House painting is an easy way to protect the exterior of your home while updating its look. A new coat of paint can help seal out the elements and stave off damage to your siding caused by water and direct sunlight. However, there are a few tips for painting a house that can make the job easier, and your house painting job last as long as possible.

By following a few simple house painting tips, many homeowners can not only increase the protection of their homes’ exteriors, but increase the value of their home significantly.

Follow these seven tips for painting a house, and you’ll enjoy a professional looking paint job for half the price:

Tip #1: Consider Safety First

Read over the “Painting Safety” article in this section to learn the best safety tips for painting your home. Gather the equipment needed to safely complete your house painting job:

• Dust mask or respirator
• Fiberglass ladder
• Gloves
• Goggles
• Safety harness and fall arrest system.

Tip #2: Clean All Surfaces

Paint is simply glue with pigment added to it. Therefore, in order to get the paint to properly adhere to a surface, the house painting surface must be clean and dust free. In the case of an exterior paint job, you should thoroughly clean and wash the exterior of the home with soap and a sponge. One of the most important tips for painting a home’s exterior is to avoid using power washers. These can force water under the siding of the home and cause damage.

Tip #3: Caulk the Cracks in the Exterior

The main purpose of exterior house painting is to protect the home from water damage. Fill in any cracks in the exterior or around windows with a high quality caulking.

Tip #4: Use Quality Equipment

The exterior of a home can be painted with any type of brush or materials, but the highest quality paint jobs are rolled or sprayed on. You may purchase or rent professional painting equipment to use for your project. Many home improvement stores will have this equipment available for reasonable prices.

Tip #5: Thoroughly Prime the Area

Once the exterior has dried from being washed and the caulking has set up, it’s time to prepare the area you will be painting. Among other tips for painting a house, priming the exterior surfaces to be painted can assist in the adhesion of the final house painting job.

Tip #6: Know When and How to Apply the Finish Coat

Follow the directions on the primer regarding the amount of time needed to cure. As soon as it is dry, begin applying the finish in several thin coats for best results.

Tip #7: Clean Up Carefully

Carefully clean up all of the equipment you’ve used with any commercially available solvents. You should do this immediately following house painting to avoid having dried paint in the equipment or brushes.