10 Tips for Painting Your House Exterior

Some home remodeling projects are just too huge to take lightly, and house painting is one of them. So adopt a steadfast mentality, prepare your weapons, steel yourself as if going to war, and most of all, relax and have fun (just kidding).

Here is how to paint your own house, all the while keeping your sanity intact and delivering good work in the process.

1. Each Side of the House Is a Project Unto Itself

Do not think: I'm going to paint the entire house now. Instead think: I am going to paint this one side of the house now. Consider one side of the house a project and ignore the other sides for now.

2. Do the Hard, Boring Parts First

Hard and boring parts are places like under the eaves. Fun places to paint are the most visible areas.

Psychologically you will run into trouble if you paint all the fun stuff first. You begin to think that the work is basically finished. Then, when you move to those hard, boring areas, they feel like twice as much work. So, get those under-the-eaves-type places out of the way first.

3. Throw Yourself a Piece of Candy Every So Often

During boring stretches, sometimes give yourself a carrot at the end of the stick. Say to yourself: If I finish this section, I get to do that more interesting area of the facade for awhile.

4. Flat Finishes Can Make Your Work Easier

Flat or satin finish paint?  This is a tough call, as both have advantages.Satin finish exterior paint is easier to clean, due to its light sheen. But one great thing about flat exterior paint is that you can pick up again on painting any time after you have taken a break, no overlapping seams visible.

5. On the Extension Ladder, Paint Whatever Is In Reach

If you are on a 16' extension ladder, it can be quite time-consuming to go up and down and move it every few minutes. For that reason, paint as far as you can comfortably and safely within reach while you are on top of the ladder, rather than following some pattern dictated by the house's architecture.

Again, this is where flat finish paint comes in handy. When you have to return to those painted areas later, it's easy to blend your new work in.

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