by 3 people |
How to Paint Your House...without killing yourself or anyone else.
As a former painting contractor I've concluded that house painting is simple, just not easy; the devil's in the details. While most people say that there's three phases to painting a house: preparation, application and clean-up. I like to add one more -- planning. Like anything else, you can avoid downtime with just a little planning on how you go about it. It might help take the "pain" out of "pain-ting." (I know, it's cheap. Sorry.)
House Painting Info Online
The "How-to" of actually putting paint on your house.
- House Painting Guide
- This is the first (and probably the last) site you'll need for painting your house, both inside and out. It is "The House Painting" Site; just read, and action and your house will be painted.
- Painting Articles from Service Magic
- This site can provide you with some ideas, hints, tips and know-how on different painting techniques. Rather deep in info, it may be more than you want for just a re-paint, but some great info on spraying, hiring contractors, staining, etc.
- Ask The Builder
- This an "advice" type site, with answers to specific questions about all sorts of home repair questions, including painting and staining. I like it for the little "niche" type questions I may have about doing a little part of the bigger job I'm doing.
- Online Classified for House Painting, Home Improvement Leads, DIY ...
- Provide Online Classified for House Painting, Home Improvement Leads, DIY Plumbing, Handyman Services, Electricians, General Contractor, Landscaping Designs ...
Setting Up Operations Headquarters for your Painting Campaign
Getting Your "Stuff" Together
Now you have the "to do" lists done. It's time to build your "with what" lists. I usually do this about four weeks before I plan to start the painting project. I start by setting up in the garage. This usually means cleaning it. (Scratch one to-do off the first list!)I then take the bare floor and lay out a big 8' by 10' tarp. This is where I put all the tools and equipment I need to get the job done. Starting with the lists, I begin gathering tools, equipment and materials I have on hand, and lay them out on the tarp.
If there's something I need and don't have, I (yes!) start a list of stuff I need.
By setting up the list this early, I manage to get all the little projects I need to get done earlier, and I can manage to have all my equipment, tools and materials there, ready to rumble on the day I want to start painting.
Preperation Tools for House Painting
The Tools You Need to Get the House Ready to Paint
FAIP PowerWasher 1,750 PSI Electric Power Washer #PWS1750
This jewel will save you loads of time in trying to get your house clear of dirt, loose paint, cobwebs, and other unmentionables off of the surfaces you plan to paint. While you could rent these, just think of the money you can save when it comes time to wash the car....(that's tool-minded male thinking). Just be careful...you can remove the siding of your house with this thing!
Amazon Price: (as of 07/12/2009) 
Dry Top 10-by-12-Foot 5-Millileter Tarp, Blue #10121
I like to use tarps to wrap up shrubs and plants I don't want paint on. With a few bungee cords and wooden stakes hammered into the ground, you can tie these plants back out of the way so you can get into the area you need to paint. I like this size when scraping and priming a house, too, as it will catch alot of the flakes and dirt as I move it along with me. These make great tents, too -- for when your brother-in-law comes to visit, he can have his privacy in the back yard.
Amazon Price: $4.80 (as of 07/12/2009)
Hyde Tools 1In 2Edge Paint Scraper 10500
I like scrapers like this one, as I move the ladder around to scrape loose paint and prime, I usually also find a nail or two that needs pounded in...I just flip this baby over and pound that sucker back in where it belongs before it rips another hole in my pants.
Amazon Price: $2.89 (as of 07/12/2009)
Red Devil 6251EZ Ergo EZ Grip 7-in-1 Multipurpose Painter Tool
A must have in all phases of your painting job. This little jewel will help rip out caulk and get into those corners you can't reach with other scrapers...and a million other things you can think of while your painting. (They say you're not a real painter unless you have one of these in your pocket at all times!)
Amazon Price: $7.39 (as of 07/12/2009)
Allway Stainless Steel Wire Brush
This works great for knocking all the loose scrapings to the ground after you use the scraper, and can do a pretty good job on the bbq grill in the off years!
Amazon Price: $6.49 (as of 07/12/2009)
Some Tools That Can Help You Plan...
..When free online info isn't enough.
The Art of Exterior Painting: A Step-By-Step Guide to Choosing Colors and Painting Your Home
This book is put together with the help of one of my favorite paint companies (Benjamin Moore); if you're planning to change colors, in addition to painting, you'll find plenty of hints and tips in here.
Amazon Price: (as of 07/12/2009)
Step-By-Step Exterior Painting
The book is just what it says--the book will take you step-by-step through the whole job.
Amazon Price: (as of 07/12/2009)
OK Brush How to Paint the Outside of your House DVD
This is handy if you have never ever ever painted in your life. Better than just words on a screen or page, better than just a picture -- you'll see how it's done. Next best thing to having someone show you. Not as good as having someone do it for you.
Amazon Price: $9.99 (as of 07/12/2009)
Paint Ladder Stuff
Some Equipment you Take for Granted
You can usually rent ladders, or borrow one from a family member or friend...I lend mine out quite a bit!
Werner D1224-2 24-Foot 225-Pound Duty Rating Aluminum Flat D-Rung Extension Ladder
I find a 20-foot ladder too short, and anything bigger too heavy to move all the time. The 225 -pound rating makes it sturdy enough to feel secure when I am up and down all the time, yet light enough I can move it fairly easily.
Amazon Price: $315.00 (as of 07/12/2009)
Werner 378 8-Foot 300 Pound Duty Rating Aluminum Stepladder
I've used a six foot step ladder, but it just isn't quite tall enough. A ten foot (for my 6'2" body) is too tall for painting the soffits and eves from the step ladder. 8' ladders are my choice, but you may find one that better suits your body height and size.
