1. Wash the exterior of your house
This is arguably the most important step. For your paint to properly adhere to and apply to your walls, it must be clean. In addition, for the painters to efficiently complete the painting on your exterior, it is a wise choice to wash your walls beforehand as this saves them time. There are multiple ways in which you can clean your house, but a popular choice is by using a pressure washer. A pressure washer essentially produces a jet of pressurized water which is capable of removing dirt, stain, and other unwanted residues on your walls.
Most of the time, a round of pressure washing around your house will usually do the trick. However, if there happens to be some particularly stubborn dirt or stain on your walls which the pressure washer can’t seem to remove, you can consider using a bleach solution to help. Also, if your house is constructed out of softer wooden materials, it is recommended that you should avoid pressure washing and stick to hand-washing it instead. This is to prevent the pressurized water from chipping away and damaging your exterior.
2. Remove and sand the previous paint
After letting your house’s exterior dry, it is time to remove the old layer of paint. To do this, simply use your hand to scrape away any loose, peeling paint. The old layer of paint must be removed to ensure that the color and quality of the new coat of paint aren’t affected.
Furthermore, sanding your exterior is also a must. To properly sand your walls, prepare an adequate amount of sandpaper and start brushing it against uneven spots or where there is cracked paint. It is also strongly advised that you should put on safety goggles and protective masks to eliminate any health issues or risks.
3. Repair and caulk any holes or gaps
This is a fairly simple step which anyone with minimal DIY experience and performs. Firstly, check the exterior of your house and identify any gaps or holes which need to be repaired.
Then, select a type of filler that is suitable for exterior repairs and begin caulking and repairing the gaps.
It is recommended that you should invest some money into purchasing a good-quality filler that is both weather-resistant and durable. This will benefit you in the long run as you will not only require less repaint but you’ll also be saved from the trouble of constantly repairing and caulking your walls.
4. Priming the exterior
Priming your walls is also a crucial step to preparing your house for painting as it is, quite literally, the foundation of the paint job. To prime your walls, you’ll need (obviously) a primer. It is recommended that you should conduct additional research as to which type of primer suits the material which your exterior is made out of.
Then, with a roller or brush of your choosing, begin applying the primer onto your walls.
Make sure that the primer is generously and evenly applied through the entire exterior of your house. Furthermore, it is advised that you should select a light-colored primer as opposed to a darker one to help the new coat of paint properly adhere to your walls.
5. Clear out bushes/shrubs (if applicable)
You should only follow this step if your house is surrounded or has bushes and shrubs around it. The reason why you should clear them out or trim them down is to allow the painters to do a more thorough job, especially around the sides of your house.
If shrubs are obstructing the painters, it is likely that the exterior of your house will have some spots that are left unpainted. Thus, you should clear them out in the first place to prevent this problem from occurring.
Conclusion
Preparation is the key. No matter how skillful or experienced the painter you’ve hired is if you allow them to paint a dirty, worn, and uncleaned house, the end product is going to do nothing but disappoint you.
Meanwhile, it’s possible that you can have the painter(s) clean up your place before they start painting, they’ll not only charge you more, but it is also, frankly speaking, a waste of time.
These steps are simple to follow and are designed to achieve the best result. Thus, it is recommended that you should prepare your house according to the steps listed above!
