Fall Exterior Painting Milford, MA

Fall Exterior Painting tips

Whether your house is newly constructed or purchased from a previous owner, painting its exterior is the first step toward making it your home. An easy and cost-effective way to ensure a warm look and feel, painting can also rejuvenate your home with your own individual design statement.

Once the primer coat has dried and all your preparations are complete, make sure you have enough paint of the right color consistency to complete an entire section.

Step 1- Mix

Mix your paint thoroughly and continue to stir it before and during use.

Step 2 - Load Your Brush with Paint

To load your brush, immerse the first third of the bristles into the paint and tap it lightly against the inside of the can. Try not to drag the bristles across the lip of the can, as this will remove too much paint.

Step 3 - Use Long, Smooth Strokes

When you apply paint, use long, smooth strokes with your brush. On clapboard surfaces, if paint gathers along the horizontal edge, it has been applied too heavily or not brushed out enough.

Remember that for a well-spread even coat, you should brush oil-based house paints back and forth several times.

Latex paints, however, require less brushing. Because they dry out quickly, excessive brushing can cut deep brush marks into the paint film. When you use latex paints, apply the paint generously with one or two back strokes and then leave it to dry.

Step 4- Using a Roller

Applying paint with a roller works well with porous surfaces like masonry and stucco. Ideal for flat surfaces, rollers will not fit into inside corners, and will often deposit too much paint on the edges of outer corners.

To use a paint roller, dip your roller in the paint tray, rolling it back and forth to remove any excess paint. If it drips when you pick it up, it is overloaded.

Use long, even strokes, and roll in different directions to coat the entire surface. Finish painting with strokes in one direction.

Step 5- Finish with the Trim

Trim should be the last area you paint. Begin by coating your window sash and door paneling first, and then paint the window frame, sills and door trim.

If paint gets on the window's putty line, it will serve to protect the puttied surface from water. To create a clean edge, scrape off any excess paint with a razor blade.

If shutters can be removed, paint them separately and replace them when the rest of the job is finished.

Tips provided by: Ken O'Rourke Ken's Painting & Remodeling Milford, MA

and Benjamin Moore Paints