HOW TO PAINT A HOUSE EXTERIOR

House exteriors are exposed to constant and differing weather conditions and climates so they need some additional considerations from painting a house interior.

Painting the exterior of your home may feel like a daunting task but, we’ve got all the tips you need to make exterior painting a breeze.

STEPS

 

  1. Determine the paint colour scheme for your exterior. You may choose a dominant colour and a number of trim colours, depending on the detail and materials used on the exterior of your home. Review our colour charts at your local paint or hardware store, or check out our colour inspiration section. Remember to consider colours you’ve selected for doors, fascias, eaves and gutters when making your choice.
  2. Our paint calculator will help you determine the quantity of paint required for the area you will be painting.
  3. Temporarily remove pot plants, garden hoses and any other items in close proximity to exterior walls to be painted.
  4. Prepare exterior walls for painting to achieve the best finish. Watch the how to prepare exterior walls for painting video for tips.
  5. Ensure plants and the ground near the walls are covered with plastic or canvas drop cloths, so as to not cause damage.
  6. Apply painter’s masking tape to fittings which can’t be removed and around edges which may be fiddly and difficult to paint around, such as trims, windows and gutters.
  7. Always take safety precautions when painting exteriors. If a step ladder is required, ensure it’s placed on level ground and there is someone steadying the ladder from the ground.
  8. We always recommend painting from the top down, beginning with the gutters.
  9. Once the gutters are complete move onto the fascia (the board under the gutter) and eaves (the section between the fascia and wall). We recommend painting fascias and gutters with brushes rather than small paint rollers.
  10. Next, move onto the walls. The equipment required here is dependent on the nature of the surface you’re painting on. Weatherboards will need to be painted with a small roller, brush or spray, while brick and render can be painted with sprays or extra-long nap rollers. If you’re painting anything other than weatherboards you’ll need to add a few additional materials.
  11. Finally, paint the trims and windows. Make sure windows are open when painting so they are not painted shut.
  12. Replace pot plants, hoses and any items that make your newly paint house a home! Enjoy!