Time to paint your home exterior

If the weather is good and you haven't yet got round to painting your home exterior, do it now before the rainy season sets in. You will need to set aside a week to include prep and painting.

 

When prepped and painted properly your home shouldn't need any attention for 5 to 7 years, which is why it makes good sense to get it right the first time. We have prepared a list of things you need to do that will not only add curb appeal to a home, but also keep it in tip-top condition. 

Your home is probably the most expensive investment you will ever make and annual maintenance is important to ensure that any defects or faults are attended to as quickly as possible. Over and above regular maintenance, painting the exterior of a home allows you to fix up any cracks, sort out problems and keep your home exterior looking good.

Pop into your local Builders to buy all the tools and materials you will need to get started on fixing up your home exterior.

Fix cracks

Fixing exterior cracks is not just about slapping on exterior crack filler. If you want to prevent a re-occurrence of cracks they need to be chipped out and cleaned before filling. Use a hammer and cold chisel to remove any loose plaster and create a 'V' shape as deep as possible to get to the source of the crack. Blow out any debris and dust before filling with a cement-based mortar (large cracks) or exterior crack filler (small cracks).

GOOD TO KNOW:
For deep cracks build up layers of filler, allowing each layer to set before applying further layers.

Once dry, sand smooth. If you need to blend filler to a textured wall, use a sponge to match the surrounding texture before the plaster is fully dry.

Repair damp

Damp can cause severe problems if left unattended for too long. Over time damp will cause mortar to degrade and become weak and result in extensive cracks. Any signs of peeling or bubbling of paint on walls should be investigated to rule out damp, which generally presents itself in this way.

Where damp has become a problem, strip away the paint in the affected area - down to the plaster - and apply Prominent Damp Cure as recommended by the manufacturer.

Paint exterior

Prominent Paints offer a range of exterior paints in trendy colours that provide excellent UV and water resistance, bridge hairline cracks and offer high-hiding properties, which means you use less paint to cover imperfections on exterior walls. Their range includes products for walls, roofs, timber beams or wood fittings, and steel. I have been using Prominent Paints, both interior and exterior, for over 20 years - with excellent results.