Accent Your Home With Exterior Paint

Learn to the ins and outs of updating your home with exterior paint. Whether you are giving your home some style with exterior paint accents or want to fix up an old paint job, use these tips to become an exterior paint pro. Even if you don't think the exterior of you home needs updating with paint, it's not a bad time to do so -- changes in temperature and moisture can cause wood to expand and contract, which can lead to the paint chipping. 

Test Your Paint

Before you can get started and put a new coat of paint on the exterior of your home, check to see what kind of paint is already on the surface. To do this, clean the surface with a household detergent and let dry. Then put some rubbing alcohol on a rag and rub it on the surface. If any paint comes off onto the rag, that's a sign that the surface has latex paint on it. If the test tells you that the surface has latex paint, you should use latex paint for any additional layers or accents you may be planning. Latex paint should not be applied to a surface when the temperature dips below 50 degrees Fahrenheit. 

If Switching From Oil-Based to Latex Paint

Did the test tell you the surface has oil-based paint? If so and you're interested in switching to a latex paint, there are a few steps before pulling out your paintbrush. Lightly sand the door down to remove the shine and use an all-purpose cleaner to clean it. Once the door is clean, prime it and then you're ready to use you rlatex paint. Or you can skip the priming step if you use an exterior paint with primer. 

The Best Time for the Project

Don't wait until it's cold or raining to tackle projects using exterior paint. The best time to work on projects like these is on warm or mild days with no moisture.