How To Paint The Exterior Of Your Home--Yourself!

One way to give the exterior of your home a new and exciting look is by painting it. No single move can add so much awe as an exterior well painted. Be it wood, aluminum siding, hardi plank, masonite and yes, even vinyl siding; a fresh coat of paint can yield splendid results. But there are a few pointers I would like to give you before you grab the old ladder and head out. First, there are some procedures that are in place and of course there's protocol... or the right way to do things.

I have been in the home improvement business for almost a quarter of a century and I got my start by painting the exterior of homes in a small town. I learned the hard way how to paint the exterior of a home and for me each lesson seemed to have been etched in stone, but nevertheless, through trial and error I became a successful painting contractor that went on to become a successful home improvement contractor. Now I don't mean to give the impression that I'm financially well off or anything like that, but to me being successful is truly loving the work you do and doing the work you love.

I work for every day working class people who appreciate me giving them the best I have to offer and all the while helping to increase the value of their largest investment...their home. And I'm grateful to be able to do it too, so climb aboard and follow me down a road that I love--exterior painting. I will share with you much of what I have learned over the years in hope of helping you achieve a great paint job and at the same time saving yourself a great deal of money...at least in most cases.

PREPARATION

As with most home improvement projects preparation is the key to a job well done and when it comes to painting the exterior of your home preparation is definitely paramount to every thing else. I can't begin to stress the importance of preparation... and just what is preparation? Preparation is taking the necessary time and effort to make sure the substrate (your house surfaces) have been properly prepared to receive primer and paint. It's certainly not a hidden mystery that only a few have knowledge of, no; instead, preparation is a serious task that not only will determine the outcome of your job but will also determine just how well it will endure the test of time. Now that you have a working definition of preparation in relation to painting the exterior of your home, now let's dissect each aspect of it.

PRESSURE WASHING THE EXTERIOR OF YOUR HOME

When it comes to exterior painting I refuse to start out with a dirty canvass. I know for a fact that paint will not adhere properly to a dirty and filthy surface, so my first task is to pressure clean the outside of the house. It's so important to take the time to look the house over thoroughly and ascertain any problems that might present themselves once you get started. In other words, check to see if there are any missing siding; fascia boards; vent covers, and any thing else that might allow water to enter inside the home and cause considerable damage. Also, just as important is the fact that water trapped behind places can cause rot and long term destruction. When pressure washing your home be sure to employ caution every step of the way to avoid damaging your home. Learn More