Painting the exterior of your home is one of those projects most people like to put off for another time. It is a time-consuming project that requires a lot of effort and is especially in warm weather. That’s why the winter months are a great time to take to the outdoors and give your home a fresh coat of paint that can transform a worn-out exterior into a beautiful sight to behold. The experts offer six steps that will make your work easier, safer, and more likely to produce pride-inspiring results.

ARE YOU READY TO DO IT YOURSELF?
Only a moderate level of skill and a few basic tools are required for painting. Doing the work yourself can usually save more than half the cost of the job. But whether you should do the work yourself depends on a number of factors such as your experience, fitness, available time, and the difficulty of working on your home’s exterior walls. If you find that you’re ready, willing and able, then lets get started.

BUY QUALITY PAINT
Top-notch paint is critical to a long-lasting paint job. Good paint will weather the years durably. It can also make your work easier. Quality paint covers the walls more quickly and is easier to maintain. Just think about the effort and expense of painting your house. You don’t want to have to do that again in four or five years. Buying quality paint will save considerable headaches and expense later.

REPAIR AND PREPARE
Guarantee a lasting paint job by starting with properly prepared surfaces. First, scrape all areas that are blistering or peeling. You may even want to sand down the edges of badly scarred areas. If you run the scraper over an area two or three times and no more paint comes o chances are it’s bonded very well. Preparation can be difficult, tiring work and must be done carefully so as not to gouge the wood. Always protect yourself by wearing a dust mask, gloves, and goggles. And be sure to exercise ladder safety.

MASK OFF
Avoid accidental painting of roofing and other surfaces by masking with plastic sheeting and three-inch masking tape. Use drop cloths to protect walkways, shrubs. And other surfaces from dripping paint. Paint the siding first, then the trim. After the siding is painted and has dried, mask the siding around the trim. Be sure to remove the masking tape immediately after painting, before it forms a stubborn bond.

PAINT SURFACES FROM THE TOP DOWN
Begin with the gutters and eaves, and work your way down the main surface, painting in two to four feet square sections. Use a high quality four-inch brush. If your home has lap siding (clapboards or shingles), first draw the bristles along the bottom edges of two or three boards, then paint the surfaces in line with the boards. Regularly, check for and correct drips and streaks, as they are much more difficult to clear up after the paint dries.

CLEAN UP PROPERLY
Use soap and water for latex paint or thinner for oil paint to thoroughly clean your brushes and gear right after painting. Don’t pour paint thinner or excess paint down the drain or onto the ground. This is a serious source of ground water pollution. Keep it in a sealed paint can and dispose of it at a toxic waste collection site.