Our Experts’ Guide To Starting A Project The Right Way

So, you’re ready to take on painting the outside of your home? Before you crack open that tub of paint, there are a few things worth knowing that will make your project run smoothly from start to finish.

We’ve pulled together some advice from our Emperor Experts and Technical Team to help you get off to the best start – the kind of stuff that makes you think, ‘I wish I’d known that before I began.’

As they say; fail to prepare and you prepare to fail.

A Surface Health Check

Before anything else, it’s important to know exactly what you are working with. It might not be the most exciting part of painting the outside of your home, but doing a health check of your walls will save you time, money and let you focus on the task at hand.

The goal of this is to establish what material the wall is and most importantly, what condition it’s in. The answer to these two questions ultimately helps you know what paint to use, how to prep the wall and what tools you’ll need to do it properly.

This is your chance to spot anything that needs fixing, cleaning or priming, so when it’s time to paint you know the surface is sound and ready to go.

So what should you do as part of your health check?

Step 1: Is it brick, stone or render? If it’s render, check the texture – rougher surfaces will call for a long-pile roller.

Step 2: Unpainted surfaces need to be primed before you paint. If it’s previously painted, check for peeling paint.

Step 3: Check for any damage such as cracks, holes or loose areas that need to be repaired.

Step 4: Look for moisture, as you need a dry surface to paint – if the surface is wet, you need to factor in time for this to dry.

Step 5: Look for signs of organic growth, dirt and grime – this will help inform how you clean the surface.

Create A Plan

Thinking ahead helps you avoid rushing, missing steps or running out of time.

Whether you are tackling a small project or a full exterior renovation, a plan gives you the confidence to complete each step of your decorating project not only confidently, but efficiently.

When painting outside there are a lot more variables to think about, from the weather to drying times – so knowing what needs doing, in what order and when, helps you stay in control.

Your plan could include:

• Dry weather windows
• Any prep work needed (cleaning, filling priming etc)
• A full materials list
• A summary of drying times for any paint, primer or filler
• A list of tools (ladders, jet wash etc)

We’ve put together a handy Project Planner and Checklist that contains a list of tools, steps and other helpful bits that simplifies your project for you.

Colour Confidence

A big part of planning your project is choosing a colour, and when using a paint like Emperor Masonry Paint that lasts for over 25 years, you want to love that colour for years to come.

But that doesn’t mean it has to be stressful. In fact, choosing a colour can be one of the most enjoyable parts of the project,  particularly if you give yourself time to choose between samples.

The key when testing paint colour samples for the outside of your home is to use real paint samples. Computer screens can vary and never give a true representation of a colour. That’s why we always recommend either ordering a sample pot or a hand-painted colour card, so you can see each colour on the walls you are going to paint.

The other thing to bear in mind when testing your samples is how each colour reacts to different lighting. South-facing houses get the most light throughout the day, giving colours a warmer and more vibrant feel. In contrast, north-facing houses get the least amount of sunlight, meaning colours can often feel cooler and muted.

So, when choosing your colour, take your time and test a few of your favourite shades across a few days before making a decision.

Prep Is Key

So, you’ve now completed a health check of the walls, have a plan, chosen the colour and gathered all of the paint and tools at the ready, now come the exciting part.

While it can be tempting to rush the prep and start the painting, every second spent cleaning, filling, sealing and priming pays you back tenfold over time.

The process you’ll need to go through depends on the surface you are painting, which is why your health check is so helpful at this stage.

Step 1: Remove any dirt, debris or organic growth and apply Emperor Exterior Cleaner.

Step 2: Remove any loose paint using a paint scraper or wire brush.

Step 3: Repair any holes or cracks using a masonry repair filler.

Step 4: Apply Emperor Exterior Primer to any bare, unpainted surfaces. Previously painted surfaces do not require primer.

Work With The Weather

We all know how unpredictable the great British weather can be – one minute it’s sunshine, the next it’s sideways rain. So, when painting outside, even in summer, all successful projects work with the weather not against it.

We’ve seen it before, there’s an hour before the rain is expected and there is only a small area left to paint. You think, “It’ll be fine, I’ll just get it done quickly.”

This rarely ends well, as even if you finish the project before the rain starts, the paint won’t have dried fully.

When starting your project, aim for at least 24 hours of dry weather. This will give you more than enough time to ensure the walls are dry and apply your first coat without the risk of showers. With another 24 hours of dry weather, you can then apply your second coat.

On the other side of the weather scale, trying to paint in extreme heat is equally risky. When temperatures rise above 25°C, surfaces become warm to touch, meaning you can end up applying paint that dries too quickly. If you’re painting during a heatwave (rare we know, but it happens!) try working in the morning or late afternoon when surfaces are cooler.

Set The Scene

From protecting your surfaces to setting up your work area, there are a couple of final things you can do to start your project off on the right foot.

Step 1: First things first, it’s really important to think about safety before you start. Make sure you are wearing appropriate PPE, have sturdy, non-slip footwear and that any ladders, platforms or scaffolding are secure and in a good condition.

Step 2: Cover any windows, doors, gutters, floors or anything else that could catch paint – it is much easier to cover them now than try and remove paint from them later.

Step 3: It may seem obvious but set up your tools beside your work area – when you start to paint, this will make things a lot easier. If it is a hot day, keep your paint in the shade or inside to avoid it drying out.

Step 4: Plan your starting point. Taking a moment to look over the wall and break the project into sections helps you work methodically without missing anywhere. We recommend starting at the highest point and working your way down, helping to avoid drips.

And that’s it! A few tried and tested tips from our experts, who have heard and seen it all when it comes to exterior decorating and know exactly how to make a project go smoother.

Ready to start your project? Order your samples and kickstart your decorating journey.