5 Steps to Prepare Your Home for Exterior Painter
Preparing your home for exterior paint is essential to ensure a long-lasting, beautiful finish. If you hire a professional to paint your exterior, be sure to take the time to prepare your home. Proper preparation will make the process go more smoothly and ensure that you get the best results.
The first step in preparing your home for an exterior painter is to wash the outer walls of your home thoroughly. If possible, you should rent a pressure washer, which will get the job done quickly and thoroughly.
You also need to cover windows and doors with plastic sheets to help keep paint off them. You should also remove hardware from the exterior before the painter arrives. Lastly, protect your lawn and plants with tarps and drop cloths.
In this article, we are going to discuss the five steps to prepare your home for an exterior painter.
What Is Exterior Painting?
If you want to give your home a new look, then consider getting an exterior paint job. Exterior painting is the process of painting the outer surface of your home.
This will not only increase the appeal of your house but will also protect it from potential damage. Before you begin, though, there are some preparation steps you should take to ensure a quality result.
A good painter will take the time to prepare the exterior of your home before painting. Typically, a painter will need to power wash and sand the area before they start painting. Depending on the job, caulking may also be necessary.
5 Steps to Prepare Your House for Exterior Painter
Several steps need to be taken before applying exterior paint to your home. These are the five steps that will help you prepare your home for exterior paint.
Step 1: Clean The Exterior
Before you apply exterior paint, it’s important to clean the entire exterior of your home. This will ensure that the primer is applied evenly. You can use a power washer and cleaning fluid to clean the exterior of your home, as well as a scrub brush. In addition to the surface itself, you should also check the substrate of your home before you start applying the paint. If it’s very dirty, the paint won’t adhere to the surface, causing it to peel and chip over time.
Step 2: Scrape and Sand Loose Paint
If your paint job is about to begin, you will want to take the time to prepare the exterior of your home. The most important step is to ensure that the surface is free of loose paint. This is important for both interior and exterior painting. After removing loose paint, it’s time to make the surface smooth. You can use 50-grit sandpaper to smooth it out. Otherwise, you will need to use higher grit sandpaper to remove the remaining paint.
Step 3: Make Necessary Repairs
After you clean the exterior and remove old chipped-off paint, it is time to make necessary repairs. If the wooden surface is compromised, you need to repair it before applying the paint. It will help you prevent the wood from rotting and will ensure a durable paint job.
Step 4: Fill Holes and Caulk Gaps
If you want to get a smooth paint job, it is important to caulk gaps and holes before you start painting. If you don’t, you risk having spots of peeling paint. It is also important to caulk around baseboards and moulding. A high-quality caulk is best for this job. Several brands offer high-quality caulk. You should also look for paintable caulk. This way, you’ll have a better chance of getting a professional-looking finish.
Step 5: Prime Bare Spots
Before applying a coat of exterior paint, you should prime any bare spots with a primer. This will prevent the paint from penetrating those spots and make the final coat adhere better. For best results, apply the primer using wide, even strokes. A three-inch brush will work well for this task. After applying the primer, allow it to dry completely before applying the paint coat.
