On average, the outside of our homes will need redecorating every five years or so. This can be a big job and one that requires a great deal of care, planning and preparation. If the exterior surfaces are not properly prepared, paint can peel and crack, and water can penetrate down to the underlying structure causing more than just cosmetic damage. Damp, heat and frost all affect exterior paintwork: damp will cause paint to peel; heat will cause it to blister; and frost will leave gloss paintwork looking flat.
Choose a warm, dry day with little wind following a spell of dry fine weather to redecorate the exterior of your home - late summer or early autumn is the best time. This way, exposed timber will have had a chance to dry out. Start work as soon as the morning dew has dried and finish work in time for the paint to dry before the evening dew arrives. Begin at the top of the house and work downwards, cleaning, repairing and repainting as you go.
Divide the job into manageable sections: work on one side of the house at a time and remember that long spells on ladders can be extremely tiring, making accidents more likely. Exterior decoration will almost invariably require ladders or scaffold towers. Before you start work, inspect your ladders or hire the necessary equipment so you can work safely and efficiently at heights. Never improvise with equipment and avoid the temptation to over-reach. It may be time-consuming, but it's safer to come down from a ladder and reposition it so you can reach areas safely without over-reaching.
