Wood Home Exterior Painting: Techniques
A fresh coat of paint can do wonders for the beauty and life of a wood-sided
house. Following are exterior painting instructions and techniques that will
help you give your home a professional-looking makeover.
Preparation
Before you start painting, make sure you
have thoroughly prepared the exterior
surface. It will make painting much easier
and make the new coat last longer. Visit
Lowes.com/Videos for the video and printable
instructions on Wood Home Exterior Painting:
Prep and one on Troubleshooting.
- TIP: Before starting an exterior painting project, check the weather forecast. The job can take a few days. It’s best to paint on days that are warm and dry rather than hot and humid. Also, plan the days so you’re working on a side of
the house that is in the shade.
Selecting Paint
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01 Estimate paint requirements:
- Calculate the square footage surface of each side of your
house: height times width, minus
the surface of doors and windows.
- Multiply the surface calculation by two as you should apply two thin
coats rather than one thick coat
that can cause problems.
- Divide the results by the paint’s coverage estimate as indicated on the paint container. Typically, a high-quality paint will cover 400 square feet per gallon.
If you need help with this step visit Lowes.com/Calculators.
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02 Select the type and color of paint that best matches your needs and
preferences. Most homeowners use an acrylic latex paint because it dries
quickly, cleans up with water and fades less. For larger painting projects,
consider buying paint in more economical 5 gallon containers.
03 Mix the paint thoroughly following manufacturer’s directions. Typically, pour a few different cans of paint into a large bucket and mix thoroughly. This is called boxing and will make sure you get a consistent color between containers.
- TIP: A Lowe’s associate can advise you on paint selection, coverage and application techniques.
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04 Cover all plants or garden beds in the work area with plastic or cloth drop cloths to
protect them from paint drippings.
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Applying Paint
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01 Plan your exterior painting job. Professional painters recommend that you:
- Paint the top section of the wall surface first, moving side to side. This method allows you to eliminate drips as you move lower on the wall.
- Paint siding first. Once it has dried, paint the trim.
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02 Refer to the Materials and Tools list for recommendations.
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03 Select an appropriate ladder for the exterior painting job. Use a sturdy step ladder if
possible. For a two-story home, you may need an extension ladder. For all ladders, make sure that the legs are set on a solid and level surface. Always have three points of contact between you and the ladder: two feet and one hand. Also keep your waist
between the rails of the ladder.
- TIP: If you’re painting on an extension ladder, use a partially-filled 5 gallon bucket and rope to hoist up paint and tools. Place wire hooks around the rim of the bucket to hang brushes. Keep a clean brush with you to remove any dust on the work surface.
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04 Apply paint to the exterior surface using a brush or roller. For best results:
Paint up to the trim edge with a brush.
Paint the bottom edge of overlapping siding or paint the groove of grooved siding with a brush.
Paint in small areas, applying the paint in even strokes that return to the wet paint.
Apply the paint in two thin coats rather than one thick coat for maximum coverage and minimal drips.
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If using a roller: Use a brush to cut in or apply paint where the roller cannot easily cover.
Then load the roller with paint, but not dripping. Use a roller grid in the bucket to help
remove excess paint from the roller. Once you’ve covered a section, lightly roll across
it again to remove any excess paint.
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If using a brush: Use a larger (3-4") brush to paint the face of the clapboards or
other primary surfaces.
Once a section is covered, carefully lower the paint/tool bucket to the ground, then
move the ladder to work on the next section.
Continue working from side to side, top to bottom until the surface on one wall is painted. Then move to the next side of the house.
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TIP: If you need to take a break, finish the section you’re working on, such as at a
window or corner. Don’t stop in the middle of a wall where minor shade differences
may show up. Brushes and rollers with latex paint can be protected in plastic wrap
for up to a few hours in a cool, shaded area. For brushes, try to form the bristles
back to their original shape.
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Trimming
Once the paint has dried on the siding, it’s time to tackle the trim work. You may have to remove some painter’s tape
depending on what you have masked off.
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01 Use a small (1-2") trim brush or roller to apply paint from the top down to the bottom.
Take your time and remember to finish strokes back into the wet paint.
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02 Apply a second coat of trim and allow the trim paint to dry.
03 Remove any masking covers or painter’s tape still on the house.
04 Visually inspect the entire house to make sure you didn’t miss any spots, and touch-up as needed.
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05 When done, clean up painting equipment following manufacturer’s recommendations.
- Latex cleanup:
- Unload as much paint as possible from the brush or roller back into the paint can.
- Rinse the tools in a bucket. Run them under water and remove excess paint with your hands or a brush comb. Use detergent if necessary.
- When the brush is clean, reform the bristles and let it dry on a paper towel.
- When dry, hang brushes for best storage.
- When the roller cover is clean, stand the cover upright on a paper towel. When dry, store roller covers in a plastic bag.
- Dispose of the dirty paint water according to guidelines set by your local recycling center.
- Cleanup for non-latex paints may require the use of turpentine or paint thinner. Read the cleanup instructions on the
paint container or ask a Lowe’s associate for help.
- TIP: To tightly close a paint can lid without splatter, lay a piece of newspaper on top of the lid, then strike the lid around the lip with a soft hammer to close the seal. Excess paint will splatter onto the disposable newspaper.
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A house that needed a fresh look now looks like new—thanks to a couple coats of paint. For other practical ways to
improve your home, watch the other how-to videos with printable instructions available at Lowes.com/Videos.