How to Paint Exteriors

Want to know the best tips and secrets for painting your home's exterior? We have all the DIY painting hacks you need. Join our Hometalk community and get ready to be inspired and enlightened by ideas, videos, and slideshows. Be part of the exchange of ideas on our discussion boards and get answered to your questions.

11 Best DIY Exterior Home Painting Tasks That Have Transformed Homes

Paint Exteriors with Ease

Keep track of the weather: Make sure to start painting in a typically dry season, as paint requires time to dry. Avoid humidity as well.
The quality of the paint matters: When painting the exterior of your home, it’s better to splurge on high-quality paint for easier maintenance.
Rid the walls of anything rotting: Exposure to the elements can lead to rotting in materials. Remove these before you paint and save yourself the hassle later on.
Speed up the painting process: Use a paint sprayer when painting exteriors to make it easier to cover surfaces with paint quickly.
Add traction to surfaces: Painted porches and steps can be slippery; after painting, grind them with fine sand to provide traction.

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Top Exterior Painting Projects

Here we've collected the top exterior painting projects. Don't miss them.

Staining With No Stripping

I hate stripping. It is messy, time consuming and to be effective, it usually involves harsh chemical products.If you also hate it, you will like this tutorial. I will show you how I re-stained the top of this buffet without stripping or sanding it down using gel stain.

Pat Rios

The Three Basic Steps to Stain Wood

Staining wood may sound intimidating, but you don't need to be a woodworker or a skilled crafts-person to create fun projects and make incredible improvements in your home with newly stained wood. All you need is to learn the basic steps: how to prepare the wood, apply the different types of stain, and protect your project so it can remain beautiful for a long time. I will also tell you the differences among the main types of stains and give you some tips to avoid frustration, save time, and accomplish great-looking results.

Best Of Hometalk

This is Why We Paint Wood Furniture

This is an antique dresser with great detail that you can't see. Agree?

Kris Haberman

Faux Wood Grain Paint Technique

Ok you guys... if you haven't heard of this page has some great painted furntiure ideas and projects to check out!Love this project? You can buy your own by clicking the link below. Just so you know, Hometalk may collect a small share of sales from the links on this page.

Amanda C, Hometalk Team

Dry Brush Old Wood Technique

How to dry brush over a dark stain to create a weathered wood look

Doodles & Stitches

How to Condition Wood Furniture Instead of Having to Refinish It - DIY

I paint furniture but I have to admit I'm a purist when it comes to true antique pieces. I can't seem to bring myself to paint them and most of the time I don't even want to strip and stain them. I like patina on wood and that only comes with age and years of use. I love the story it tells. The dents, dings, and scratches. The wear and tear. All of those are part of the story. Last year we bought 4 pieces of late 1800s furniture. Every piece was faded and had its own share of scratches and dings. I knew I didn't want to lose the patina, so I researched until I found a solution I could live with.

At Home With The Ellingtons

Transform Your Front Door

Hi all! I’m Amber and I recently did a Facebook Live video where I showed you how to paint your front door. In case you missed it, here’s the tutorial! If you’d like to schedule a video consult, I’d be happy to Team Up for a color consult or to discuss painting techniques and how to’s. Head over the the page and message me to get started.

Hometalk Highlights

Our Pre-Reno Renovation

In my previous post "A New Exterior on an Old House", I was asked a few times how I chose the classic burgundy for the color. Here's what I did to make sure it was the right color!

Kendall K.

Add Curb Appeal With German Mortar Smear!

In August, I posted a question on Hometalk asking about the German Mortar Smear technique. I had seen this technique done on my favorite show, Fixer Upper in January and I loved it. I couldn't get it out of my head, I really wanted to do this to our home, but seriously, if I mess this project up, we are talking BIG bucks to fix or replace the brick. Not to mention having a very angry hubster to deal with...not good. Yikes!! So, during the spring and summer months, I painted kitchen cabinets and did a faux granite counter top, up at the lake (check out my posts on these two projects) and enjoyed the beautiful summer. However, every time I would return home, I would look at my overgrown bushes and that darn brick and I would think that I have go with my idea and change the look of our home. I will warn you, you are in for some serious picture overload.

Elizabeth @ Creating Rustic Charm

How To Stencil Nesting Tables Using The Passion Mandala

Rather than toss your old furniture to the curb, we want you to consider giving it a stenciled makeover. What sounds like an advanced project is actually so easy that even a beginner can do it. Today we're sharing a stencil tutorial showing how easy it is to makeover old nesting tables using our Passion Mandala Stencil. Let's take a look...

