EXTERIOR PAINTING

So it's time to paint the house and you are trying to decide if you should attempt it yourself and save the expense of hiring a professional painter or go ahead and spend the money to hire someone to paint it for you. Lets look at what you will need if you decide to paint it yourself.

First, you will need some basic tools and equipment to get started. You may want to write down everything you need before hand so that when you are ready to start you wont be delayed because you forgot something. The first thing you will need to do when painting an exterior of a house is to pressure wash it. Be certain to use a cleaning detergent that is formulated just for pressure washing. Most all pressure washers have a chemical injection device on it so that you can apply the cleaner directly to the surface. Be certain when using a pressure washer not to use too much pressure as this can damage the surface that you are cleaning. Second, you will need to decide how you want to apply the paint to the surface. There are three basic techniques that you could use, brush, roll or spray. Unless you have experience using a airless sprayer I would advise you to cross this one off of your list because you could end up doing far more harm than good with a sprayer. Next you will need to be able to reach whatever surface you are painting, so you will need ladders, probably a extension ladder and also a step ladder. You will also need something to cover your shrubs and sidewalks so you will need some tarps or drop cloths. Last there are several small tools that you will need, a caulk gun, putty knife, scraper and of course a good paint brush. If you do not have some of these items such as ladders, pressure washer or an airless sprayer you can rent them at your local equipment rental store.

The most important thing to consider when trying to take on a project such as painting your house is your safety. There are many serious injuries and deaths each year caused by falls. Also, when moving ladders always be aware of where the power lines are at as this is another safety hazard you must look out for.

Last, you will need someone to help you. It is a big project and trying to do it alone is not advisable. Painting a house is a big project for any one person to undertake and the more help you have the easier it will make it.

If you decide to tackle this project, I believe that if you follow some of the guidelines that I have mentioned you should have very little trouble.