It’s the perfect time to paint your house.

It is the time that you dread, the time when you have to clean and improve the exterior of your house. But there are some things you should know. So we put together our top decorating tips and advice.

These important tips and tricks will help you get a great finish no matter if you have done it before or are just starting to paint.

Painting a house is not an easy task. In many cases we recommend hiring a professional decorator or wall coating expert. But if you’re keen to have a go at it yourself, Guy Alexander Bell has some tips for making your next house painting project a little easier.

These tips are for painting the outside of your house and not the inside. However, there may be a few tips that can be applied to both.

We also examine the potential RISKS associated with large-scale home improvements like painting your house. You will find some frightening statistics about DIY accidents further down.

We are most well-known for our wall coatings, but we also enjoy sharing some knowledge with the DIY’er.

If you’re here asking yourself “Should I paint my house?” I suggest that you continue reading…

Here are our top ten painting tips for the exterior of your house.

Before you start painting, plan the work!

Although this may seem obvious, you’d be surprised at how many people fail plan and then fail to plan. Write down your plans, it helps you focus!

It doesn’t take much to write an essay. Just some notes on A4 paper will suffice.

Take note of any flaking or repairs you may need and make a list. Don’t forget paint! You might also want to work out how much money you will spend on it.

Get ready to paint!

People don’t seem prepared for what lies ahead.

It is not the same thing as sitting down with a cup of coffee and painting a house.

The image shows a painter who has prepared himself and is aware of the importance to remove old paint and cover the floor. Preparation is not only for the painting, but also for you.

You should ensure you are physically fit and capable of carrying out the work. If you don’t know how to climb ladders safely, you need to make sure you are.

Wearing old or over-the-shoulder clothes is a good idea. Many exterior paints and wall coatings, particularly waterproof ones or damp proof paints will not wash out of your clothes .

Get the paint you need.

We hear it time and again about people who start decorating seriously, but then run out of paint halfway through painting an elevation or an entire wall, like the gable end.

Okay, another trip to DIY?

The wall that you have half-painted is currently drying. When you return, continue to paint the entire wall. Once the wall is complete, you’ll see a shadow of the area where you used the different paint cans. DOH!

These are just a few examples of the things you’ll need.

  • Some paint (!). Make sure you get the best masonry paint that you can afford.
  • Different sizes of brushes and rollers
  • Dustsheets, tarpaulins and old sheets.
  • Use paint thinners, brushes cleaner and turps with care
  • Hand tools such as scrapers, wire brushes and other hand tools
  • For keeping the area clean, sweep brushes and such.
  • Gloves, hats and other protective items.
  • Masking tape, and possibly masking paper.
  • For cloths, use old clothes and rags.
  • Sandpaper, putty (if necessary) and filler.
  • Access equipment, ladders and step ladders. (see below)

Oh, and …… Make sure you have all the ladders, tools, and brushes you need BEFORE you start!

You should have enough information to do this. However, remember that we are talking about PAINTING houses here and not preparing or repairing them.

Before painting, clean the walls.

Your house will collect dirt, dust, and grime over time, especially if it is located near a road.

This should not be painted over, even with primer. Paint won’t cure or clean the dirt and paint will make it look bad once it’s dry.

Clean the walls before painting and let dry.

This type of dirt buildup is easy to spot. However, for the best painting job, you must CLEAN your exterior.

This will remove any friable or loose material from the wall.

If you notice signs of mold and green growth on your walls, it could be a sign that there is an underlying problem.

This applies also to the surface. This is a sign that the wall you wish to paint is cracked. It is recommended that this be done before you start painting.

Spraying the paint is faster than brushing.

This is what we do all the time. However, if this is your first time spraying masonry paint, it will be much faster. Here are some things to keep in mind.

Mask any areas you don’t wish the paint to reach in order to prevent spraying into the wrong places.

When you spray paint, you make a fine mist , that can cover your windows and your wife’s rose bush. !

Here are some tips for painting the walls.

Preparation is key to any house painting in auckland. Spending just ONE DAY on preparation will save you at most THREE DAYS of work, and cleanup afterwards.

You must prepare the wall for paint. This means you will need to inspect cracks, old render, or hollow walls, and then remove mold , dirt, and grime.

Fill in any cracks, bumps or holes on walls and woodwork by sanding them down.

