Painting
How to Paint Exteriors
Exterior Painting Basics
Always paint when the weather is warm and dry. Monitor the weather forecast before you paint. You must start with a dry surface, and you must also allow time for your fresh paint to dry. Avoid painting in bright sunlight as the paint will dry too quickly, producing unsightly seams.
Essential Tools and Materials for Painting Interiors
Here's everything you'll need to get it right the first time.
| Paint brushes, rollers, and/or edge pads | Trim brushes | |
| Foam pad | Edge rollers |
Painting Clapboard with a Pad
1. Paint the bottom edges of each siding board with long smooth strokes.
2. Then load the whole pad with paint and pull the pad along the length of the board. Smooth out overlapping areas as you paint. Starting at the top and working your way down, smooth out overlapping areas with the pad to avoid a seam. Work quickly. If the paint dries before you smooth out the edges your seams will show.
Painting Clapboard with an Airless Sprayer
1. Hold you spray gun on its side and cover the bottom edges of each individual clapboard
2. Then hold your sprayer upright and paint along the length of each board surface with overlapping parallel strokes. Work quickly. You want to achieve a smooth even surface before the first spray strokes dry.
TIP
Use sprayers with caution about safety procedures and follow all manufacturers' recommendations.
Painting
You've prepped with care. Now we'll show you how to paint with confidence.
Other Painting Links:
- Interior Painting Tips
- Using Brushes and Rollers
- Painting Ceilings and Walls
- Choosing a Paint Finish
- Using Interior Wall Epoxy
- How Much Paint Do I Need?
- Interior Decorative Painting Tips
- Brilliant Metals How-to Guide
- Brushed Pearl How-to Guide
- Brushed Suede How-to Guide
- Color Washing How-to Guide
- Crackle Effects How-to Guide
- Dragging, Linen Weave How-to Guide
- Granite How-to Guide
- Metals and Patinas How-to Guide
- Rag Rolling How-to Guide
- Sandstone How-to Guide
- Sponging How-to Guide
- Textured Stone How-to Guide
- Tuscan Accents How-to Guide
- Venetian Plaster How-to Guide
- Exterior Painting Tips
- Exterior Painting Basics
- Fixing Common Paint Problems
- How Much Paint Do I Need?
You've prepped with care. Now we'll show you how to paint with confidence.
Exterior paints
Valspar paint products are engineered for maximum weather resistance.
National style
Reds, whites and blues are ideal for this national architectural style.
Explore elegance
Laura Ashley epitomizes English country elegance with these paint colors.