Cutting Edge Stencils

Staining With No Stripping

Pat Rios

The Three Basic Steps to Stain Wood

Best Of Hometalk

This is Why We Paint Wood Furniture

This is an antique dresser with great detail that you can't see. Agree?

Kris Haberman

Faux Wood Grain Paint Technique

Amanda C, Hometalk Team

Dry Brush Old Wood Technique

How to dry brush over a dark stain to create a weathered wood look

Doodles & Stitches

How to Condition Wood Furniture Instead of Having to Refinish It - DIY

At Home With The Ellingtons

Transform Your Front Door

Hometalk Highlights

Our Pre-Reno Renovation

In my previous post "A New Exterior on an Old House", I was asked a few times how I chose the classic burgundy for the color. Here's what I did to make sure it was the right color!

Kendall K.

Add Curb Appeal With German Mortar Smear!

Elizabeth @ Creating Rustic Charm

How To Stencil Nesting Tables Using The Passion Mandala

Cutting Edge Stencils

Home Exterior Painting Videos

Check out our collection of videos on how to paint the exterior of your house.

How to Stain Wood (It's Easy, for Beginners)

This is a really great technique you can use to add a splash of color to your wood projects. If you're already working with pine, you know it's the most inexpensive lumber you can use. Well, I'll show you how easy it is to make your work, decor and patio crafts pop with stains. Check out the video for inspiration and read on to find out how to stain wood.

Escagedo Woodworking

How to Distress Painted Furniture (2 EASY Techniques)

In this HT tutorial, I show you how to distress painted wood furniture using 2 easy distressing techniques.

Jeremy Hoffpauir

Homemade Eco Wood Stain

I had made a previous post where I used a natural stain that made fresh wood look like barn wood and there were a lot of questions about the stain so I thought I would do a post on how to make your own stain from items found in your kitchen. I went out to look for a cheap wood table to use for my tutorial, i really wanted to illustrate what difference a good stain could make to a simple pine table. I wasn’t able to find any in the stores that would work so I quickly whipped one up the other night. The video is about wood staining but I threw in the pictures about how I made the table for anyone interested in making one themselves Building the Table: Step 1: Gather your supplies

Shawna Bailey

Turning Concrete Floors Into Faux Wood With PAINT!!!

If you have a boring concrete floor and would like to add a little personality and charm - I have the answer for you!!! See how fast you can transform your concrete floor!!!

Jennifer Weber Ferguson

Hometalkers' Favorite DIY Exterior Painting Projects

Here are the best projects to get you started painting your home's exterior.

Staining With No Stripping

Pat Rios

Red Stained Lily Table

I recently got a request from a repeat customer to do two tables with red lillies using my staining technique. RED??? Hmmmm, this would be new! I recently added color to my staining art pieces, but that has been with painted pieces, not stained pieces. However, a few months ago, I had purchased some colored dyes and Merlot was one of those dyes, so this was the perfect opportunity to give this a try. I started with this Queen Anne style cherry table

M&M Embellishments

How to Take a Cabinet From Basic to Rustic

We recently completed some renovations at my church, including the bathroom. We removed the hanging sinks and replaced them with a dual sink vanity. Since we were on a budget, we decided to purchase builder basic cabinets from a salvage store and finish them. I used a weathering stain to take the wood from basic to rustic.

Mary from Real Girl's Realm

Staining Wood With Paint

Painted & Stained Farmhouse table Styles: Traditional, Farmhouse, Shabby Chic, Industrial. As an artist the last thing we want is to be limited. Since staining all or part of furniture is trending I wanted to share a technique that is easy and inexpensive. Since Shabby Paints is made with Pure Acrylic and with the highest quality ingredients, once diluted it makes a great wood stain. Don’t be limited when it comes to stain colors, so pick up your favorite Shabby Paints Chalk-Acrylic color and create your own stain! This project is near and dear to my heart, this was my grandparents, not so pretty 70’s dining room set. She had threatened to leave it to me since I was little and the thought made me cringe as a child but I couldn’t be prouder now. The hardest part about this, other than all the crying was sanding the waxy build up and old finish off. But I’m so glad I did, the wood is beautiful! WARNING!! (When sanding please wear a mask, it doesn’t matter what type of finish is being sanded. These invisible particles can cause tiny wounds and scarring in your lungs and over time it can cause irreversible damage.) Once you have sanded down to the bare wood and cleaned all the mess up, wet a rag and wipe it all down, this opens the grain. Dilute your color choice about 50/50 water/Chalk-Acrylic. Test on scrap wood and adjust for your perfect shade. For a more weathered barn wood look try adding multiple coats or use less water in your stain mixture. Apply following the grain with a damp applicator sponge. I only used one coat, and it gave just enough of the gray look I was wanting without hiding the beauty of the wood grain and the knots. Finally, I used a damp applicator sponge to apply White reVAX, then a few passes of black reVAX. This added depth while protecting! I can’t wait to do it again.