You will save time and money if you spend time preparing.

Every year thousands fall from ladders, scaffolding, roofs and other structures.

It is so simple to be able to look at your work and forget that you are up on a ladder three stories above the ground, even if you don’t know how to paint houses.

A ladder is not recommended for painting a house, especially a tall one. Look through the yellow pages to find a reliable scaffolding company.

It is best to find one that has trade accreditation. Also, one who can show you their accident books (a legal requirement) as well as proof of insurance.

Start the painting.

Okay, you’re ready. I don’t mean physically.

The colour should be chosen by you and the other half. You have removed any clutter from the house. This is a work area and should be treated accordingly.

Make sure all preparations are done

If you want your paint job to last more than a few weeks, preparation is key.

It is necessary to remove flaking paint, to sort hollow rendering, to replace rotten wood, to fix missing window putty, and to get rid of any mold or algae.

This is a sign to hire a man instead if you aren’t feeling confident at this point. This could save you money, as a professional decorator can complete the job in just a few days instead of taking you many weeks.

After you feel confident, you can start at the TOP and work your way down. If you have scaffolding, you might want to use it.

Here are some tips to help you get the best result

Another time-saving tip: Finish the job after you have painted the walls. You have to pay attention to details when painting a house.

Pro painter will spend much time on details such as trimming corners and alcoves that the roller couldn’t reach or making sure that the paint goes under the window cills and down to the DPC.

This will create straight lines that run down every opening for a professional finish.

You can use masking tape to draw a line around the window reveals. Make sure it does not touch the frame more than a few millimeters.

Paint onto the tape with care, making sure not to lift it or get paint underneath.

Once you are done with a section or line, remove the tape , by stepping away from the window, and pulling inwards. You can either dispose of the tape in an envelope or it may wind up on the floor as a ball of tape.

You can find a special painters’ tape at your local DIY shop that is better than masking tape but costs more.

Animals should be kept away from any work that you do. Rover the Labrador doesn’t want his head covered in paint or drinking your brush thinners while he is playing in the yard.

You can test your paint skills or your knowledge on a small area below the ground. You must ensure that the surface you are painting is sound and high quality. Make sure your paint is properly mixed and that your brush doesn’t shed bristles.

It’s easier to paint when it is cloudy, if you can.

Many DIY painters mistakenly believe that mid-summer is the best time to paint because there’s less chance of rain.

Not too cold or too warm is the best kind of weather to paint in.

This is because if you paint a wall during the day, the sun will shine directly on it. I guarantee that your eyes will be affected by the reflections or glare. People who do this daily end up with eye strain.

Use gloss paints or emulsions only after you’re certain there won’t be rain. Otherwise, the wall may suffer from Surfactant Leaching.

This happens when paint ingredients are affected by moisture, which causes them to adhere to the surface and dry in a waxy coating.

You should not use paint directly from the tin. Instead, use a lighter metal bucket called a paint kettle. For rollers, use the tray or elongated buckets that are designed for use with rollers.

These hooks can be used to hold the scaffold in place.

When you’re not using paint from the tin, put the lid back on it.

Apply the paint well. But remember that most house painting jobs require 2 coats t.

Use a smaller brush to cut around edges and doors.

Bolt-on another thing to complete the job!

You may also have other items to do outside such as missing gutter clips, cracked window panes, or blocked gutters. Maybe your garden is looking a little unkempt.

You must finish a well-painted house.

You should fix any problems in the exterior walls, siding and trim.

Tidy the garden or the area closest to the house.

This will make it look nicer, similar to putting a frame around a piece of art you bought at the shop. This can earn you brownie points, and perhaps even a tip at the end if you’re painting for someone else.

For a great finish, start at the top and work your way down.

Last tip: Paint at the top of your house and not at the bottom.

Although this may seem obvious at first, inexperienced artists might not have the confidence to work from the bottom.

This is a common occurrence. A DIY-painter may start a job but then realize he or she cannot finish it. Then they call NEVER PAINT AGAIN to have the work completed.

You might be surprised to learn that TOP decorators are often referred to by this very name. TOP!

Always start at the top. Yes, on the ladder or scaffolding. Then work your way down.

There is a right and a wrong way to do almost anything in life. If you pay attention to these tips and follow the correct method to paint your house, there shouldn’t be any problems.