Painting and decorating exterior walls
There is a wide range of paints available for exterior walls, and full information is usually available from suppliers. As for tools, a 100mm (4in) brush is the easiest size to handle; anything larger would put too much strain on the wrist. An alternative is a long-pile roller which has the advantage of being much quicker to use – about three times quicker than a brush.
An extra long-pile roller is needed for roughcast or pebbledash; choose one with a pile 32mm (11Ain) deep, or use a banister brush instead. Use a cheap disposable brush or roller for cement paints as they are almost impossible to clean afterwards. A large plastic bucket or paint kettle is essential when working up a ladder. Stir the paint thoroughly first, then pour some into the bucket until it’s about one third full. If you’re using a roller, use a special roller tray with a large paint reservoir, or else stand a short plank in the bucket (see step-by-step photographs, page 27) to allow you to load the roller evenly. Hook the bucket or tray onto a rung of the ladder with an S-hook to leave both hands free. Lay a dust sheet below to catch any drips and you’re ready to start.
Application
Start at the top of the wall and paint a strip across the house. Work from right to left if you’re right-handed, and left to right if you’re left-handed. Be sure to secure the ladder to prevent it slipping and allow a three-rung overlap at the top. Use a brush to cut in under the eaves or fascia boards and to paint round obstacles, then fill in the larger areas with a brush or roller.
Paint an area only as large as you can comfortably manage and don’t lean out too far, your hips should remain between the ladder’s stiles at all times. If you have an awkward area which is too far away to reach, push a broom handle into the hollow handle of the roller, or buy a special extension handle. Protect pipes by wrapping them in newspaper, and mask any other items you don’t want to paint. Leave an uneven edge at the bottom of each patch so the join won’t be too noticeable, then move the ladder to the left (or right) and paint another strip alongside the first. The principle is always to keep working to the longest wet edge so the joins won’t show. When you’ve done the top series of strips, lower the ladder and paint another series across the middle. Lower the ladder again or work from the ground to do another series along the bottom. Working across the house like this means you have to alter the ladder height the least number of times.