What are the rules about exterior painting?

A worthy winter DIY

Winter is coming and while most of us are migrating indoors, there is still a lot that can be done outside. Instead of just focussing on your “Netflix and chill” zones or once again reorganising your kitchen, why not give your home’s exterior a fresh look.

Any home renovator will know the power of a lick of paint to uplift any space in your house, but the same rings true for your exterior.

Check the weather.

This obviously only works if you live in a summer rainfall area. By implication you shouldn’t try to paint your house’s exterior in driving rain, so this will influence your timelines and decisions.

What’s your aesthetic.

Are you sticking to the same colour and simply refreshing it or are you up for a change. If you’re happy with what you have, go for it, but if you want a change, just take the rest of your house into account. If you have a neutral roof and trim colour you should be good but remember that colours appear differently when they are put next to each other and the grey you have on your gutters might show a purple tone, or the current beige window frames might look custardy yellow, so try to keep this in mind if you are switching things up.

Fix while you go.

This is a good time to check your home for any structural repairs.

• Do you need to redo your barge boards, facias or gutters?
• Does your roof need a bit of waterproofing, how are your exterior lights?
• Are there cracks in your walls or even larger issues with exterior walls or window/doorframes?

Before you paint, it is best to give your home a good walk-around and ensure that all the basics are covered. This is also a great way to keep track of any developing cracks and structural issues. If the hairline crack you painted over reappears immediately or comes back bigger, it’s time to call the professionals.

Scrub a dub.

A good scrub will help your paint adhere better and go on smoother. This is particularly important for your roof or any metal finishes. Prepare the surfaces you are going to paint to get the most out of your paint job in the end.

Ready, set, GO!

Now that you’ve done your research, scrubbed your walls and picked your paint, it is time to prepare your area. It is obvious that you have to tape off fixtures and fitting and lay out newspaper or draping when you are painting inside, but did you know that you should do this outside as well? Many roof paints, as well as gutter or metal paints and treatments are oil based and spilling that down a wall or onto tiles or pavement is more of a headache. Washable PVA can be hosed off, but streaks of “gunship grey” waterproof roof paint on your light grey patio tiles will put a bit of a damper on your next braai…

Go local, go green.

Once it comes to buying the paint, there are a number of wonderful local companies who not only formulate their paint locally but specifically manufacture it to suit our climate, living conditions and general Mzanzi vibes. For more info on them, go to your local hardware, building supply or dedicated paint shop and speak to the guys who know best.

Now go, get your painter’s-overalls and bring your home back to life, one roller-roll (or brush-stroke) at a time… And if DIY isn’t your style, you can always get a guy!