Do’s and Don’ts of Painting an Exterior Wall

Painting is one of those jobs around the home that you can do on your own especially if it is not the first painting. There are certain basics that apply to both interior and exterior painting but the latter needs more work because of exposure to tough weather conditions. You may need to seek professional advice but researching extensively can also do the trick.

Do’s

Decide which type of paint to use, whether latex, water or oil based, and pick the right set of brushes as well. This is crucial and it depends on the nature of the surface of the wall, durability and the ease of cleaning amongst other factors.

Choose the right colour of paint for outdoors. Your exterior walls may be exposed to dust and it may not make sense to use bright colours on such. A range of different colours may be used for the walls, skirting, windows and doors but you should ensure that the colours blend. If you do not have full ownership of the house then you may want to stick to the colours already in place.

It would help to mix all cans of paint of the same colour into a bucket before you paint. This will ensure uniformity since two cans of the same colour may have slight differences in colour concentration.

Paint from top to bottom. Paint is not always viscous and starting from the top will ensure that any flowing paint does not interfere with already painted areas.

Don’ts
Do not choose low quality of paint especially for outdoors. Extreme weather temperatures, rain or even sunlight may cause the paint to crack or peel especially if it is of low quality. Bubbling is also common for areas that are highly humid. This would mean that you will need to repaint sooner than expected so cheap becomes expensive in the end.

Do not paint over surfaces that have peeling paint or mildew or are dirty. The surfaces should be dull and dry before painting so ensure that you wash the surface then sand it if need be. This ensures that the paint adheres properly and hence lasts longer.

Do not paint during the rainy since the paint needs ample time to dry but the hot season may not be a good idea too. Try to choose a period whose temperatures fall in between.