It’s been said many times that a doing a job well requires preparation. In fact, Benjamin Franklin said that “By failing to prepare, you are preparing to fail.” Just like in other areas of our life, good preparation for house painting will yield superior results. Whether you are having your home professionally painted or going the DIY route, you can prepare for house painting in a few simple steps.
First, you’re going to need to amass your supplies. You’ll need scrapers, sanders, drop cloths, cleaning agents, a solid ladder, and a pressure washer if you so desire. You’ll also want to get out some old clothes that you don’t mind getting ruined!
Next, you’ll want to check the weather. Paint needs certain conditions to dry properly and adhere to the surface. You’ll want warm, but not hot weather, somewhere between 55-70 degrees Fahrenheit. Ideally, you’ll need humidity at less than 80% as well.
Now, you’ll need to complete the actual preparation, unless you’ve hired a professional to do so. Power wash the surface for an effective time-saver or clean with other methods. Once the area is clean and dry, scrape off as much paint as possible with a scraper, keeping in mind that lead paint should be removed by professionals. A drop cloth placed on the ground and covering plants will keep the paint chips from entering into your soil.
After these steps, your home’s surface will be ready to paint! House painting is a multi-step process that must be done carefully and efficiently in order to get have a job well done. We hope that this has been a helpful tutorial in the process of preparing for house painting!