How to Repaint House Siding
Pressure wash the siding clean, scrape all loose and peeling paint, sand rough edges, fill holes and cracks with exterior filler, prime bare spots, and apply two coats of quality exterior paint working from top to bottom. Plan for dry weather between 50 and 85 degrees Fahrenheit with no direct sun on the surface you are painting.
- Time
- 480 min
- Frequency
- every 7-10 years
- Difficulty
- hard
- Cost
- $200
What you'll need
- Pressure washer or scrub brush and hose
- Paint scraper
- Sandpaper (80 and 120 grit)
- Exterior wood filler
- Primer
- Exterior paint
- Paintbrush, roller, or sprayer
- Painter's tape
- Drop cloths
- Ladder or scaffolding
The steps
- 1
Pressure wash or scrub siding clean
Pressure wash the entire house to remove dirt, mildew, chalking paint, and cobwebs. Use a 25-degree fan tip and keep the nozzle at least 12 inches from the surface. Start at the top and work down. If you do not have a pressure washer, scrub with a long-handled brush and a solution of TSP and water, then rinse with a garden hose. Let the siding dry for at least 48 hours before painting.
- 2
Scrape loose and peeling paint
Use a paint scraper or 5-in-1 tool to remove all paint that is cracked, blistered, or peeling. Scrape with the grain of the wood. You do not need to remove all old paint, only the sections that are no longer adhered. Well-bonded old paint is a fine base for new paint. Wear a dust mask. Homes built before 1978 may have lead paint.
- 3
Sand rough edges
Sand the edges where scraped areas meet intact paint to create a smooth transition. Use 80-grit sandpaper for heavy buildup and 120-grit for feathering edges. The goal is eliminating the ridge between bare wood and old paint so the new coat looks seamless.
- 4
Fill holes and cracks with exterior filler
Press exterior-grade wood filler into nail holes, cracks, dents, and gaps. Overfill slightly and let it cure per the label. Sand flush with 120-grit sandpaper. Check caulk joints around windows, doors, and trim. Recaulk any that are cracked or missing.
- 5
Prime bare spots
Apply exterior primer to all bare wood, filler patches, and any stain-blocked areas. Primer seals the wood so it does not absorb the topcoat unevenly. Use a stain-blocking primer over knots and tannin-rich wood like cedar or redwood. Let primer dry fully before topcoating.
- 6
Apply first coat working top to bottom
Start at the top of the wall and work down. This prevents drips on finished sections below. Use a brush for cutting in around trim, windows, and edges. Use a roller or sprayer for the large flat areas of siding. Maintain a wet edge to avoid lap marks. One full coat. Do not try to get complete coverage on the first pass.
- 7
Let dry and apply second coat
Wait the drying time specified on the paint label, usually 4 to 6 hours for latex exterior paint. Apply the second coat the same way: top to bottom, wet edge, thin and even. Two coats provide the UV protection, moisture barrier, and color depth needed for a 7-to-10-year finish. One coat will fade and fail in 3 to 4 years.
When to repaint
Exterior paint is not decorative. It is the waterproof shell that protects your siding from moisture, UV radiation, and biological growth. When the paint fails, the siding is exposed to the elements and begins to deteriorate.
Four signs tell you the paint has failed. Chalking means the paint binder has degraded. Rub your hand on the siding. A powdery white or colored residue on your palm means the paint film is breaking down. Fading means UV protection is exhausted. Compare a shaded area to a sun-exposed area. Significant color difference means the sun-facing paint is failing. Peeling and cracking mean adhesion has failed and moisture is getting under the paint film. Bare wood means the siding has no protection at all and is actively absorbing water.
Do not wait for bare wood. Repainting at the chalking or fading stage is easier because you have less scraping and priming to do. Waiting until the paint is peeling adds hours of prep work and increases the risk of wood damage.
How much paint to buy
Measure each wall: height times width. Subtract the area of windows and doors. Add all walls together for total square footage. Multiply by two because you need two coats.
