thin coats rather than one thick coat.
• Wait for one coat to dry thoroughly before adding another.

Final Touches and Clean-Up

When you think you’re done painting, give the whole home a good once over. Look for any areas where you may have missed and any drips or runs that might need touching up. After taking care of those loose ends, remove any masking tape you’ve applied. 

The final step is to clean all of your tools properly. This includes cleaning your brushes with paint remover, storing the leftover paint in a cool dry place, and properly disposing of any chemicals you won’t be saving. 

Maintaining Your Exterior Paint Job

The job isn’t finished when the painting is done. A good paint job requires care to remain a good paint job for as long as possible. Regular cleaning will help keep dirt and mildew from forming and causing unsightly discolorations on the home. At least once per year, check for any cracks, peeling, fading, or other imperfections and address them promptly before the problem gets worse.

Get the Supplies You Need at Clarks Ace Hardware

Our Ellicott City paint shop has all the supplies you’ll need for a paint job that you and your neighbors will love. If your home needs some repairs before painting can begin, we likely carry supplies to help with those as well. If you’ve recently finished an exterior painting project, feel free to share those stories or photographs. Contact us to find out more about what we offer: