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DIY Exterior
Painting of a New Home
Complete External Repairs to Home Siding
By Mark
J. Donovan
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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