You probably already know that exterior painting involves more than just slathering a new layer of paint on the walls. It takes planning, preparation, tools and techniques. As we look at what is needed to set up the scene of your exterior house painting, you'll get the information you need to do the job safely and attractively.

We will assume that if you are getting ready to paint, you have already completed the initial steps of surface preparation:

• Wash the surface
• Repair any damaged areas
• Scrape away any loose paint
• Prime any bare wood or metal

Now you just about ready to begin painting! However, taking the time to set up the project correctly will make it go much more smoothly, with noticeably better results.

Gather All Your Exterior Painting Tools and Equipment

When you are in the middle of painting an exterior wall, you really don't want to have to go rummaging through the basement or garage for a tool. Even worse is to find yourself needing to run to the home improvement store for more paint, or a paint roller cover.

Instead, make sure you are prepared with all of the items you are likely to need:

• Ladder(s)
• Paint brush(es)
• Paint roller (with multiple roller trays and roller covers)
• Enough cans of paint to do the whole job
• Stir sticks
• Painter's tape
• Drop cloths or tarps
• Plastic sheeting
• Safety glasses
• Trash bags
• A clean, empty pint or quart container

Now that you have assembled your arsenal, you can start setting up the stage for your work of art!

How to Arrange the Exterior Painting Worksite

Begin by using drop cloths to cover the ground in the area near where you will paint, especially including walkways, steps, decks and patios. You want to protect them from potential drips, spills and splashes! Also, use the painter's tape and plastic sheeting to shelter anything else nearby that you don't want paint on, such as railings, windows, other walls, light fixtures, plants, doors, and so on.

Open your can of paint and stir it well, then pour some into your pint or quart container. This will be light enough to hold it easily in one hand while you paint with the other, rather than holding a full gallon can. Also pour paint into the roller tray and put a cover on the roller.

As you position your ladder, make sure it is on firm, level footing. Soft or uneven ground can easily lead to dangerous falls. Plan on setting and resetting your ladder numerous times, rather than trying to lean sideways on the ladder as you progress. The more you plan and prepare for the ladder movement ahead of time, the smoother your painting process will go.

Finally, put those safety goggles on! While it might seem foolish at first, you will be painting up above your head, and it is surprisingly easy (and unpleasant!) to end up with drips or splatters in your eyes.

You should now be ready to begin! Just be careful, take your time, be methodical, and enjoy the process!

Williams Professional Painting

Is exterior painting a little more involved than you have time for? Instead of making your way through this do-it-yourself process, you could always hire an exterior house painting company. That way, you don't have to buy the tools and paint, somebody else is up on those ladders instead of you, the paint is applied by an expert craftsman, and you can be doing other things while your house is painted!

When you work with Williams Professional Painting, you can count on a tidy, safe, efficient work environment. We provide our exterior painting crews with extensive training, and we set high expectations for them. Williams Professional Painting provides the Washington, D.C. area homeowners with exceptional painting at a reasonable price.