very careful not to get too close to the surface of the house. Too much pressure can cause splintering and other damage, such as water beneath siding planks, so always approach the task with caution.
If the entire house is at this level of disrepair, you may want to hire a professional to handle the task. Otherwise, just work in one area at a time, heating the paint first to help release it. Play around with sandpaper or a power sander in small sections to see if it removes the paint. Most of the time, it gunks up the sander, so manual scraping is typically the best option, but it’s worth a try. Once the peeling paint is removed, sand the area.
Next, calculate the amount of paint you will need. Figure out the paintable area by measuring the width and height of each side, minus windows and doors. You can take your measurements to the paint counter and let themhelp. Tip: If you buy several one-gallon cans instead of, or in addition to, 5-gallon buckets, mix them together into a larger bucket. This will minimize the chance of noticeable shade variations between the cans.
STEP 4:
Make Repairs Paint will not stick to rotting wood, and siding that is decayed or soaking wet will not offer protection for your home. Since you’re getting ready to paint, it’s the perfect time to replace any overly worn boards anywhere on the house. Pay special attention to boards along the roofline, corners of the home, and around windows and doors. While you’re evaluating the condition of your home, also look at window glazing and caulking and add a fresh layer anywhere it’s peeling or gapped. This commonly occurs around openings, but also look for gaps at the ends of siding planks.
STEP 3:
Clean the Surface You may not even notice the
amount of grease and grime on the surface of your house until you get right up to it. But once you run a soapy rag across it or hit it with a pressure washer, you’ll see exactly howmuch your paint is hiding. Paint won’t properly adhere to a dirty surface, so a thorough cleaning is crucial for a long-lasting final result. Although it’s time and labor consumptive, you can wash the house with soapy water or TSP mixture, applied with a rag. From there, be sure to thoroughly rinse until there is no cleaner left on the surface.
STEP 5:
Remove Loose Paint Now that the surfaces are clean and exposed, look for areas of peeling paint. For a quality finish, you’ll need to scrape any areas where paint is coming away from the surface.
A faster way to accomplish the same goal is to use a pressure washer. Be
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