Painting the exterior of your home is one of the most important types of home maintenance.  And while many homeowners choose to hire a painting contractor, with a few house painting tips to keep in mind, this is one project you may be able to tackle yourself, especially if you have the time and you’re the least bit handy.

By doing your own painting, you can keep the cost to a minimum and you’ll also enjoy a great sense of accomplishment when your beautiful new exterior paint job is completed.

According to the Paint Quality Institute, there are four keys to successful exterior painting.  Follow these expert tips and you’ll get a great-looking exterior paint job that will last for years.

Careful Surface Preparation

Inexperienced painters can’t wait to begin applying the paint, but professionals know it’s what you do beforehand that spells success or failure with exterior home painting.

Before starting to paint, make sure the surface is clean and free of dirt and chalk.  Scrub with soap and water, then rinse. Next, remove any loose, flaking, or peeling paint by scraping, wire-brushing, and sanding.  Or, speed the whole process by renting a pressure washer to prepare the surface for painting.

On wood siding, sand areas with glossy paint so the new paint will adhere better.  If you see any bare wood, be sure to spot-prime that area. You can skip this step if you are using an advanced, top-quality paint, since these coatings act as both primer and paint.

Finally, brush off any dust or paint chips that remain.  With these house painting tips complete, your home exterior is now ready to paint.

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Author : Money Pit Team