Painting exterior trim is among the more difficult exterior paint jobs. It requires more preparation and greater care during execution. But it can also be the most satisfying, since good trim really makes a house stand out.
Like it or not, most exterior house painting projects will be about 80% preparation. In those cases where the preparation can be almost entirely skipped, there's usually no need to paint the house. It can just be cleaned.
There's no rule cast in stone that defines an exterior paint. You could paint the outside of your house with paint designated 'Interior Paint'. But most outdoor formulas will have a number of attributes that make selecting exterior paint preferable.
Apart from preparation, which is often 80% of the job, painting an exterior wall is about as easy as it gets. But there are still a few guidelines useful to follow to achieve the best final result.
Whether the paint job is outside or in, masking is almost always needed at some stage. Unless the section to be painted is nowhere near a surface you don't want touched, this preparation step will be vital.
A primer is a paint or coating applied directly to a surface to serve as an undercoat for other paints. In principle, any paint could be used as primer, but specially prepared compounds typically do the job much better.
Painting a ceiling is one of the more challenging paint jobs. From paint dripping and difficult angles to a textured surface, there are a few difficulties to overcome.
Once good preparation is completed, the actual painting can go quickly and easily. But there are still a few guidelines helpful to observe, in order to get the best result.
Most paints can be divided into two broad categories: oil-based or alkyds and latex or water-based types. In general, alkyd is used outdoors and latex indoors. But there are many exceptions, which makes selecting the right interior paint all the more interesting.
