This is a collaborative post: If your house is rendered or has wooden features such as facias or weatherboarding, it’s likely to need painting now and again. This keeps your home looking fresh and well-cared for.
But getting this done by the professionals can be expensive. In fact, exterior painting costs can stretch to £2,000 if you want all your walls doing. So, you may decide to save yourself some cash and have a go yourself. But it’s not a straightforward task and getting good results takes time and effort. If you want to do it yourself and do it right, here’s how to paint the outside of your home like a pro.
Choose the right paint
If you want a good finish that lasts, choose the right paint for the job. It’s not simply a case of choosing an exterior paint. You’ll need the right paint for the surface. This may mean you need one paint for the masonry and one for the woodwork.
It’s a good idea to look for paint that’s durable. This will save you needing to repeat the process in the near future. So, check it’s fully weatherproof. And if you want your bright white finish to last, look for dirt and stain resistance too.
Get everything you need before you start
Don’t start the job before you have everything you need in place. Make a checklist and tick off the items once you’ve got them ready.
You may have decided on the paint, but you’ll need to calculate the surface area of your home and work out how many tins you need. Running out part way through the job is a common mistake, so buy extra to be on the safe side. And make sure you have all the rollers, brushes and clean-up equipment you need too.
Check the weather
You may be keen to get the job done but before you get overexcited, check the weather. If it’s too cold or rain is on the horizon, hold off. You’ll find that paint needs good weather and temperatures above 10ºC to dry. Equally, if it’s too hot, your paint may not apply properly, and you could suffer heat stroke. Wait until the forecast predicts a good week ahead with steady temperatures.
Do the prep work
It’s very rare that exterior walls need absolutely no prep work before painting them. Paint won’t stick if there’s flaking paint, dirt or mould. Hairline cracks, rotten wood and other small defects also need to be dealt with first. Remove any loose material and use suitable filler where necessary. And prime bare wood before painting. Finally, let your prep work dry before you get to work with your brush.
Stay safe
Unless you live in a bungalow, you’re going to need to reach up high. You may get away with using an extended pole for your roller. But if not, you’re going to need a scaffold or platform to stand on. To stay safe, it’s best to dismiss thoughts of climbing a ladder as it’s not safe to reach across from the top of it.
When to call in the professionals
Although it may seem cheaper to paint the outside of your home yourself, it’s not always sensible to do so. Especially if there are areas that are hard to reach. Not everyone is confident working at height. And should you find your render is heavily cracked or coming away from the walls, it’s not something you can simply paint over. Get the professionals in to sort it for you.