In This Post:
Material for an exterior paint job
DIY guide for painting outdoors
We had previously shared a simple guide for painting your home’s interior, and now, we are back with a new guide on how to paint a home’s exterior like a pro.
As per usual, we will divide this guide into two parts. First, we will list down the required materials for painting the outdoor area of your house. Afterwards, we will share a DIY guide for painting a home’s exterior. You can use the links given above to navigate to the exact section.
Let’s begin!
Material You Will Need to Paint the Exterior of Your House
Since you are taking up a home renovation project, here’s a list of material you will need to paint the exterior of your home and give it a first-class finish:
- Drop cloths
- Exterior wall paint of your choice
- Ladder (for climbing high areas)
- Medium-Grit sanding block
- Paint scraper
- Paint sprayer
- Paintbrush
- Painter’s tape
- Plastic sheet
- Pressure washer
Safety Gear
Accidents happen, so personal safety should be on the top of your list. Become mindful and take all the necessary protective measures. Keep yourself safe and avoid potentially harmful situations by using the safety gear mentioned below:
- Safety goggles
- Face mask
- Knee pads
- Rubber gloves
Pro Tip: As with most DIY home décor and house painting projects, there are usually two roads – the hard way or the easy way. If you take the easy road, it doesn’t always mean poor results. Just make sure that you buy high-end equipment. In this regard, seek help from our recent posts where we have listed all the popular paint brands in Pakistan.
Step-By-Step Guide on How to Paint a Home’s Exterior
Painting the outdoor area of your house is the most economical way to enhance its curb appeal and add a new dimension to its appearance. If you plan to paint the exterior of your home instead of calling in a professional painter, you definitely will benefit from a lot of things. Not only will the DIY paint project help you learn a new skill, but it will also save you some time, hassles, and money, of course.
- Step 1: Clean and Wash the Exterior Walls
- Step 2: Inspection and Repairs
- Step 3: Scrape Away Loose Paint
- Step 4: Covering and Protection
- Step 5: Start Painting in Steps
Step 1: Clean and Wash the Exterior Walls
Painting the outdoors of your house can turn into a great opportunity to clear the accumulated dirt and dust on the exposed areas of your property. Hence, the first step into painting the exterior walls of your house is to wash or clean them. Not only it will remove dirt and dust buildup from the outdoor area, but it will also help in smooth coverage.
To begin with, take a damp mop or dusting cloth and start wiping the exterior area of your house, including windows, walls, fences, and doors. While hand-washing the outdoor space is the most effective way to start, you can take it on the whole next level by using a pressure washer or hose. Clean the exposed areas with a soapy solution, and then wash down the dust with a pressure washer.
Pro Tip: Avoid taking any other step on the same day and complete one step at a time. As such, don’t start painting the same day you’re cleaning the walls. This will only make you feel tired, and you will end up stressing over the results rather than focusing on the process.
Step 2: Inspection and Repairs
If you skip this step from our house painting guide to save yourself some time or effort, you’re basically creating more work for yourself– something that can’t be easily fixed later. Avoid future hassles and take a walk around the external area of your property. Take note of damaging and leaking surfaces. Check areas where you have woodwork, masonry, stucco, and metalwork. Try to take a full day and repair all these damages.
Also, if you notice that the damage is beyond personal repair and your DIY-ing skills aren’t quite helpful either, it is best to take help from an expert. Wait for everything to dry and get in shape before moving on to the next step.
Step 3: Scrape Away Loose Paint
If you want to make your paint job look like it has been attempted by a professional, you shouldn’t miss this step at any cost. Once the repairs are fixed, and the outdoor area has completely dried, you need to move on to the next step, which includes scraping away loose paint.
It is recommended to place drop cloths or rags along the ground [to avoid any inconvenience]. Afterwards, use a paint scraper to remove chipped and loose paint. You can also use a medium-grit sanding block for this purpose. Remember, you need to scrape off the paint, so avoid pressing too hard.
Step 4: Covering and Protection
A successful paint job begins with careful planning and preparations. Although all the former steps are a part of the preparation, this step is the actual step towards painting the exterior of your home. Preparing the outdoor space for a paint job will protect it from unforeseen damages. It will also guard valuable fixtures, such as doors, windows, fences, outdoor lighting, etc.
Before you start covering everything, make sure you have taken the following measures:
- Dust-off grit from everything with a soft cotton cloth.
- Find a safe space in your house if you are removing anything temporarily to make space.
- Keep your outdoor furniture in a safe place.
- Make space for the painting equipment.
- Cover everything with plastic sheets.
- Use a painter’s tape to protect the window, doors, and other fixtures.
Step 5: Start Painting in Steps
Now, the exterior of your house is thoroughly ready for a professional paint job. At this point, we will recommend you begin painting the ceilings, then paint the exterior walls. Wait for them to dry completely and then check the results. Apply a second coat if needed. Move on to painting the rest of the areas as per your convenience. Keep the tricky areas such as boundary walls, doors, and window panes for the end.
The last step is to coat the fascia, moulding, fences, doors, shutters and other tricky details with paint. The best tools are steady hands and a fine quality painting brush. Not to mention, there are no shortcuts if you want your paint job to look highly professional. You have to put in the time, efforts, and knowledge to get the best results.
Pro Tip: Use paint rollers on flat surfaces such as walls and doors. You can cover large expanses easily this way. Meanwhile, spray paint the large or detailed areas of the exterior of your property. For tricky areas like fences and iron grills, use high-quality paintbrushes.
So, this is where we talk about the gist of our blog. We have shared a simple guide on how to paint a home’s exterior like a pro. The primary goal behind this house painting guide is to help our readers save some money and learn another skill without any hassle. If this guide for painting the outdoor area of your house has worked for you or you have any further queries on the subject, write to us at blog@zameen.com. We will try to get back to you as soon as possible.
Since you are here reading about a DIY painting project, you might also be interested in reading our recently published guide on painting a staircase and the difference between exterior and interior paints. Meanwhile, if you are allergic to paint fumes, you can get rid of it by taking a look at our recent piece on how to get rid of paint fumes.
On the other hand, if you are looking for ideas to cover your walls without paint, we have recently listed top renter-friendly ideas to decorate your walls and some hacks for hanging things on walls without damaging them with nails. These simple guides will help you decorate your walls without using a single drop of paint.
For DIY home décor tips and tricks, keep visiting the home décor section of Zameen Blog – Pakistan’s most trusted portal for authentic information. Get a dose of Zameen.com on your timeline by liking our Facebook page. Receive our posts in your inbox directly by subscribing to our newsletter. The process is simple, just enter your email address in the box on the right side of your screen and hit subscribe.
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