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Painting your home’s exterior is a task that’s often put off, but it can make a world of difference to your home. It’s a fantastic opportunity to give your house a complete refresh and even a colour change, as well was touching up faded, flaking, stained or weather-damaged paint. Check out this inspiring exterior makeover on this two-storey Queensland home.
Safety tip: Always wear the appropriate safety equipment (safety glasses and a mask, for example) and always follow the instructions for the product or equipment.
First things first – preparation. This is essential to a great paint job.
Your home’s exterior materials and construction will determine the equipment you need and how best to approach the job. Start by assessing the different features and consider whether you’ll use different colours and stains to accent eaves, window frames, or timber elements. Decide if you’ll paint downpipes. You will need a brush and roller, with a paint pot plus roller cover and tray for each colour.
Here’s the colour palette we used on this home:
Next, plan how you’ll stage the painting. Identify natural joins or corners where you can section the house, and tackle one defined area at a time. To work out how much paint is required, check out our online paint calculator. Use a tape measure to work out the width and height of each section.
You will also need to determine accessibility and whether you can reach all the wall sections and eaves you plan to paint. For a highset home, you may need scaffolding, which you can erect and use without a work licence if the top platform doesn’t exceed 4m in height. For lowset homes, an adjustable work platform can provide good access and is easily relocatable.
Tip: Pruning and tidying garden beds makes access to walls much easier.
Check if there’s rotting or damaged trim, rusting fixtures or any missing features. These should be repaired or replaced prior to painting. Cracks and gaps may have appeared around windows and doors over time and these may need to be sealed. Also look for powdery or flaking paint and varnishes, mould, or oil-based stains which may need special treatment.
Make this project a whole lot easier with a spray gun! Watch our how-to video for easy instructions.
Photo Credit: Louise Roche
Asbestos, lead-based paints and copper chromium arsenic (CCA) treated timber are health hazards you need to look out for when renovating older homes. These substances can easily be disturbed when renovating and exposure to them can cause a range of life-threatening diseases and conditions including cancer. For information on the dangers of asbestos, lead-based paint and CCA treated timber and tips for dealing with these materials contact your local council's Environmental Health Officer or visit our Health & Safety page.
When following our advice in our D.I.Y. videos, make sure you use all equipment, including PPE, safely by following the manufacturer’s instructions. Check that the equipment is suitable for the task and that PPE fits properly. If you are unsure, hire an expert to do the job or talk to a Bunnings Team Member.
