The Right Way to Paint the Exterior Walls

Giving your exterior walls a fresh coat of paint is easier said than done. While painting the surface doesn’t require any advanced techniques, you need to prepare a few things to ensure that the paint properly adheres to your exterior.

In this post, Handyman Connection® of Boise discusses the right way to paint the exterior walls.

Cleaning and Repairing the Walls

For best coverage when painting the walls, it’s important to give them a good cleaning. Pressure washing is the best way to go about this as it’s a fast and easy way to remove dirt and dust buildup. To do this effectively, go from the top to the bottom of the house in a smooth and controlled manner.

Apart from cleaning the walls, repair any damaged surfaces to avoid wasting paint. Give your exterior a good look around, and note any chipped or cracked surfaces. Holes and cracks are easy to patch up with epoxy filler and don’t take long to sand and restore.

Preparing for Painting

Before you start actually painting the walls, there are a few things you need to prepare and protect. Cover the doors, windows and lighting fixtures using a plastic sheeting and some painter’s tape. Next, examine the exterior for any stains or visible wood knots, and prime them. You do this by applying one coat of stain-blocking primer using a paintbrush.

Painting the Walls

While there’s no actual technique for painting the exterior walls, there is some strategy to it. Similar to how you washed the surface of the walls, you should also paint them from top to bottom, overlapping each stroke by eight inches. 

Keep in mind that you don’t necessarily have to apply a primer when you’re giving your exterior walls a fresh coat of paint. It’s necessary, however, if you plan to change the exterior from light to dark and vice versa. 

Handyman Connection of Boise offers complete home improvement services. We’ll be happy to assist you with your interior and exterior painting project. Fill out our form, or give us a call at (208) 268-0088 to get an estimate on our home improvement services.