Before You Begin Exterior Painting

by Kim Kinrade

There is nothing like a first impression and unfortunately for many home sellers this is all too often the case. Many home sales are lost by a prospective buyer's first look at the exterior of a home because it needed an extra $1000 in painting.

The curb appeal of the home is a factor that most realtors will advise their clients to improve before selling. This includes landscaping and making sure the exterior of the home is clean and fresh. For painted homes this includes either skilled patching of worn areas or a a total repainting of the home.

Whether or not you are selling your home peeling paint means that you need to get the home's exterior refinished if only to save the wood from deterioration and moisture getting into the home. A properly painted home will be sealed to the elements besides providing a beautiful glow for your home.

Finding the Source of Peeling Water

Moisture is the biggest culprit in peeling. This can include water constantly dripping from the gutters to water vapor condensing underneath the paint through a crack. It doesn't take much of an opening to allow moisture a foothold. This can also occur in older homes built without vapor barrier. Moisture from the interior gets into the walls and under the paint.

• Wood Type: Cedar and redwood do not hold paint well because of the oils they secrete. These types of wood, as well as rough-cut softwoods, are also subject to expansion and cracking which will cause fissures in the paint so these surfaces should be stained.


• Sun: Exterior walls facing south and west are much more subject to peeling that ones in the other directions. Ultra violet rays not only leach the pigment they can cause the base to break down allowing moisture to penetrate. This is especially true with oil-based paints which are relatively brittle compared with latex and will not respond well to expansion and contraction.


• Incompatible Base Coat: A good oil-based primer must be used before attempting to put a latex or alkyd over an enamel or oil-based paint. These paints are waterbased and have nothing to stick to. The oil primer provides a holding base for both mediums.


• Wrong Paint: Interior paint is for interior use. Don't put it on the outside of a home.


• Weather: Don't paint in the rain, even if the area is sheltered. The air is filled with moisture. As well, look at the temperature restrictions on the paint can and follow them. Many people paint when it is too cold for the recommended application.


• Surface Contamination: Years of dirt and/or any contamination like mold and mildew can prevent a good bonding.

Wash the Home First

Before painting rent a power sprayer and clean the whole home. Be careful to use a low setting or else you might cut swaths into the paint down to the wood. The main idea here is to clean the surface to with a biodegradable soap to see what you have then you can make a decision whether or not you want to paint it. It may be that the cleaning is enough.

If the home needs painting then set the power to the recommended power in order to clean off all peeling paint but not rip chunks out of the wood. Do the doors and garage doors as well.

Entrance Areas

Because they are right at eye level entrance doors and garage doors need extra care. Rather than just washing and scraping these portals require careful sanding and painting with the right color. The tones and hues should be coordinated with the rest of the home's décor.

Garage doors take up a large part of the home's exterior and are usually located on the front of the home. It is for this reason that small blemishes should be repaired and the paint should be carefully applied.

Professional Painter

• Save Time: To save yourself the hassle and time of painting your home you might want to hire a professional company. This doesn't mean a gang of kids hanging off ladders but a company that specializes in exterior painting and has been in business for a while.


• Right Equipment: Not only will this save time the pros arrive with the right tools and protective gear for both the painting and to protect your property. They also know how to work in high places and have insurance in case of accidents. And there's nothing worse than having to severely prune nice shrubs and tress because of paint splatter. In less than a week you home will glow and, with attention to the landscaping, the home will have curb appeal.


• Decorator: Another reason for hiring a professional painter is that most have a person with decorating experience on staff. This saves time and money hiring one and an experienced eye can formulate a color scheme that is up-to-date and appealing.

If you are set on doing the job yourself then get the right gear and protective equipment. As well give yourself time to do the job right.