by Ann Marie Dwyer

Created on: December 20, 2008   Last Updated: February 12, 2009

A fresh coat of exterior paint can give any home an instant facelift, increase the home's value and curb appeal. Need some tips on how exterior painting can be a quick facelift?

1. Choose the correct exterior paint color.

Bright or trendy colors will fade and fall from popularity quickly. Light and neutral colors of exterior paint hold tint longer than deep or bright colors. Choose a color which will fit with the other homes in the neighborhood.Be aware of any neighborhood association regulations which may exclude certain colors.

2. Buy high quality paint and applicators.

Exterior paint is not a place to economize. Buy paint with expected wear of thirty years. Use rollers or sprayers designed for exterior paint. It has a thicker consistency than interior paint and will clog lower quality sprayers.

Exterior painting is labor intensive and time consuming with a brush. If you must use a brush, buy dense ones designed for exterior paint. Change brushes at the first sign of wear.

3. Get enough paint.

When paint is mixed, each can will have a slightly different tint. Purchase enough exterior paint to cover the entire house plus 20%. You have enough paint to cover accidents and tough spots.

Do not paint only part of the house. Even if you are repainting the same color, the new exterior paint will be a different shade due to fading from wear and the sun.

4. Get a mixing bucket.

To get the exterior paint to be a uniform color, mix equal portions from each can into a bucket. Despite the use of computerized mixers, tints can always be uneven. Apply the mixed paint to the home. If not, you run the risk of portions of the home being different shades when you change cans.

5. Prepare.

Remove all peeling, dry-rotted or cracked paint. Repair any surface you will paint. If you get to bare wood or siding, prime before applying exterior paint to ensure even coverage. Priming will help save paint which would be absorbed by the bare surface.

6. Check the weather.

Exterior paint dries fastest and with the best consistency over 75 degrees and with less than 85% humidity. Paint under a clear sky. Avoid exterior painting with rain in the forecast within three days. Ensure your surface has been dry for more than 24 hours before you begin and will not be in contact with rain for at least 24 hours after you paint.

7. Pay attention to detail.

This paint job is a thirty year investment. Don't cut, or miss, corners. Tape off areas you do not want painted to avoid over-spray or roller blotting. If you spill paint, wash it away before it can dry.

8. Finish, then fix.

While you paint, do not go back and fix spots when you see them. Paint the entire surface first. When you get to the end, go back to the spots which need more paint. If you fix while the paint is still damp, you can remove the drying paint making a bigger mistake. You will have to wait until it dries and go back to step five.

9. Write it down.

When you are done, copy the name, call number, brand, wear warranty and color recipe of the exterior paint into your maintenance log.

Exterior painting is always a quick facelift. Use these tips to paint like a professional.

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