How To Paint A House Exterior

If you’ve decided to revamp your home’s exterior to improve curb appeal before trying to sell the home, or to enjoy yourself while you live there, you might wonder how to paint a house exterior for the best results.

The good news is you don’t need to hire a professional painter for an exterior paint job of your home. There are so many tools you can use that make it easier than ever for homeowners to paint a house exterior themselves. But you need to do it correctly to avoid issues with the paint or the finished look.

So, if you’re ready to learn how to give your home exterior a fresh coat of paint that looks like professionals did it, then keep reading for all the tips and the step-by-step guide.

Make sure you check out this guide about the benefits of exterior house cleaning.

What Is The Best Time To Paint A House Exterior?

The exact time of year will vary depending on where you live. But, a good rule of thumb is to do all exterior house painting in the Spring or Fall months.

You will want to plan a time when there isn’t any rain in the forecast for several days, and the temperature is between 50-90°F. This is because if it’s too cold, the new paint won’t dry properly, and if it’s too warm, the humidity can cause issues and make the paint harder to work with.

It will be essential to be patient and wait for the right time to do this work. This will ensure you get the best possible finished result.

What Paint Should You Use For a House Exterior Paint Job?

When it comes to the type of paint for your exterior paint job, you want to make sure it’s specifically made for the material on your home. Here are the top recommendations from professional painters.

Stucco – Acrylic Paint

Wood Siding – Acrylic Paint

Brick – Mineral-Based Paint or Latex Paint

Vinyl Siding – Acrylic Paint

Hardie Board – Acrylic Paint or Latex Paint

You also want to ensure that the primer and paint are meant to be used together and compatible. 

Lastly, you want to make sure you are using high-quality paint. This will not only give you the best finished result, but the color tends to last a lot longer with high-quality paints. This is important on the exterior of your home since there is direct sunlight hitting the paint and constantly changing weather conditions.

If you’re not sure what the best paint is to use, ask the professionals at your local hardware or paint store. They will be able to give you some guidance.

What Tools Are Needed For An Exterior Paint Job?

When painting your home’s exterior, you want to make sure you buy quality tools. This can be the difference between a flawless finish and one that looks amateurish.

Here are the tools you will need.

• Power Paint Sprayer
• Paint Rollers
• Paint Brushes
• Painter’s Tape
• Scraper
• Sanding Block or Power Sander
• Epoxy Filler
• Ladder
• Pressure Washer
• Drop Cloths or Plastic Sheets

Choosing Your Paint Colors

One of the most important parts of painting your house exterior is choosing the colors for the job. You want to pick exterior paint colors that will match or enhance your home’s architecture, compliment your neighbor’s homes and make the exterior of the house look inviting.

Some popular colors that are used to paint a house exterior include:

• Whites, beiges, and grays.
• Earthy colors like browns, taupes, and warm creams.
• Neutrals such as blues, greens, and other pastel colors.

It isn’t very common to use a darker color since it can make your home look smaller. Plus, the color will be affected over time by direct sunlight much more than lighter colors will.

Before you commit to any specific colors, it is recommended to pick up a few sample paints at your local hardware store, like Home Depot, so that you can try them out in natural light.

How To Paint A House Exterior

Before you begin painting the exterior of a house, there is a considerable amount of prep work that needs to be done. But, it is vital that you complete each of these steps fully as they can dramatically impact the final result of your work.

Step One:

The first step is power washing the exterior surface of your home to remove all dirt, dust, cobwebs, and mildew. This is the easiest way to do it since power washers have high pressure that can blast away the most stuck-on dirt.

Step Two:

Next, if there are stains from tree sap or anything else lingering on the surface, use an oil-based cleaner and scrub brush to wash that away.

Step Three:

Of course, you won’t want to get any paint on your front door, windows, exterior lights, etc., so use painter’s tape and plastic to cover them up.

Step Four:

Scrape or sand off any loose paint and fill in any cracks before starting to paint. Doing this will ensure that your final paint job has a smooth and even finish.

Step Five:

Now that the exterior of your home has been thoroughly prepped, you can start the painting process by applying a coat of primer with a roller or brush. Allow this to dry completely, otherwise the paint will not adhere correctly.

Step Six:

Next, you will want to use your brush or roller to paint around doors, windows, and other recesses. This part will be time-consuming, but it’s important to make sure all the details are done correctly.

Step Seven:

Once you’ve finished that, use your power paint sprayer for the larger surfaces, working your way from the top down to avoid drips. An added bonus is that using the sprayer will be much faster than doing it by hand with a brush or roller.

You will likely need to do two coats of paint. Make sure the paint is fully dry from the first coat before applying the final coat of paint.

Step Eight:

Lastly, once the paint has dried thoroughly, carefully remove the tape and plastic you used to protect your doors and windows.

FAQs

How much does it cost to paint a house exterior?

There are many factors that will affect your exterior painting costs, including the size of your home, the number of stories, the quality of paint you choose, and so on. But, generally speaking, the average overall cost is between $1,500 and $3,000.

How long does exterior home paint last?

The longevity of exterior paint can depend on a variety of factors, such as the quality of the paint you choose, the weather and temperature where you live, the amount of direct sunlight your house sees, and so on.

But, the average lifespan of paint on the exterior of a home is 5-10 years. This number will be impacted by the factors listed above.

What temperature is best to paint outside?

The best temperature to paint outside is between 50-90°F. Paint will have trouble drying when it’s too cold, and the heat of summer can make it hard to keep the paint from drying too quickly.

It will also be important to wait for dry weather as rain can ruin the work you’ve done if it’s not fully dry. 

Can you paint over the old exterior house paint?

While you technically can paint over old paint, leaving it can impact the finished result of your paint job, especially if there is a lot of peeling paint. For the best results, it’s recommended that you scrape off any loose paint, fill in any cracks, and then apply a coat of primer. This will help give you an even finish.

With this knowledge about what type of paint should be used for each material, proper prepping, choosing colors that will match or enhance your house’s architecture, and the right tools, your home’s exterior can be completely transformed.

By taking your time and following these tips, painting the exterior of your home can be an enjoyable experience rather than a stressful one.