Tips: Exterior painting:               
(1). Get rid of surface mildew.
            Mold and mildew usually appear as a brownish or black staining on the surface and will
            continue coming back after painting unless you eliminate it.Wash affected areas with
            a mixture of one parts of bleach to three parts of water! spray on. wait, then rinse off.

(2)  Don't wait to ask questions.
            If your not sure what particular type of paint or procedure for your home painting.
            Ask your local Sherwin Williams manager. They will know what product you need
            for a certain job you are performing!

(3)  Extend the life of your paint job.
            Always start a job with the proper preparation needed for it.Cleaning the surface is
            a must! Proper removal of old peeling paint, primer if needed and a good quality
            paint to improve the look life of your paint job.

(4)  Take care of your painting tools.
            After painting with latex paints, clean brushes and equ. with warm soapy water,
            use a wire brush to clean stubborn paint build up off your brushes,  store your
            brushes in the covers they come with so they keep there form! Oil painting,
            clean up should be with paint thinner or mineral spirits!

(5)  Look for shrubbery against the house.
           A must for painting the exterior siding that you tie back any branches or plants
           that might scratch the fresh paint..  should leave tied up for a week  to allow
           complete drying of the paint!

(6)  Keep records.
           Every paint has a color name and number!!  for touch- ups you might run out
           and need to buy additional paint for your improvements.

(7) Extension paint handles.
          A extension handle can save you allot of ladder work, in many cases increase your
          time and mobility.

(8)  Always work safe.
         Proper positioning of ladders can save you from seriously getting hurt.. If using alu.
         ladders always beware of the incoming electrical lines to the house, you don't want
         to be the ground for it..............

(9)  Wear protective equipment.
          Wear a dust mask when sanding, safety glasses should be used when spraying and
           pressure washing , chips of paint and other objects could cause damage to your eyes.

(10)  Proper clothing.
           A hat for outside to shield the sun out your face,, and wear white clothing because
           dark clothing will attract more heat in the summer months.

(11)  Drop cloths.
            Yes drop cloths should be used on driveways, sidewalks, and basically what you
             don't want paint to get on.. Proper prep. makes your paint job more professional!

• Take time to caulk all joints, cracks and seams in the surface before painting . This is easy and quick with a caulking gun and caulking cartridges. Don't start painting until the caulking is finished and thoroughly dried.
• Before painting windows, check around the window panes for loose or missing putty . Replace the putty in these areas before starting the painting job. Use a good grade of putty and apply it according to the manufacturer's instructions.

• Always clean the surface to be painted. Use a wire brush, sanding block or power sander to remove loose paint and grime before applying the primer coat. If you try to cut corners and save time by failing to clean the surface, you'll likely end up with trouble later.
• Fill in any cracks or large holes appearing on the surface with wood putty before starting the painting job . The putty should have the texture of paste, as illustrated below. Allow time for the wood putty to dry before applying the primer coat.

• Use a special V-shaped putty knife for puttying along a window sash . This special tool is inexpensive and helps you do a professional-looking job much faster and easier.

• If you need to remove a heavy build-up of old paint, use a propane torch to help make the job faster and easier. A wide-mouth burner tip is available to spread the flame over large areas. Use a long-handled scraper to keep your fingers away from the heat as you work .

• Use your power drill for smoothing rough spots before painting . Purchase a sanding wheel drill attachment to make sanding much easier. A wire brush attachment for your power drill is an excellent tool for removing rust and scale from metal.

• Use plastic or paper drop cloths to cover sidewalks, shrubbery or other areas needing protection before you start the painting. Use drop cloths to cover floors, furniture, etc., for indoor painting. These cloths are inexpensive and save you a lot of clean-up time.

• Thoroughly mix the paint . Pour off, into another container, any thin portion of the paint that is floating on top . Use a paddle to stir the paste settled in the bottom of the can . Stir in a small amount of the thin portion of the paint and use the paint paddle to stir with a figure eight motion. As you stir, gradually mix the thin portion back into the main paint can . Finally, pour the paint back and forth from one container to another . This will thoroughly mix the paint and bring it to the proper thickness for application.

• Save a lot of clean-up time by lining your roller tray with a plastic tray liner. If you do not have a plastic liner, use aluminum foil  Press a large piece of aluminum foil tightly against the sides of the tray. When you're finished painting, you can simply remove the aluminum foil and throw it away. This leaves little or no clean up.

• Use masking tape where two paint colors come together for a much neater job. Apply the masking tape at the point where the two colors join. Then remove it when the paint is dry for a much smoother joint between the two colors than you'll get by free-hand painting .

• When you're painting corners, always use the flat side of the brush . Painting with the side of the brush causes "fingering." Your paint job will be neater and your brush will last a lot longer when you use the flat side of the brush, as illustrated.

•  shows how to use a paint brush for best results when painting exterior surfaces. First, dip the paint brush into the can to load the bristles about half-way with paint. Never dip more than half of the brush into the paint. After loading half the bristles with paint, touch the brush lightly to the surface at several points to apply spots of paint . After applying the spots of paint, use long leveling brush strokes to smooth out the spots . Finish each area with back and forth motions and zig-zag strokes . A little practice with a brush will enable you to complete a professional-looking painting job with minimal effort.

• If you've had the paint for a long period of time, it may contain impurities such as dirt or lumps. There is no need to throw this paint away. Instead, cut a disk of window screen to fit just inside the paint can . The screen will sink down into the paint and carry the lumps to the bottom of the can as the level of the paint is lowered.

• You can avoid paint rings and drips on the floor by sticking a paper plate to the bottom of the paint can before you start the job. Just apply a little paint to the bottom of the can and press the paper plate against it. The paper plate will stick to the bottom of the can and prevent the paint from dripping onto the floor.

• Avoid paint ridges and lap marks on a flat surface by always stroking into the wet paint area, never away from it . Blend each stroke of the brush toward the wet paint area, bringing the layer you're applying into the wet paint previously applied.

• If you are planning a small outside painting job, you may be bothered by insects flying into the newly applied paint. To avoid this problem, add a small amount of insect repellent to the paint when it is mixed. Do not use too much - a small amount will do the trick without damaging the color or quality of the paint.

• Paint wire fences with special, long nap rollers . As this type of roller is pushed across the face of the wire fence, paint is applied to the front and sides of the wire. Repeat on the opposite side and the job is done. The fence can be painted in almost a single stroke if the correct roller is used.

• When you're painting with a roller, start the job by making several criss-cross strokes on the area to be painted . After you've made these strokes, continue to work up and down to spread the newly applied paint evenly over the area. For painting trim work, use a special trim roller or a brush.

• You can purchase special rollers for painting beveled or weather-boarded areas . Use a special "doughnut-shaped" roller to paint the underedges of weather board. Use a wider type roller for painting the main surface area. By using rollers of these special types, you can paint the entire exterior of the house without touching a brush.