One gallon of exterior paint covers 350 to 400 square feet on smooth siding. Rough, textured, or previously unpainted siding absorbs more paint and may only yield 250 to 300 square feet per gallon. Use the lower estimate for rough surfaces.
A typical 1,500-square-foot single-story house has roughly 1,200 square feet of paintable wall area after subtracting windows and doors. That is 2,400 square feet for two coats, or 6 to 7 gallons of paint at 350 square feet per gallon. Add a gallon for waste, touch-ups, and mistakes. Buy all your paint at once from the same batch to ensure color consistency.
DIY vs hiring out
Be honest about this one. Painting house siding is physically demanding, time-consuming, and involves working at height.
DIY makes sense for single-story houses with easy access, ground-level work with no ladder requirements above 8 feet, small homes or partial repaints (one wall or section), and homeowners comfortable on ladders for extended periods.
Hiring makes sense for two-story or taller homes, steep lots where ladder placement is difficult, large homes where the project would span multiple weekends, lead paint situations (pre-1978 homes) that require certified abatement, and anyone uncomfortable working at height.
A professional crew of 3 to 4 painters finishes a typical house in 3 to 5 days including prep. The same job takes a solo homeowner 2 to 3 full weekends. Professional pricing runs $2,000 to $6,000 for a full exterior depending on size, condition, and region. The materials alone cost $200 to $500 for a DIY job, so you are paying $1,500 to $5,500 for labor and speed.
Weather requirements
Exterior paint needs specific conditions to form a proper film. Paint applied outside these conditions fails prematurely regardless of quality.
Temperature. Between 50 and 85 degrees Fahrenheit, both during application and for the 24 hours after. Below 50 degrees, latex paint does not coalesce properly and forms a weak, chalky film. Above 85 degrees, the paint dries too fast and does not level or bond well.
Moisture. No rain for 24 hours before painting (the siding must be dry) and no rain for 24 hours after (the paint must cure). Morning dew counts. If the siding is damp at sunrise, wait until it dries before starting.
Sun. Avoid painting surfaces in direct sunlight. The sun heats the siding and the paint dries before it can level and bond. Paint the shady side of the house first, then follow the shade around as the sun moves. Early morning and late afternoon are the best painting times in summer.
Frequently asked questions
- How do I know when my house siding needs repainting?
- Four signs tell you it is time. Chalking: rub your hand on the siding and if it comes away with a powdery residue, the paint binder has broken down. Fading: significant color loss means UV protection is gone. Peeling or cracking: the paint film has failed. Bare wood showing: the siding has zero protection from moisture. Any of these means it is time.
- How much paint do I need for house siding?
- One gallon covers approximately 350 to 400 square feet of smooth siding per coat. Rough or textured siding absorbs more and may only get 250 to 300 square feet per gallon. Measure your wall area (height times width), subtract window and door openings, and multiply by two for two coats. Add 10 percent for waste and touch-ups.
- Should I paint my own house or hire a professional?
- This is the one exterior job most homeowners should seriously consider hiring out. It involves working on ladders at height for extended periods, which is dangerous. A two-story house requires scaffolding or extension ladders for every wall. The prep work is physically exhausting. A professional crew finishes in 3 to 5 days what takes a homeowner 2 to 3 weekends. If your house is single-story with easy access, DIY is reasonable. Multi-story or steep-lot homes are safer and faster with a crew.
- What weather conditions do I need for exterior painting?
- Dry weather with temperatures between 50 and 85 degrees Fahrenheit. No rain for 24 hours before or after painting. Avoid painting in direct sunlight, which causes the paint to dry too fast, preventing proper film formation and causing brush marks. Paint the shady side of the house first, then follow the shade as the sun moves. Check the overnight forecast too. Temperatures below 50 degrees overnight can ruin a coat that was applied the same day.
Products you'll need
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Exterior Paint (check color)
Per gallon — high-quality exterior latex paint
Painter's Tape
Blue painter's tape for clean edges
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