You have several basic choices for exterior coatings: you'll want to use a paint or stain that is either an oil base or latex. The construction of your house or the look you wish to create may dictate your choice. Consult your True Value specialist for suggestions and advice. Most of the following tips apply to any type of finish. Consult the label or ask a specialist for any variations.
Depending on the size of your house and the condition of the paint job (and your available time), this project can take anywhere from a week to several months. If you will be painting your house the same color, rather than overwhelm yourself, paint one side each year and take the fifth year off.
You can help keep personal cleanup to a minimum by dressing appropriately. Wear a cap to protect your hair and shield your head from the sun. Wear sneakers to help prevent slipping.
Once again, use drop cloths to protect the landscape. Be careful, nothing spoils the effect of all your hard work more than paint spills on the lawn or driveway.
Don't paint in wet weather or direct sunlight. Paint from top to bottom, and left to right. Work in sections and to ensure an even look, plan on ending up at a door or window. Always paint back into newly painted areas. To avoid smudging fresh paint with the ladder do the top of the house first, then the window frames, then the rest of the house. And remember, the bigger your brush, the faster the painting.
Painting brick or masonry is a breeze when you use a roller. Get one with a thick nap and use lots of paint.
Sprayers are great for siding, shutters, and intricate molding. The trick for a successful finish is really in the preparation. You don't want to stop in the middle to do masking or rearrange drop cloths, so have everything ready before you start painting. If you've never used a sprayer before practice on newspaper taped to a wall.
Properly prep all doors, basically the same way you did the siding. Paint them top and bottom. Do molding and borders first working against the bristles. Then paint the panels. Next paint the boards between the panels, going first against the grain, then smoothing it with the grain. You may choose to spray paint the garage doors.
When it comes to trim, you have two choices. Make it the same color as the rest of the house, and save lots of time. Or you can choose a contrasting color for the trim to jazz up your masterpiece. Of course, this will take more time since it involves masking off areas.
Before you begin the trim, make sure that the newly painted house is completely dry. When painting windows, don't be too careful or you might be at it forever. You can remove paint drops from the glass later.