Follow these easy 10 steps to paint any exterior like a pro.

1. Power wash all the paintable exterior elements. This will remove all dirt, grime, and debris built up over time. If possible, use a washer with at least 2000 psi.
2. Place drop sheets underneath all elements that will be painted. Pull and cover shrubs and bushes that are near paintable elements.
3. Test for whether the existing paint is latex or oil product. This can be achieved by rubbing acetone on a focused area. If area becomes shinny after rubbing, it is an oil based paint. If the paint starts to reactivate and release, it is a latex based paint.
4. Remove any old unwanted nails and exterior hardware from the paintable areas.
5. Identify paint problems such as crack, peeling and bubbling areas. Heavy scraping, and power sanding is necessary to remove all loose paint.
6. All cracks, holes, and deficiencies are corrected with exterior grade compounds (dynapatch) and exterior grade caulking.
7. Apply several coats of compound on deep and larger holes. Start by cleaning out the damaged area. Spot prime with and exterior grade oil primer. Apply the compound and let set.
8. After it has dried, spot prime the damaged area again “sandwiching” the compound in between 2 coats of oil primer. This will ensure the repair area will not fail.
9. Apply two coats of exterior grade oil and latex based paint on all paintable elements. Allow amply time for first coat to dry(dry time changes based on humidity and moisture). Lightly sand in between each coat.
10. Remove all drop cloths and preparation material away.