Tips on Painting Outside

Exterior paint has to withstand varying weather conditionswooden door image by Lars Christensen from Fotolia.com

There are several key differences between painting indoors and out. When you paint outside, you need paint that will withstand sun and rain, and you need to use exterior-grade fillers and caulkings. You often have to climb high ladders, and you typically need heavier painting equipment. Finally, you have to monitor the weather because painting when it's wet is an exercise in futility.

Exterior Paint

Exterior paints are formulated to withstand moisture and sun, and they often contain chemicals to resist mildew as well. In addition, the binder in the paint, which is the chemical base that provides adhesion, must be elastic enough to move with the wood, which expands and contracts with varying temperatures and moisture conditions. These conditions vary with climate, and for this reason the painters at House Painting Info recommend buying your paint from a dealer who specializes in paint products. A paint dealer is more likely to be familiar with paints suitable for your local climate than a clerk in a chain hardware store.

Prepare your house for painting by washing it with a pressure washer, saving you time by removing old flaking paint and caulk deposits quickly. When the surfaces have dried, sand and scrape them, and fill holes with exterior wood filler, which is more elastic than filler for interior wood. If you are painting rough-sawn siding and trim, a fast and effective technique is to use a wire brush to remove old paint. Finally, mask off windows and doors with masking tape and paper, and cover shrubs and lawn furniture with plastic. It's a good idea to move your cars away from the house while you are painting, especially if you use an airless sprayer.

Airless spraying is a fast, effective way to spread paint, but it has limitations. The spray can be hard to control, and a certain amount of overspray is inevitable. It is sometimes easier and more efficient to use a roller, especially if the house is not particularly high and if it has a lot of trim or a complicated color scheme. In addition, airless spray does not work well for porous surfaces like stucco and concrete block. Even when you use an airless sprayer, you should back-roll the surface to push paint into crevices and nail holes.

Whenever you are painting a house, you will have to use a ladder at some point, and using it correctly can prevent injuries and even save your life. Always make sure the base of the ladder is level and stable, and make an effort to secure the top. When the ladder has to be very tall, keep the slant to 1 to 4, which means 1 foot of horizontal distance between the base of the ladder and the house for every 4 feet of height. Finally, never overreach when you are on a ladder. It's better to move the ladder than it is to lose your balance and fall.