How to Prepare Exterior of Your House for Painting

There can be a lot of preparation work that goes into painting the exterior of your house. This how to guide will draw your attention to some preparation you will need to do before you start painting.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Things You’ll Need:

• Putty Knife
• Sander
• Wire Brush
• Broom
• Caulking Gun
• Garden Hose
• Drop Cloth
• Tape
• Exterior Silicone
• Caulking
• Wood Filler

1. Tie back bushes and limbs that might get in the way of your painting. Place drop cloths on decks, plants, air conditioning units and anything else you may splash paint onto.
2. Remove and shutters and close all windows. Inspect your siding, window and house trim for any cracks or holes. These will have to fill with wood filler and sanded before painting.
3. Reglaze any windows where the putty is cracked or coming off. You can remove the old putty with a putty knife or a utility knife. Be careful not to crack the glass in the window. Apply new glazing compound with a putty knife.
4. If you have wood siding, use a wire brush to remove any old cracked paint that’s pealing off. Patch any holes or deep cracks with wood putty. Let dry and sand.
5. Use a power sander to remove any remaining paint scraped areas.
6. Rinse the sides of your house with a garden hose until all the dirt has been washed off. Let it completely dry before you start your painting.