How to Paint a House Right

Most people start cringing as the time to begin house painting draws near.

Artistic expression and creative liberty take a back seat and all the planned ideas start seeming impractical.

What stays afore is the laborious task at hand.

A single mistake can render futile – or at least take all the charm away.

Therefore it is very important to know how to paint a house right.

Be sure to have the right tools in making home improvements.

Prep-Work Before Finish-Work

If we all ate our cake and ice cream before we ate we’d be a nation of round people.

Same goes for painting.

Make sure you do the boring part first.

Everyone wants to put on the pretty colors.

If you do the job of prepping the house right the paint job will last years longer.

This includes washing, scraping, sanding, patching, caulking, masking, covering, and priming as needed.

It almost sounds like the prep work is where all the work is.

That’s true.

It will be worth it too.

Get all of this done up front and you will have years more to enjoy your handy work.

Neglect the prep work and you’ll find yourself re-painting again soon.

You could even be replacing wood that was not protected properly from that fast paint job.

Clean walls with water to remove dust, any mold, and mildew and to expose any potential problems so that the wall can be ready for painting.

Some of the dust on your walls may not come off as easily as you think because of some things that may have made it adhere, like grease or smoke.

To deal with sticky dust, use Sodium Triphosphate, or TSP.

Pleasure washing is extremely efficient for cleaning the exterior of a home because water comes out very fast and powerful.

When the water hits the house, it blasts off the majority of the dirt, dust, and old paint flakes that have accumulated on the outside walls.

The power washer removes old, chipping paint flakes quickly and efficiently, causing the existing paint to look fresher and eradicating the need for scraping off old paint by hand.

First, apply a quick spray of water to loosen up debris then pressure wash by the sweeping motion from the bottom to the top of the wall.

Clean garage doors windows, and cracked seals at the lowest setting or by hand.

Also, by eliminating the dust and grime from the outside walls, power washing makes the paint on a house look brighter and prevents it from chipping further. Here again, a more delicate soft water pressure washing can also work great.

In the absence of a pressure washer, you can use a scrub brush, bleach solution, and garden hose, to obtain similar results.

Most experts who know how to paint a house right will always recommend pressure washers to clients. Some will even loan theirs out. If you want to do the job right and don’t own your own pressure washer you can rent one from Home Depot for less than $50/day or make sure you have the right budget for home improvements.

Have Fun Preparing Your House to Paint

There’s nothing wrong with a little accidental splashing with the hose.

Got kids?

Teach them who’s got the water-fighting skills.

Before you know it the house will be clean and ready for the next steps.

After thoroughly cleaning your home’s exterior, prepare to paint it by doing some basic repairs. Cover stains and sand fill and weatherproof the surface.

Get rid of any protruding burrs or paint drips using a rotary tool or power sander with razor blades and sanding block.

Patch and fill holes using the appropriate fillers, for example, use wood fillers for woods and fiber cement siding for patches.

Apply the caulk slowly for a smooth bead, using a damp rag to keep your caulking gun and fingers clean, and immediately replace any rotted trim or siding.

Decide on a paint palette with two or three colors (base, trim and accent) and get ready for the fun part.

Painters who know how to paint a house right will carefully follow these two steps before they start painting.

After the wash and prep phase, you can renovate your home with new paint, trim and accents.

Arrange drop cloths to shield plants and other landscaped areas or surfaces that won’t be painted.

Scrape or sand chipped or peeling paint with a wire brush or scraper. Remove or replace loose or dry putty with a high quality paintable caulking compound. Fill cracks of stucco, brick and masonry homes with an exterior patching compound. If you scrape sand or remove old paint, you may open up cracks that need to be tended to.

Use a mild detergent to clean the surfaces and to wipe down all metal and aluminum surfaces.  Be sure to prime any new or bare (exposed) surfaces.

After choosing the style you desire, make sure measurements are taken before purchasing and cutting lumber.

Figure Out How Much Paint You Will Need

To determine the square footage of your home’s exterior add the widths of the four sides, and multiply by the height below the roofline. 

For gables, multiply the peak height x 1/2 the length of the roof baseline. Subtract 21 square feet per door and 15 square feet per single window. Then divide your number by 400 to arrive at the final number of gallons you need to purchase.

In-house remodeling or improvement, it is very important to know how to paint a house right.  This step involves the application of the first coat of paint on the walls or eaves.

Shake and stir to paint siding before you start to coat with paint. Cover all light fixtures, doorbells, and windows with masking tape, plastic, and paper. Use an angled brush to paint along edges and avoid any mess.

Begin by slowly rolling it back and forth in the lower end of your roller tray until it is fully covered. Roll on the paint using even strokes to ensure a uniform look and coverage.

Begin from the top down working from unpainted areas into wet, painted areas.

According to most experts who know how to paint a house right, this is the most crucial step that determines the quality of your home.

Sand out to remove debris or paint drips. Paint the siding and trim another coat. It is far better to apply two coats of paint then it is to apply one heavy coat in an attempt to eliminate a step to save time.

To paint doors, remove hinges, knobs, and latches or cover them with masking tape.

Paint the edges first and then fill in the large area.

Complete your job by the painting the frame and jamb last. 

To know how to paint a house right, you must carefully follow these steps.

If all of this sounds like a lot of work you’re right. Sometimes it just makes more sense to hire a professional.

Reach out to us at 1-480-442-3501 and we will connect you with the perfect painter.

More Great Stuff from Top Agents All Across the Land

How Can Painting Your Home Help Sell Your House? – by Debbie Drummond

Hiring A Painting Contractor – by Karen Highland

Most Important Things to Repair Before Selling a House – by Bill Gassett

Painting Tips for Home Sellers – by Kevin Vitali

10 Low-Cost Tips to Sell Your Home Fast for Top Dollar – by Maria Mastrolonardo