Step-by-Step Guide: Tips to Successfully Paint a House Exterior
Exterior painting can completely transform the look of your house and boost its curb appeal. Whether you’re refreshing a faded color or trying something new, with the right tools, techniques, and a bit of planning, you can achieve professional-looking results. This guide will walk you through the steps to paint a house exterior in Atkinson.
Apply a Layer of Primer
- The primer layer is essential because it seals exposed wood and creates a strong base for the finish coats. If the current paint is in decent condition and the new color isn’t drastically different spot-priming specific areas is enough.
However, if it’s been years since the house was painted or you’re changing the color significantly, priming the entire house is necessary.
- Use a paint calculator to determine how much primer and paint you’ll need.
- Spot-prime bare wood and repaired sections with an alkyd-based primer to ensure it penetrates the wood and provides a strong bond for the top coats.
- For full-house priming, you can use a paint sprayer, brushes, rollers, or a mix of all three.
- Renting a paint sprayer can speed up the process and ensure an even coat. If you use a sprayer, be sure to backbrush to help the primer soak into the wood.
- If rolling, back-brush as you go to achieve a smooth and even finish.
Apply the Caulk
After the primer dries, caulk around the window trim and other gaps. Priming first helps the caulk adhere better while caulking seals gaps to prevent water infiltration and creates smooth transitions between siding and trim.
- Apply caulk where siding meets trim around windows and doors.
- Caulk all siding joints, except where the window casing meets the sill, to avoid trapping moisture and causing rot.
- Do not caulk between horizontal clapboards, as this can trap moisture and lead to damage.
Start to Paint the Trim
- Once the caulk has dried completely, it’s time to paint the trim and windows. For the best results, start from the top and work your way down using a trim brush.
- Begin by painting the window sashes. Start on the inner part of the window and move outward.
- Avoid painting the window shut. If painting double-hung windows, paint the upper sash first with it slightly open. Once dry, paint the bottom sash.
- Carefully cut around the window panes. You can either mask the glass beforehand or paint freehand and scrape off any dried paint with a scraper.
- Use an angled brush for the trim. You don’t need to cut in precisely where the trim meets the siding unless you want to as this can be very time-consuming.
- Apply a second coat if necessary, following the paint manufacturer’s recommended dry time.
Paint the Siding
- After the windows are done, it’s time to move on to the siding. You can use a sprayer, brushes, rollers, or a combination of these for this step.
- If using a sprayer, mask off surfaces you don’t want to be painted.
- Work from the top down, spraying in small sections and back-brushing to smooth the layer and ensure proper adhesion.
- If using a roller, also work in small sections and back-brush for an even finish.
- If brushing the entire surface, be mindful of creating overlap marks.
- To prevent overlap marks, rewet the feathered edges of the previous section with your brush or roller before starting the next stroke.
- Follow this process for the second coat, adhering to the recommended dry time.
Give your home the professional treatment it deserves with our exterior painting services. Experience Neat, Efficient, and Professional service with Miles Makarowski Painting. Call us today at (603) 489-8802 for a complimentary estimate. We are located in Atkinson, NH.