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DIY Exterior Painting of a New Home

Complete External Repairs to Home Siding

By Mark J. Donovan

Putty any dings in the siding, or if the area has significant damage you may want to literally reside the area. Make sure all nails are properly sunk into the wood. You may even want to putty in the nail holes for a really finished look.

Apply Primer to Siding

Prior to applying exterior paint to your new home, a primer should first be applied if the siding is not already pre-primed. The primer helps the paint adhere to the wood siding and provides a more uniform look.

If it is an existing home and you are re-painting, use a power washer to remove dirt and grime from the siding. Priming is probably not necessary if the paint color is to remain the same or stay similar.

Check the Weather Report

Make sure the weather will be dry and sunny long enough for you to complete the painting task scheduled for the day and to allow time for it to dry. Typically most paints require the temperature to be at least 50 degrees for proper application and drying.

Also avoid painting directly in the sun, so plan your painting accordingly, e.g. paint the west facing side in the morning and the east facing side in the afternoon.

Assemble the right Equipment

You will probably need ladders as well as paint buckets, brushes and potentially paint sprayers. You should also have rags, twine and drop clothes at hand.

Cover the surrounding Area

Cover the surrounding shrubs and flowerbeds with drop clothes. You may want to use twine to tie up the shrubs so that they don’t rub up against the house.

Paint the Windows and Doors, and associated Trim First

Paint the doors, windows and associated trim first, as this will prevent ladder marks on the otherwise newly painted siding. Make sure you leave the windows open a little so that the window paint has time to dry, thus alleviating stuck windows.

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Paint the Siding Last

Start the siding painting at the top and work left to right and down, moving the ladder frequently to prevent lap marks.

Exterior painting is a big undertaking for a homeowner. Prior to starting this job, develop a reasonable schedule and staffing needs (spouse, friends, and children help). If it looks like you will lack the time or help, then consider employing a painting contractor rather than waiting on painting the house. The longer you wait on applying the exterior paint, the higher risk the home will have to weather damage.

- DIY Exterior Painting of a New Home -

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