Amazon Price: $183.13 (as of 07/12/2009)
Werner M1-8-16 16-Foot Type 250-Pound Duty Rating Aluminum Multi-Master Articulated Ladder
I've used these foldable ladders with mixed results. While they are handy for some weird situations, they usually have round rungs which can be hard on your feet and traction. (D shape rungs are much better, in my opinion.) If you have enough odd-ball situations to get too, this type of ladder may do the trick.
Amazon Price: $223.22 (as of 07/12/2009)
House Painting Tips
Some things I've learned while painting.
- Take down your screens, downspouts, fixtures (and anything else you plan to take down) and put them in a weather protected area, like the garage. That way, if it rains, you can still get stuff done, like wash the screens, paint the downspouts, etc.
- You can save loads of time in scraping and priming if you do them both at the same time. As you scrape off loose paint, before you move to the next spot, go ahead and prime the bare wood areas (and other areas that need primed.)
- I don't spray paint my house; to some it may save time, but the prep work is harder (as you have to tape off stuff), and it works better if you have someone with a roller behind you roll the paint out. A power roller can do the same thing, doesn't depend on the weather, and reduces the chances of overspray getting on the neighbors' flowers (or worse, their BMW!)
- Use the best paint, not the cheapest. It will adhere better, look better, and take fewer coats to cover. I had a friend get a discount store paint for $6 a gallon while I paid @20 a gallon. He put on three coats to cover, I put on one. He repainted three years later, and five years later, I don't need to paint...at least not this year.
- Buy paint at a paint store. Not only will you get a better grade paint, you'll get lots of free advice, tips and help from people who deal with paint all day long.
- Try and use a step ladder to paint the soffits. It beats scaffolding, and it's much cheaper.
- When renting or buying a ladder, get one that is just big enough. If you only weigh 180 pounds, you don't need a 450 pound capacity ladder. These ladders are very stable, but they are also verrrry heavy. With all the ladder moves you'll be making, you want to make it as simple as possible.
- Wrap the ends of your ladders (or the wingspans) in rags to keep from marring the walls when you set it up against the house.
- Instead of buying bucket hooks to hook a paint bucket on the ladder, make your own from a hanger or wire. It's cheaper, and you'll probably lose it before your done painting anyway.(I find mine with the lawn mower.)
- When working by yourself, try not to use a ladder at all. I've been stranded on the roof many times because a ladder fell over...and it can get awful hot up there in the summer.
My Paint Tools of Choice
I Won't Paint a House Without 'Em
Wagner Power Products 514010 514010 Roll N Go
This is my favorite. It's battery powered, and can be strapped on, so I can load about a gallon of paint and go...up and down ladders, making it easy to keep a wet edge thus avoiding lap marks.
Amazon Price: $39.99 (as of 07/12/2009)
Purdy Corporation 152335 3-1/2 3-1/2-Inch Black Nylon Glide Angle Paint Brush
This is my cutting brush. Holds plenty of paint and keeps and edge. After you learn to cut in, you'll never use anything but a Purdy paint brush.
Amazon Price: $20.39 (as of 07/12/2009)
Purdy Corporation 152730 3 3-Inch Nylon Glide Angle Extra Flat Paint Brush
This is Lisa's favorite paint brush. Smaller than my 3 1/2 Purdy, it still keeps its shape well for cutting work.
Amazon Price: $21.49 (as of 07/12/2009)
Red Devil 6251EZ Ergo EZ Grip 7-in-1 Multipurpose Painter Tool
This baby will stay with you for the entire paint job, prep, paint and cleanup. It's just plain too handy.
Amazon Price: $7.39 (as of 07/12/2009)
Painting Tools I Just Have to Have
Purdy Corporation Pro Extra Duo Roller Spinner 755100
My wife Lisa won't come out and paint unless she knows I still have one of these. It works just like a bicycle pump -- you pump away and you can spin your brushes and rollers to spin out the excess water. (I do recommend you put it in a five gallon bucket before spinning as to keep from splattering old dirty paint/water all over you and your spouse.
Amazon Price: $22.15 (as of 07/12/2009)
Wooster Brush 8619 Pelican Paint Bucket with Built-in 5-1/2-Inch Roll-Off Area
Say good-bye to all those 1 gallon paint cans. No more sore hands when you're cutting in around doors and windows, no more dropping your paint can when your hand got too tired to hold it! I just luuuuv mine.
Amazon Price: $9.68 (as of 07/12/2009)
Warner Tool 5-Gallon Mixer #204
I never buy one gallon paint cans -- it's cheaper to buy them in five gallon cans, but it can be difficult to mix unless you have this little gadget. Just put it in your cordless drill, stick it it and let 'er rip.
Amazon Price: $51.99 (as of 07/12/2009)
Your House Painting Blurbs
A place to write your message on a freshly painted wall....
Here's a place to tell about your tips, techniques, dos and don'ts, your successes and preferably, your horror stories so we can say "well, I guess my situation isn't so bad!"
TodDemuth wrote...
The main reason to scrape old paint is to scrape off the loose paint -- the pealing parts. If you paint over them, your new paint won't stick to the surface you want, and well, it will bubble and peal off, sometimes very shortly after it drys.
By washing and scraping, you are preparing the surface to receive new paint. The better you prepare it, the better your paint job will be, i.e., it will look good and it will last longer.
Posted April 25, 2008
natalie wrote
what happens if you don't scrape off the old paint or wash it off? What if you paint over the old paint? What will happen?
Posted April 25, 2008
YouTube About House Painting
Just a few tips....and maybe not!
george clinton - paint the whi...
How to Paint a House : How to ...
Kandy Paint, 1957 Chevy, Hou...
by TodDemuth
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