NeighborLink Tips - Exterior Painting Basics
One of our Advisory Group members, Matt Floor, recently put together an Exterior Painting Basics overview document for our volunteers. This is a handy guide to review as you plan an exterior painting project. There are many more details that go into an exterior painting project than you think. This is a starting point and we encourage you to add or subtract supplies as you feel necessary.
Before The Paint
Inspect the job to be done. If there is a lot of scraping to be done, plan to scrape one day and paint another. This will give you time to caulk around any soffit areas or gaps in wood siding and around windows. If possible, start with a power washing of the area to be painted and then on to scraping, caulk, and priming bare wood areas.
General Notes
If there is any bare wood after scraping, start with an exterior primer before applying paint.
If the house was built before 1978 there may be lead paint present so it is not recommended to have children present for the scraping and adults should wear a particle mask.
Use drop clothes along driveways and walkways to reduce issues with drips and spills.
Remember a bucket and a large trash bag for clean-up.
If possible, it helps if each team member has a small brush and a roller.
Always stir the paint well before use.
Supplies/Tools
- Particle mask
- Scraper/wire brush
- Caulk
- Caulk Gun
- Primer
- Stirrer
- Five-gallon bucket
- Roller
- Roller cover
- Basic hand tools
- Roller tray
- Tray liner
- Brushes (2” & 3”)
- Small containers for paint (old butter or sour cream tubs work great)
- Ladder(s)
- Drop cloth
- Wasp/hornet spray
- Trash bag
- Rags
If you have additional tips, please share those in the comments.
