A handy how to for painting a house exterior

Painting the outside of a house is a huge task. But, do a good job and it'll be years before you have to paint your house's exterior again. Here's a handy how to to help you on your way.

• Canvas drop sheets
• Ladder or scaffolding
• Paintbrush
• Sheets of plastic (if required)
• Garbage bags (if required)
• Paint pad (optional)

• Wash your exterior walls thoroughly to Be sure that you've properly prepared your exterior walls.
• If your home's exterior is in good condition, you could use a garden hose.
• But, if it's dirty and the paint is peeling, use a high-pressure washer.
• If there's any mildew on your walls, remove it with a solution of dishwashing detergent and bleach.

• Work on a dry, windless day.
• Cover all surfaces below your work area with canvas drop sheets.
• Protect your air conditioner and/or mailbox with sheets of plastic.
• Tie back or trim overgrown shrubs.
• Cover shrubs loosely with large plastic garbage bags, if necessary.

• Remove as many exterior fittings as possible and paint them at your leisure.
• Paint wood siding first, then trim and windows, doors and railings, and finally entryways and steps.
• Always paint from the top of the house to the bottom, working in sections to avoid unsightly seams.

• First paint the underside of your siding.
• Apply the paint in short strokes, then spread it out using smooth, even strokes.
• Press brush bristles against cracks and rough surfaces to force paint in, checking periodically for drips.
• Once the undersides are coated, paint the faces of the boards.

• If you're using a paint pad, load the pad and, as with the brush in step 3, paint the bottom edges first.
• Then pull the pad slowly but firmly along the length of each board.
• If the pad is narrower than the cladding, overlap your strokes so you don't create a seam down the middle.

Follow this handy how to for painting a house exterior, and you'll likely not need to repaint the outside of your house for years.