Angie's LIST Guide to
Exterior painting

Although exterior and interior painting share many characteristics, the paints themselves are formulated differently. The binders and additives in outdoor paint are formulated to resist the elements well, while indoor paint most likely will not.

The materials of the home’s facade should be considered. When painting flat surfaces like siding or wood, you can opt for standard outdoor paint. When painting a textured surface like stucco or brick, “elastomeric” paint is a much better choice. This type of paint can stretch more than normal paint, which allows it to bridge over small gaps and crevices, painting smoothly over texture.

Climate is another factor to consider. Sunlight, wind, rain and salty weather can all wear out paint. Oil-based paint is durable against wind, rain and temperature changes, but sunlight tends to degrade it. Alkyd paint chalks and sheds very thin layers when it begins to wear. Latex paint is the more durable option for very sun-drenched and relatively dry climate areas. Latex paint with high vinyl content should be avoided, however. Acrylic resin is by far the more durable binder for outdoor latex paint.

Areas that are subject to a lot of moisture, like the skirting around houses, may require mold-resistant paint, like outdoor paint with fungicide added. Another specialty paint to consider is a flame-resistant brand. Paint that resists fire rather than combusting could be a life saver for homeowners in wildfire-prone areas.

Though buying high-quality, specialty paint and getting a professional to apply it can be expensive, the investment will pay off with a high-quality, long-lasting paint job. Low-quality paint often lasts half as long as high-quality paint and even shorter if it's not applied properly.

Homeowners often do their own painting because it's a more accessible skill than, say, roofing or electrical repair.  But one of the most common mistakes amateur house painters make is failing to properly prepare the surface to be painted.   If there is any peeling -- and there usually is somewhere -- it's essential to scrape off any loose paint.  This doesn't just mean the parts that are already separated from the wood and ready to fall off on their own.  Each spot where paint has peeled loose needs to be scraped thoroughly until you can no longer get the sharp corner of a putty knife under any of the surrounding edges of paint.  Then, the bare spot needs to be sanded until the paint edges are smooth.  If you're not willing to put in this type of effort, hire someone.  Otherwise you will invest time and money into a paint job that won't last.

After scraping all loose paint, use a high pressure washer to remove dirt, debris and mold that are common on all homes.  Any area on the home’s exterior that shows signs of rot or damage should be replaced before painting begins.   Any bare wood from peeling or repairs should be primed before it is painted.

In addition to preparing the painting surface, you also need to protect the surrounding area from paint splatter or other damage from the work.  Cover air conditioning units, landscaping and other surfaces close to the work area with drop cloths, old sheets or blankets.  Windows and doors should be taped off, while accessories such as light fixtures, doorbells, shutters, mailboxes and other detailed features might be simply removed and put back on after the job is done.

If bushes or other plants are close to the surface area to be painted, trim them back or tie them with twine to allow space to work and to keep them from touching the paint while it's wet.