Shabby Paints

That’s Aint No Bull! Stain Shaded Coffee Table Makeover

Again, and again I go back to stain shading. It has become an addiction and an obsession. I am constantly looking for solid wood pieces to put a design on. I received this coffee table in a three piece set and it did not match the side tables so I just stuck it back waiting for the right idea to come along. I was shopping with my daughters at the Home Store and noticed all the skulls and succulents mixed in with the farm decor and instantly wanted to do a skull with flowers. I decided on a longhorn skull and sunflowers.

Misty Gaines-Johnson

Tutorial on Flower Staining on Wood

I did a TV stand made from a large dresser and had put stained flowers on it- This is a tutorial of how to do the staining

Staining With No Stripping

Pat Rios

Red Stained Lily Table

M&M Embellishments

How to Take a Cabinet From Basic to Rustic

Mary from Real Girl's Realm

Staining Wood With Paint

Shabby Paints

That’s Aint No Bull! Stain Shaded Coffee Table Makeover

Misty Gaines-Johnson

Tutorial on Flower Staining on Wood

I did a TV stand made from a large dresser and had put stained flowers on it- This is a tutorial of how to do the staining

Popular Exterior Painting Discussions

Here you'll find popular discussions on how to paint your home's exterior yourself.

Can you paint a metal roof?

/> Lisa

Can you paint a metal roof? If so, what technique?

View discussion

How do I seal exterior shutters to protect them from outdoor elements?

/> Joan

What is a good product for protecting exterior wooden shutters from the elements without changing their natural finish (no gloss)

View discussion

How can I repaint a PVC exterior door?

/> Lyn

I believe that’s what it is, I know it’s not wood, but has grain like wood. Anyway, it was brown when I got it, but paint is scratching off and door underneath is white. I’m painting my home in shades of blue and would like the darker blue on the door. What would I use to strip the paint and repaint it?I’ll be doing this to both sides, and I live in SE Wisconsin, but interior will have be the shiny washable white. TIA

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How can I paint the porch on my mobile home?

/> Nancy Gomez

View discussion

New Home Exterior Painting Projects

The new exterior painting projects you don't want to miss. Check it out.

To Thine Own Self Be Blue - Painting Shutters Tutorial

Does your home’s exterior need some freshening up? Repainting your shutters can make a big impact and it can be done in a weekend with an HVLP sprayer. Follow my tutorial as I give my shutters new life with General Finishes Klein Blue Milk Paint.Sometimes the hardest part of a painting project is picking out a color. I had recently repainted the front door in Klein Blue and loved it. But I wasn’t sure if blue shutters would be too much. Maybe I should go with gray…or keep them black? Part of the house is brick and part is siding, so the color needed to look nice on both. I debated for months.I found one of those online tools where you upload a picture of your house (or room, whatever you are painting) and change the colors. There are several free ones available and boy, are they handy. Wow, now I could visualize my house with blue shutters! I tried a few other colors but KIein Blue was the clear favorite.

Lori Haught Harper

30 Minutes to Grey Weathered Wood

Jessica from Loveleigh Creative Soul is joining us today to show you how she created a beautiful, grey weathered wood look with Lazy Linen and Graphite glaze!

Country Chic Paint

Master Bedroom Floor

I was so tired of having a carpet in my bedroom so one day I just ripped it off and I have been living for almost a year with out nothing, just with the sub floor. My hubby works as an industrial Electrician and always is telling me how much pallets and shipping crates those companies put in the trash. So I asked him to bring home some shipping crates and this is what I made....

Magaly Darmati

Big’ol Sunflower Table!

Anyone that knows me or follows me on Hometalk or my Facebook page know that I love stain shading anything and everything I can. For this project I had a table top I had used the legs for on another project and a base that I had sitting around just waiting for a top. I feel it definitely leans towards the primitive style and I just love how it turned out. I have posted a few pictures and a couple videos of the process. Please excuse my haggard appearance in the video, it is 110 degrees in AZ and I am in the garage...

Misty Gaines-Johnson