Are you planning to give your home’s exterior a much-needed makeover with a fresh coat of paint? Proper exterior house painting preparation is crucial for achieving the best results. Whether you’re looking to spruce up the curb appeal of your property or just want a change in color, it is important that you properly prepare your home’s exterior before painting. A job well done starts with proper preparation and at Make It Happen Painting, we know that all too well. 

In this post, we’ll be giving homeowners helpful tips on how they can best get ready for their upcoming exterior house painting project.

Inspect the Exterior

Inspecting the exterior of a home prior to painting is essential for ensuring that the project will have successful results. It allows homeowners to identify areas of damage or decay, as well as any areas that may require special attention, such as exposed wood or cracked stucco – which can be repaired before painting begins.

Inspecting the exterior can also help identify any potential hazards that may hinder painting, such as loose power lines or tree limbs – making sure these are secured during the job is key for safety. Additionally, inspecting the exterior can help homeowners evaluate their current color scheme and decide if an update would be beneficial for their property – allowing them to choose a color that best suits their aesthetic preferences.

Clean the Surface

When it comes to preparing a home’s exterior for painting, one of the most important is cleaning the surface. This step is essential for ensuring proper paint adhesion and a clean, finished appearance. Different exterior materials may require different techniques and products for cleaning; for example, siding may be washed using a pressure washer and an appropriate detergent solution, whereas stucco should be washed by hand with a soft-bristle brush and a mild cleaning agent.

For brick surfaces, use caution when cleaning as the material can be quite delicate; try not to use too much water or strong cleaners which could damage the brick. Instead, lightly dampen the surface and scrub gently with a soft-bristle brush and mild detergent. For metal surfaces such as shutters or railings, remove any loose debris before washing with a gentle cleaner or soap solution.

When selecting cleaning products, always read labels carefully to ensure that they are safe for use on exterior materials and will not cause any damage or discoloration. Additionally, investing in quality tools such as pressure washers or telescoping extension poles can make the job easier and improve overall results in less time.

Repair Damages

Repairing damages to a home’s exterior before painting is essential for ensuring that the paint job will be successful. This step involves inspecting the surface for any potential damages such as cracks, holes, rot, and other issues that may hinder the painting process or cause problems down the line. To repair commonly seen exterior damage, we recommend the following:

  • Fill any holes or cracks in wood with caulk or wood filler; use a putty knife to smooth out surfaces.

  • Treat any areas of rot with a wood preservative and sandpaper before filling with wood filler.

  • Clear debris from gutters and downspouts and inspect for any structural damage; if needed, replace sections of the gutter to ensure proper drainage away from your home’s exterior.

  • Check sidings for dents, divots, and other imperfections; if needed, use a dowel rod to push out dents before filling with spackle.

  • Inspect stucco surfaces for damaged or loose mortar joints; fill these joints with fresh mortar and apply a waterproof sealant if necessary.

Protect Landscaping and Fixtures

Plants, outdoor lighting, ornaments, and other outdoor decorations can easily be damaged or destroyed by careless painting. To ensure that these items remain unharmed during the project, homeowners should carefully plan for their protection before beginning work.

One way to protect plants and landscaping is to cover them with tarps or plastic sheets – this will keep them out of reach from any drips or splatters that may occur during painting. For more delicate items such as garden ornaments, a gentle masking technique can be used; this involves using painter’s tape to carefully cover the item while still allowing access to the areas that need to be painted. It is also important to plan for easy clean-up after the job has been completed – removing all tarps and masking materials, as well as sweeping up any debris left behind.

Scrape and Sand

Scraping and sanding is an important step in exterior painting that helps to prepare the surface for a quality paint job. It involves removing old, peeling paint so that the underlying surface is smooth and ready to accept new paint. Depending on the material being painted, techniques for scraping and sanding will vary; wood surfaces may require manual scraping with a wire brush or putty knife, while metal surfaces may require power tools such as grinders or sanders.

After the paint has been scraped off, it is important to properly dispose of any chips and debris – both for safety reasons and to ensure that the area remains clean during painting. 

Prime the Surface

Priming is an important step in the exterior painting process and can help to ensure a long-lasting finish. Primers are specially formulated to create a layer of protection between the surface and the paint, helping to reduce fading and chipping over time. When choosing a primer for your home’s exterior, it is important to match the type of material being painted; for instance, masonry surfaces will require a different type of primer than wood or metal siding. 

Applying primer correctly can also be essential for ensuring optimal results; it should be applied evenly with either a brush or roller, leaving no gaps or streaks behind. For best results, two coats of primer should be applied before beginning the actual painting process – this will ensure that you get an even finish and long-lasting results!

Trust Make It Happen Painting for Expert Exterior Painting Services

Preparing your home’s exterior for a fresh coat of paint is essential to ensure quality results and long-lasting protection. From inspecting the exterior, cleaning the surface, repairing damages, protecting landscaping and fixtures, scraping and sanding, to priming the surface – there are many steps involved in this process. 

To get professional help with all these tasks as well as expert advice on selecting colors that will best suit your home’s architecture and style – work with Make It Happen Painting! We provide top-notch painting services throughout Inverness, Hernando, Crystal River, Homosassa & Dunnellon FL. Call us at 352-309-3999 for a free estimate or visit our Facebook and Google page to learn more about our painting services!