What to consider before painting your house exterior

Is your house in need of a fresh finish on the outside? Or perhaps it’s just time for a makeover?

Planning is the most important part of painting your house. It might not be as much fun as picking the colour, but it will ensure all your efforts result in a long-lasting, high-performance – and beautiful – finish.

A textured home exterior and patio

Whatever exterior surface you are painting, planning and preparation are essential to getting a good, long-lasting final result. Textured exterior wall painted in Resene Resitex Plastercote in Resene Foggy Grey, bench seat in Resene Foggy Grey, flooring in Resene Gunsmoke, chair in Resene Awol with a small side table in Resene Nirvana, table pot and large planter in Resene Turtle Green, medium planter in Resene Fawn Green, small planter in Resene Awol, planter holders in Resene Clover with tins in Resene Fawn Green, interior walls in Resene Miso, interior floor in Resene Thorndon Cream, vase in Resene Clover and tealight holder in Resene Fawn Green. Project by Vanessa Nouwens, image by Wendy Fenwick Sofa and chair from Danske Mobler, throw from H&M, leaf cushions from Briscoes, green cushion and artwork from H&M, grey cushion from Adairs.

Here are some key things to consider before painting your house, or garage, exterior.

Pre-project planning:

How old is your house? If it dates from 1970 or earlier, and you’re not sure when it was last painted or old paint has just been covered up, you may want to test for lead in the old paint. You can purchase a lead-based paint test kit from your local Resene ColorShop, or take in a paint flake to Resene ColorShop staff and they can test it for you.
How big is your house? This not only determines how long the project will take but also how much paint, and preparation products like mould remover and undercoat you will need, which will impact the cost. Measure the entire area to be painted, multiplying the length and width, to get the total square meterage. Don’t forget to subtract the square meterage of large windows or doors. Top tip: Resene has an online paint calculator to help you estimate how much product you need.
Know your budget. See how it stacks up once you’ve measured how much paint and prep products you’ll need. Keep track of what you’re spending.
When do you want the project finished by? If you have a fixed date, work back from that to see when you need to start, taking into account time for sanding, washing, and prepping.
In most places, you’ll also need to consider planning around the seasons. Spring and summer are usually the best times for most prep and paintwork, though if you are in a region with drier weather you can do exterior painting in autumn and winter too.
If you’re also painting the roof, consider doing this before painting the house exterior to reduce the risk of damage to your new paintwork. Or you may want to hire a professional who has all the appropriate safety gear for working at height.

If you’re painting a brick building, do a full check to see if any bricks or mortar need repairing or replacing.
On wooden surfaces check for any rotten or damaged weatherboards that will need replacing.
On concrete or plaster surfaces check for any holes or cracks that need repairing.
How much direct sun hits your house? Are you planning to use a dark colour? You might need to use a Resene CoolColour to protect the substrate from over-heating. A Resene CoolColour reflects more heat than a normal colour to keep the coating and surface cooler. Check with Resene ColorShop staff whether a CoolColour is right for your project.
Talk to an expert like your local Resene ColorShop team or use the free Ask a Paint Expert service online about the right preparation products and paint for your house. They may vary based on the type of substrate material (such as concrete, brick or wood), and the condition it’s in.
For timber exteriors waterborne paints are typically more durable. Resene Hi-Glo, Resene Lumbersider (low sheen finish), or Resene Sonyx 101 (semi-gloss) are all good options, depending on how glossy you’d like the final result.
If you are repainting older, imperfect weatherboards and cement or brick finishes, a high gloss is more likely to show imperfections, so you may want to choose something lower in gloss like Resene Lumbersider Low Sheen.

A deep green front door

Before painting weatherboards give them a thorough check for any signs of rot, mould or moss and replace any damaged ones.

Weatherboards and door trim painted in Resene Merino, door in Resene Parsley, deck in Resene Woodsman Natural with pots in Resene Digeridoo and door mat in Resene Felix. Lighting from Lighting Plus. Project by Sarah Kolver and Emma Rawson, image by Bryce Carleton.

Repainting your home exterior and patio

Plan to paint in fine weather, not too hot, but warm enough for the paint to try.

Wall painted in Resene Nebula with deck in Resene Woodsman Uluru and pergola in Resene Sea Fog. Large vase painted in Resene Sea Fog and planter on side table inn Resene Cloud. Project by Laura Lynn Johnston, image by Melanie Jenkins. Sofa and Armchair from Poynters, tables from King, throw from Citta, fan palm from Freedom.

Pre-painting prep

Do you need to strip back old paint? This will depend on the condition of the existing paint. Test the paint by cutting a series of lines into a section of the surface, and cover with tape. Make sure the tape is stuck down well and then pull it off quickly at a right angle. If the paint peels off easily with the tape it may need removing. Do the same test in different parts of the house, as it may just be some sections that need removing.
Use a heat gun or chemical stripper to remove any flaking paint. Make sure you read all instructions carefully before you start or hire a professional if you need help. If your home has lead-based paint on it, you may be best to hire a professional as it requires specialist preparation.
Check for moss and mould and treat with Resene Moss & Mould Killer.
Most houses will need a pre-paint wash with Resene Paint Prep and Housewash.
Mask around doors and windows – and any other features you’ll be painting around.

Top tip: Don’t waterblast wood cladding as it can damage the surface. Instead clean well with Resene Timber and Deck Wash.

Repainting outdoor areas with high-gloss finishes

High-gloss finishes can show up imperfections on older or textures surfaces. Opt for matte or low sheen if that is an issue in your exterior project. Back wall painted in Resene Aspiring with paint effect in Resene FX Paint Effects Medium mixed with Resene Moon Mist. Right wall, breeze blocks and vase in Resene Moon Mist, bench seat in Resene Aspiring, deck in Resene Woodsman Uluru, table and large plant pot in Resene Teak, tray in Resene Flax and small plant pot in Resene Siam. Cushions from Allium Interiors and Shut the Front Door. Project by Vanessa Nouwens, image by Wendy Fenwick.

When to paint

Some things to try if you’re not sure it’s warm enough for your paint to dry:

If the washing on the line is not drying, it’s not warm enough for your paint to dry either.
If water spilt on a concrete path doesn’t dry out, leave your painting until it does.
If a thin coat of water applied to the substrate has not evaporated in 15 minutes, leave your painting until it does.
A light breeze is ideal for drying your paint. If it’s too windy, your paint will dry too fast, so move operations to a more sheltered side of the building. Warm and cloudy is good, rain is not.

Top tip: Start ahead of the sun and work your way around the building keeping ahead of the sun as you go.

Tools

Here’s a checklist of painting tools. You may not need all of them depending on the nature of your project.

Paint brushes including a wide brush and a smaller cutting in brush
Roller with extension pole
Paint tray
Paint scraper
Masking tape
Drop cloths
Scaffolding or stable ladder
Protective mask
Heat gun
Chemical stripper (always use sturdy gloves)

Break down your paint project into smaller parts so you can finish one section before moving onto the next. This will help you feel like you are making progress as well as keep on track.