How to paint a house? From start to finish!

Painting a house is a big project if you get it right then your house will look amazing. Like all painting projects, preparation is the most important part of any paint job.

In this article, we will be revealing how to paint a house from start to finish! We have separated each stage of house painting into sections, if you have any questions or anything not covered in this article then feel free to ask in the comment section below!

Before you do anything you must hire scaffolding, because health and safety is a very important aspect of DIY! You will need a full house scaffolding not just a tower, also mention you will need a ladder!

What’s Needed To Paint A House?

Here is your checklist of materials needed to start painting. It is best to have all materials on-site before you start so you can get on and get stuck in!

1. Scaffolding, overalls, goggles and a mask
2. Scrappers, sandpaper and a woodblock
3. Dust sheets for the floor below
4. External filler, caulk and silicone
5. Paintbrush, rollers and roller trays
6. Paints: masonry paint, undercoat and gloss

Once your scaffolding has been erected and you are ready to start, be sure to check your ladder is tied off and your scaffolding boards are secured.

Sanding, Scraping and Filling!

Sanding, scraping and filling are time-consuming tasks but it needs to be done for that perfect paint job. The more effort you put into the filling and sanding stage the better your house will look!

Top Tip: Don’t forget to clean and remove any debris in the guttering. Also, check for leaks and broken seals!

Fascia & Soffit Boards

When decorating always start at the top. Fascia and soffit boards need to be scraped and filled first. Use your sandpaper, scrapper and sand block to take the top layer of paint away, create a key your undercoat layer can grip to.

If your house has a gable end then the wood surround will need sanding, remove any excess or flaking paint. Make sure all loose or flaking paint has been removed and any holes filled.

1. Scrape any loose or flaking paint away
2. Sand until smooth to the touch
3. You do not have to remove all wood paint
4. Use a wood filler and fill any scuffs or dents

Windows & Doors

With the windows and doors, you need to remove any flaking or loose paint. You do not have to remove it back to the timber. Just make sure you have sanded for smoothness.

If your windows are UPVC, then you can use a UPVC cleaner and make the frames look much whiter. Check the window seals, if they have started to fall away then remove any loose silicone, do not seal your windows until you have finished painting!

1. Remove any loose or flaking paint
2. Sand until smooth to the touch
3. You do not have to sand to bare wood
4. Remove any old silicone

Walls, Window Sills and Pillars

Once you have sanded and cleaned your window frames, soffits and fascia boards you need to concentrate on the window sills, walls and pillars.

Depending on the condition of your house this step will take the longest. Again remove any loose or flaking paint and sand the paint until it becomes smooth.

Fill any holes with a sand and cement mix or external filler mix, anything that is painted with masonry paint needs to be filled with sand and cement for it to match.

• Remove any loose or flaking paint
• Fill any holes with sand and cement
• Use a masonry filler do not sand
• Use a soft brush to finish any masonry filler

Undercoating Frames, Sills, Fascia & Soffits

Once your house has been sanded and filled, it is time to start undercoating the wood sections. Start at the top and undercoat the soffits, fascia, trims, frames and doors.

You should apply two coats of undercoat, the more layers of undercoat the better the end result will be!

• Use a brush and paint with the grain of the wood
• Two or three layers of undercoat will suffice

Masonry Painting

Once you have finished uncoating all the wooden features of your house, now is the time to start with the masonry paint. You can use a roller to apply masonry paint, but be sure to have a dust sheet on the floor below to catch any spills or spray.

• Use a roller for the larger sections
• Use a brush for window sills and pillars
• Two or three coats for that perfect finish
• Be careful of spray and spills (use a dust sheet)

Finish Painting Your House!

Once you have painted the masonry and undercoated the wooden features of your house, now is the time to apply the finishing coats. You will need a nice soft brush to apply your gloss or oil–based paint.

Take your time and cut-in to the masonry paint, once you have finished painting you should apply a bead of silicone around your window frames. This will give you a good crisp finish!

• Tape around your window frames
• Always brush with the grain
• Run your paint out with the brush to avoid runs
• Use a mastic gun to re-seal your window frames

Once you have sealed your house with silicone your house is finished. Get the scaffolding down and enjoy your DIY painted house!