How To Paint Exterior Surfaces

Instructions

• 1

  Paint the face of a fascia first, then cut in the paint at the bottom edges of soffit panels. Note that fascia and soffit's are usually painted the same color as the trim. The ease draws and downspouts after painting the fascia, beginning with the backsides and working toward the front. If you use metal primer, you can paint ease draws and downspouts with the trim paint.
• 2

  Then do soffit panels and trim with a four-inch paintbrush. Start by cutting in around the edges of the panels using the narrow edge of the brush, then feather in the broad surfaces of the soffit panels with full loads of paint. Make sure to get good coverage in the groove areas.
• 3

  Paint the bottom edges of lap siding with the paintbrush held flat against the wall. Paint the bottom edges of several siding pieces before returning to paint the faces of the siding boards themselves.
• 4

  Paint the siding board faces with a four-inch brush working from the top, paid only as much as you can comfortably reach.
• 5

  Paint all the siding all the way down to the foundation, working from the top to the bottom. Shift the ladder where scaffolding, and paint the next section. Paint up to the edges of an end caps and window and door trim that will be painted later. If trim will not be painted, mask it off or use a paint shield.
• 6

  Paint the foundation with anti-caulking masonry primer. Start by cutting in areas around basement windows. Then, take the board surfaces of the foundation with a four-inch brush, working the paint into the mortar lines.
• 7

  Paint doors and windows using a Sash brush. First, paint bevelled edges of raised door panels and the inside of the window frames. Next, paint the door panel faces before the edges dry. Follow this by painting the rails, the horizontal frame members on doors and windows. Finally, do the faces of the doors.
• 8

  Use the trim or Sash brush and a moderate load of paint to cover the inside edges of door and window jams, casings and brick moulding. Make note that the surfaces on the interior side of the doorstop usually matched the colour of the interior trim.
• 9

  Paint the outside edges of casings and brick wall mouldings using a Sash brush. Mask off freshly painted siding after it has dried.
• 10

  Paint the faces of door jams, casings and brick mouldings, feathering fresh paint around the painted edges.
• 11

  Paint wooden door thresholds and porch floors. Use specially formulated enamel floor paint for maximum durability.