How to Remove Exterior Paint from a House to Refresh Your Home’s Appearance
The best place to start when it comes to refreshing the look of your home is on the outside. A new coat of paint on the exterior will create a new, fresh look to your residence. But it takes more than just slapping a new coat of paint. You will need to properly remove the old paint first.
Understanding how to remove exterior paint the right way will help you get better results when repainting your home. Because if you do not take off enough of the old paint, the new paint will start peeling away shortly after it has been applied. What follows are a few tips that will help you remove the old paint and apply the new.
Get the Right Tools
If you are going to do the job yourself, you will need the right tools to get it done. This means that you will need the following:
- Paint Scraper and Electric Sander
- Ladder and Scaffold or Tower Platform
- Wood Filler, Heat Gun, and Drop Cloths
- Overalls, Mask, and Gloves
If your home was built before 1978, then you may want to include a lead test kit. Lead paint was banned in the late 1970s, so it may be possible that it still exists underneath multiple coats of paint. If you discover you have lead paint, you may want to call in a professional service to remove it.
Prep the Home
To keep flakes of old paint from entering your home, tape up and cover windows, air conditioners, and any other entry points.
Next, lay down drop cloths below the areas where you will remove the paint. Weigh the drop cloths down so they stay in place. When you are finished removing the old paint, you can wrap up the cloths and empty the contents into trash bags.
Remove the Exterior Paint
This is the most time-consuming part of the project. Start with your paint scraper and remove any flaking or loose paint. You’ll want to remove all the loose edges first with the scraper.
Next, if you want to take it down to the wood itself, you can still use the scraper. However, a chemical stripper or heat gun may do a better job of removing the old paint. Heat guns are well-suited to removing paint that is still in good condition.
Fix Issue & Fill Cracks
Once the paint has been removed, fix any planks or tiles that are loose. Plus, if there are any cracks, fill them with the wood filler. Once you have fixed and filled all the places that need addressing, cover it with a waterproof sealant.
If you have old sealant around doors and windows that is showing signs of age, remove it and replace it with a proper silicone caulk.
Sanding & Prepping
Use the sander to sand down the surfaces until they are smooth. Once smooth, put on a coat of primer as soon as possible. You do not want the wood to be exposed to the elements for long.
It’s now time to start adding new paint. Now that you know how to remove exterior paint, the first step is to get all the right materials while creating a solid plan. The better you plan, the better the results will be.
Email or call Tilo Martin Painting for more information 310-230-0202.
