House Paint Project

[NFATrustGuy]

I've been slowly chipping away at painting one side of my house in hopes of finishing the most exposed/faded side before the weather gets too cold to paint. After today, I'm down to the last 20 feet or so. The difference is remarkable. I'm not changing colors. The original paint (applied in 2008) was just THAT faded.

Much respect for those who earn their living doing manual labor.

[00tec]

Ugh... I HATE painting.

Looking good though.

[hunterhawk]

Ha supposed to start mine next week...well im not...but a guy making a lot of money is. But thanks for the snow colorado...appreciate it

[brutal]

I don't mind painting. It's the prep... soo much work.

[GilpinGuy]

Much respect for those who earn their living doing manual labor.

My brother is a house painter by trade. I don't know how the hell he does it. Up on 40 foot ladders and shit....no thanks.

[Hummer]

I've been slowly chipping away at painting one side of my house in hopes of finishing the most exposed/faded side before the weather gets too cold to paint. After today, I'm down to the last 20 feet or so. The difference is remarkable. I'm not changing colors. The original paint (applied in 2008) was just THAT faded.

Much respect for those who earn their living doing manual labor.

It looks like you're doing good prep work which is fundamental to getting a smooth, long lasting finish. It takes patience and perseverance, and not cutting corners. An important consideration for the homeowner is to not wait until the siding has deteriorated before repainting. If that happens, the problems compound and each subsequent repaint wont last as long. Also, most paints specify a second coat to get enough dry film thickness for the paint to hold up. A quality paint on a good surface can last 20 years on many exposures.

[NFATrustGuy]

It looks like you're doing good prep work which is fundamental to getting a smooth, long lasting finish. It takes patience and perseverance, and not cutting corners. An important consideration for the homeowner is to not wait until the siding has deteriorated before repainting. If that happens, the problems compound and each subsequent repaint wont last as long. Also, most paints specify a second coat to get enough dry film thickness for the paint to hold up. A quality paint on a good surface can last 20 years on many exposures.

This tracks with everything I've heard and my research. I scraped, brushed and then primed with Zinser (sp?) primer. I'm using the best paint Sherwin Williams sells. I signed up for their loyalty program and buy the paint with the nearly monthly 40% off coupons.

The paint was in terrible shape, but the siding wasn't quite in the trouble stage. I don't know if it would have made it unscathed through another winter so I made it my goal to at least get the main body painted before this winter. As it often does, life snuck up on my and now I'm scrambling to find warm days that line up with my days off work. I think it'll happen, but it's gonna be tight. I had to go to work today and I'm on call tomorrow, so I'm not sure if I'll be around to finish up tomorrow.

I'll take a good look next Spring and make the decision regarding another coat. At some point, I need to do the rest of the house. This is the only side that's really in terrible shape, but the whole house could use a freshening up.

2 of the 4 sides of my house are stucco. Any words of wisdom for painting stucco? I've got a very nice airless sprayer that I've been planning to use for the stucco unless someone says this is a bad idea or has a better idea.

Thanks for the words of encouragement.

Now... if someone would just buy the car I have listed for sale in the non-firearms section of the trading post...

[Hummer]

That's a very nice car for the money and had you advertised it last January my wife might have gone for it and saved us $30K over the Highlander. Oh well, some other lucky person will come along.


For a troubled surface on exterior siding, I'd first apply an alkyd primer with a natural bristle brush. If the area is large, spray on first and then back brush to fill any laps and gaps. Follow with a first light to moderate latex coat with an airless sprayer, then a second coat a day or two later depending on humidity. A sprayer will give a better more even coat on most good primed surfaces and help preserve the texture on exterior stucco, or any textured interior surface.

Some situations require rollers and brushes but if overspray can be controlled or isn't an issue, a sprayer can produce a fine, even, economical and long lasting surface.

Hang in there and keep up the good work. I'm rushing to install poly-iso foam insulation nailboard and re roofing the cabin before the snow comes in tomorrow evening. I got half the deck done today....

[OtterbatHellcat]

Painting and the necessary preparation ahead of it, ...sucks.

But, it's pretty neato after you're done with it.

[Bailey Guns]

Ah, yes. The joys of home ownership. The American dream. Until it comes time to repaint. What a PITA. Looks like you're doing a great job, though.