Exterior Painting Residential Painting

Painting Your Home’s Exterior

Posted on June 25, 2021

painted home in madison wiPainting your Home’s Exterior

When done properly, an exterior paint job will endure for at least a decade. You may want to give your house an updated look or notice the paint is beginning to crack and fade. When you are ready to paint your home’s exterior here are some of the steps you can take. Taking on an exterior painting project yourself is a big task, and should be carefully considered. If you need help with an exterior painting project and have a home in the greater Madison, WI service area, we can help. Set up a free estimate appointment with our team to get a quote for your project.

Cleaning

You want to make sure that the walls of your house are prepped and ready before you begin by cleaning up dirt and grime. This can be done effectively with a pressure washer and scrubbing in some of the more difficult spots. You don’t need a PSI that is too strong. Somewhere around 1,500 is good, so that you can gently clean without causing damage.

Repairing

Make sure to replace boards or siding that has deteriorated or rotted out. Fill in cracks and look for areas that may indicate a bigger problem hiding underneath the surface. For example, you may have a leak or moisture build up causing problems with your paint. It is important to target these areas before painting to prevent issues in the long term.

Stripping Old Paint

Scraping and sanding will smooth out the surface and take care of damaged areas. Be gentle and careful not to be too aggressive. You don’t want to break or damage anything from excessive force.

Caulk

Sealing off the trim in areas that are open will prevent moisture from getting in and causing issues. It is also a detail that rounds out the paint job and increases overall attractiveness.

Primer

Laying down a primer layer will get the base ready for the paint by smoothing it out and allowing the paint to adhere well. This will create a much nicer look and increase the longevity of your paint job.

Protect your surroundings

Make sure that anything that you don’t want getting paint splashed on it is covered and taped off. This includes furniture, plant life, and areas that are adjacent to where you are painting.

Paint

You can use a variety of tools for painting your home’s exterior. Brushes and rollers are generally recommended if you are doing it yourself. Sprayers work well for professionals, but if you are inexperienced, it can be more trouble than it’s worth. Most exterior painting jobs require two coats of paint.

Trim

The last step is going back over and complementing your exterior paint with accent colors that round out your paint job and tie the theme together.