Paint is the cheapest and easiest way to improve the look of any house while improving curb appeal. Not only does painting help your home to look its best, but it also helps to protect it from the climate and various elements. But, let's get real for a second, painting the entire exterior of a home is a huge job to take on.

The difficulty of the job depends on how many layers of paint are on the facade as well as how much the home has been painted over time.

Also, for homes painted before the 1980’s, beware of the possibility that your home’s exterior paint contains lead, which is highly toxic. Regardless, if you notice that the exterior of your home could use a new coat, here are RenoQuotes.com's steps to gaining the most success from the job!

Follow our guide to painting the outside of your home!

If you're moving forward with an exterior painting project, there are a few things to consider before starting. Firstly, keep your colour palette simple, as anything overly complicated or out-there may age in style over the next few years. 

Use colours to emphasize the greater parts of your house, drawing the eye away from negative features. Accent colours should be darkest, whereas the overall facade should be kept fairly light, as to avoid conducting heat. 

Also, natural stone or brick should not be painted, so bear this in mind before you take the brush to that natural brick wall! Now that we've got the basics covered, I think we're ready to take on initial steps.

Wash Walls

For the best coverage possible, it is important that you pressure wash the walls of your home, as any form of dirt or dust buildup with leave you with an uneven coat of paint. Work your way from the top of the exterior to the bottom, displaying a smooth and controlled manner throughout while overlapping strokes.

Once the walls have been thoroughly washed, check the entire perimeter of the house and fix any damaged surfaces, looking for cracks in wood, siding and stucco. Apply epoxy filler to cracks or holes. Once this is dry, sand these areas down using a medium grit sanding block

Remove Excess Paint

Remove any loose paint that you find on the façade. Place drop cloths around your home, and then go ahead with removal. This can be done with a paint scraper or, as with the epoxy, you can use a medium grit sanding block. Make sure to complete this job carefully, as any leftover paint will interfere with the new coat.

Repair and Seal

It is vital to seal off any cracks or gaps found on your home exterior, as these could lead to potential problems including mould growth.

Look for any gaps left between the exterior and the trim, and fill these gaps in with exterior caulk and a caulking gun. If your house is made of a mixture of materials, add caulk along surfaces where different materials meet for extra protection. If your house's exterior material is wood, examine for any wood knots.

Apply a coat of stain blocking primer to these using a small paintbrush. Next, protect any doors, windows and outdoor light fixtures using plastic sheeting and painters tape, as you don’t want these items to get damaged or ruined in the process.

To finish with a quality paint job, it is important to prime with a quality sealer, which will go over the old paint and create a smooth surface for the new paint! The type of primer you choose will depend on the type of wall you are working on. If your walls are chalky or dusty, purchase a chalky wall sealer.

Time to Paint!

source: Pixabay, yg9301270

So, you’ve covered all your basis and now it’s time to get down to business. It is recommended that you start by applying a flat or eggshell exterior paint with a paint sprayer to the entire house. If the hue is intense, you can stick with just one coat.  If you notice any patchiness, it’s best to do 2 coats rather than one.

Work from top to bottom in a controlled manner and overlapping strokes of paint. Remember, primer is not necessary when a fresh coat of the same colour is applied. Next, move onto trimmings and finishing.

At this point, you can remove the plastic from doors, windows and light fixtures. Start with two coats of semi-gloss paint, covering woodwork using a small paintbrush. If the colour differs from the rest of the exterior, make sure to be extra careful!

Get 3 renovation quotes for your exterior painting project

RenoQuotes.com will put you in contact with 3 reliable contractors for your exterior painting project. Fill in the form on our homepage (it only takes a few minutes), and you will receive quotes from trusted professionals.

Dial 1-844 828-1588 to speak with one of our customer service representatives