Outside house painting

In this article are some tips and guides on how to paint the outside of the house in the best way possible and stay safe.
Because the outside of the house is subject to the extremes of the weather the right procedures and paints have to be used for a long lasting and durable finish. Preparation and the right kind of paint are key to obtaining this.
Keep your work space clear as much as is possible.

When painting, it is not always easy to paint and watch what is under your feet at the same time.
Never leave paint near the bottom of a ladder otherwise you may put your feet in the paint when you come down.
Cover anything you want to keep free from paint spill and spatter.
If your neighbour’s car is near your painting it may be best to move it, especially on a breezy day.
Always support a ladder. Have someone at the bottom to hold it, or put something heavy against the bottom of the ladder to stop it slipping out; or, tie it to the scaffold.

When everything is clear, dust-sheeted and you’re ready then start at the top if the paintwork is sound and sand the woodwork using a medium sandpaper to key it ready for the first coat.
Don’t over-sand, it has to be roughed enough to accept paint.
Clean any really dirty paint with soap and water; mould and growth must be scraped off and treated with mould killer.
If the paintwork is very bad, as in flaking, bubbling or loose paint then you may have to take it all off back to the bare wood by either using a hot air paint stripper or a liquid paint stripper, both are messy, then sand down really well until the wood is smooth.
Fill any gaps and uneven areas with an exterior powder filler and leave to dry. Long cracks can be filled with exterior calking and smoothed off with your finger that has been covered with a cotton cloth to make smooth
If you use exterior mastic around the window and door frames then this usually has to be left until the next day to fully dry.
Bare wood or wood that has had the paint worn off has to be primed before the undercoat.

Use an acrylic water based primer which will dry within a few hours. If using oil based primer then leave it to dry overnight.
Sometimes the primer will bring up burrs and irregularities in the wood after it has dried; this needs to be lightly sanded.
When ready, lay the undercoat on using a two to two and a half inch brush. Load the brush well then take off any excess on the rim of your paint kettle.
Start in a corner and work your way all around without stopping. Cut-in as you go.
When you lay the paint on to the woodwork do about eight inches to a foot then run the brush back over the paint to take out any brush marks. This is most important on the final gloss finish. By running your brush back over the paint you take out all brush marks and even the paint as you go, and by so doing you minimise sagging and dripping in the paintwork.
If you have to stop painting while doing the gloss coat try to leave it in a corner, otherwise when you begin painting again you will be going over the drier paint with wet paint that will leave an irregularity that could be unsightly.
If there is stonework to be done at the same time then two coats of a good exterior masonry paint is usually enough to cover.
Masonry paint can usually be over-painted within about four hours of the first coat being put on depending on the weather; whereas paint for wood if not water based will have to be left overnight to dry.

Any flaking, rough stonework must be scraped off and sealed before painting.
Leave windows open until the paint has dried, but if you do have to close them overnight then open them first thing in the morning until the paint has fully dried to stop them from sticking.
Oil based undercoat and gloss produces a better and longer lasting finish than water based paint, but it does have to be left to dry overnight, whereas water based paints can be over-painted within hours.
Always start at the top as dust, dirt and paint falls down and will mark your painting if it’s wet.
Be extra careful when using long ladder that are not tied at the top as you are using them, a gust of wind or leaning out too far could see you slipping over and going down.

Use a paint bucket with a hook when you paint from a ladder. Anything over two stories should have a scaffold.
Clean paint spills immediately using either white spirit or hot soapy water. Brushes can be left in water overnight to be ready for use the next day. Always make sure that it says exterior use on the paint or the filler.
Rotten timber must be cut out and replaced. All loose and flaky paint must be removed before painting. All paint and fillers must dry properly before the next coat is put on.
By following these guidelines a good and proper job can be done.

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