How to Prep a House for Painting

Painting the outside of a house can be quite a chore. You don't want to go to all that trouble and find your paint peeling off a few years later because you didn't prep the house for painting correctly. Here are some steps to prep a house for painting.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Power washer
• Metal brush, scraper or power sander
• Patching compound
• Exterior primer
• Drop cloths

1. Remove window screens, fixtures, shutters and anything else you don't want to get painted from the house. Move grills and patio furniture out of the way as well.

2. Blast the house with a power washer. You can rent or buy one. This knocks dirt and loose paint off of the house.

3. Scrape loose any peeling paint off of the house with a metal brush or scraper. You can also use a power sander to sand off loose paint. If you paint over peeling paint, your new paint won't get a good grip on the house and will come off soon.
   

4. Patch holes or cracks in wood with patching compound made for exterior use. Fill in the cracks, let it dry and sand it smooth.

5. Cover any patches, repairs or areas of bare wood with a coat of primer.

6. Protect plants, sidewalks and anything else you don't want to get painted with drop cloths.

7. Paint the house. Pick a sunny and dry day. You don't want it to be too cold or too hot. Follow the instructions on your paint.

[brooksc]

on 9/15/2009 Power washers, scraping and sanding are dangerous if you have old, lead-based paint. Infrared is safer. Check www.epa.gov to learn more about how to be safe with lead paint from before 1978.