It is a common homeowner’s urge to bring the paint kit out and refresh the property’s exterior. Repainting the outer walls is a great opportunity to redefine the property and add a bit of personality. Additionally, freshly painted houses are deemed more desirable in the real estate market. However, repainting for personal satisfaction is a solid excuse to start the project.
Timely painting your house is considered part of home maintenance. Recoating prolongs the exterior wall’s life by protecting it against accumulating weather damage. You can consult with a NACE Inspector to know if the paint job is due for your home or not. This step will guide you in understanding the potential challenges upfront and aid your decision about the painting work. If you feel comfortable painting on your own, use this helpful how-to guide to learn how to complete a DIY house painting task.
Getting Started
Most exterior walls demand thorough washing before painting. You can either do it manually or invest in pressure wash sprays. In any case, the objective is to clean off the walls from dust, soot settled, debris, or other obstacles like spiderwebs, fallen leaves, and wasp’s nests. Downpipes, other drainage units, windows, and doors should be wrapped and masked off before the paintwork begins.
Scrapping and Sanding
Scraping and sanding are grueling tasks but very important. Remove peeling, bubbled, or blistered paint to attain a flatter surface to apply paint on. Note that before 1978, it was common for paint makers to use lead. Hence, proceed with caution and take extra care during the scraping and sanding phase as lead dust is toxic. However, the bare minimum protection through dust masks and down tarps should be in place. You can scrap paint by hand, which can be more exhausting, or you can prefer power grinders/sanders to save time.
Repair Cracks
Use ready-mix wall fixers to fill in any cracks or cervices so the surface remains flat. Fresh paint settles well on an even wall, hence ensuring the whole surface is properly leveled. Some even use mortar to fill in gaps when necessary, preferring premixed mortar instead of powder form. Either way, vacuum the remaining dust once the mix has dried.
Primer or First Coat
Applying a thin down coat of paint first helps maintain color on the wall. Professionals recommend a thinned-down masonry primer before painting subsequent layers. A primer or stabilizing solution helps preserve the paint on newly rendered surfaces, especially when it has a powdery exterior. Primer with good sealer qualities can lock everything in place and ensure a good surface for the new coat to adhere to.
Spray and Roll
“Spraying and Back-Rolling” might require two people but it is the most efficient manner of painting exterior walls. One worker would be operating a power sprayer to spread the paint evenly across the surface and the other would follow behind with a roller for a finer finish. This method utilizes the swiftness of the sprayer and the consistency of the roller. It is preferable to apply two coats after the previous coats dry. This helps the freshly applied color to stand bright and true.
