Your Life  

Make exterior painting projects easier, last longer

By ROYCE ARMSTRONG

The weather is beautiful, the lawn is green and the flowers are in bloom, but the house is beginning to look a little shabby with chipped and cracked paint.

You get what you pay for when it comes to paint. Go for quality. Buy the highest-quality paint you feel you can afford. It will go on easier, cover more area per gallon and last longer.

Choosing a brand name does not always tell the quality story. Most manufacturers formulate paints to cover all price ranges. For a long-lasting finish, choose premium paints in the mid- to upper price ranges, regardless of the brand name.

Here are some tips to make that painting job just a little easier and maybe help it last longer.

Tools, equipment

1. Paint scraper

2. High-quality exterior paint

3. High-quality four- or five-inch paint brush

4. Trimming brush for corners or narrow surfaces and trim pieces

5. Step ladder

6. Plastic sheets or dropcloth

Instructions

1. Spread the plastic dropcloth over any shrubs, flowers, sidewalks to protect them from stray drops of paint.

2. Scrape any cracked or peeled paint from the surface you will be repainting. Scrape until the only remaining paint is securely bonded to the surface.

3. Choose a clear day with good weather. Paint works best if applied when the temperature is between 50 and 90 F. If the temperature is too cool, the paint will not cure properly and if the temperature is too warm, it will dry too quickly. Work in the shade if at all possible to help keep the paint from drying too quickly.

4. Mix the paint thoroughly before starting. Stir the paint occasionally while you are working.

5. With a hammer and nail (8d to 12d) punch holes in the groove around the rim of the paint can where the lid fits to form a seal. These holes will allow the excess paint that is scraped from the brush to fall back into the can instead of building up and dripping down the outside.

6. Begin at the top of the area to be painted, such as the top of the wall or window. This allows you to smooth out any drips and runs on the way down.

7. Use long, smooth brush strokes running with the direction of the surface to apply the paint. For example, if you are painting siding, use horizontal brush strokes.

8. Paint trim pieces around windows and doors last.

If you are painting cracked or chipped masonry, stucco or cracked wood, consider an elastomeric coating. These highly elastic 100 percent acrylic coatings can bridge hairline cracks and are easily applied with a brush or roller.

With a little care, premium quality paint and following these tips, you can restore your home's exterior beauty for years to come.