A: Because the exterior is vulnerable to the elements, it's a good idea to start outside. Then you can do the inside no matter what the weather is doing. Your first step is to collect and compare estimates from two or three reputable licensed contractors. Pay special attention to the preparation each contractor intends to do. This is the most the time-consuming, costly part of a paint job, but if not done right, you might have to repaint again in less than a year.

Q: What should be included in the preparation?

A: Every exterior should be pressure washed to remove peeling chips of paint, bugs, dirt and chalkiness (if you rub your hand across the surface of the siding and find a residue that resembles chalk dust from a blackboard, you have picked up deteriorated paint. If this is not removed, the new paint is guaranteed to peel). Because the wood siding must be allowed to dry out is another reason the job tends to take longer in cool weather. After the siding has been pressure washed, the areas where paint chips were removed need to be sanded, then primed with a high quality exterior primer, preferably a latex stain-locking product if the siding is redwood, to present the wood from bleeding from tannic acid. Sometimes two coats of stain-lock are required.

The next step is to fill areas needed with exterior spackle. If spackle were applied directly to the un-primed wood, it would chip off within six months. Sand and re-prime the spackled areas, especially on trim, which receives semi-gloss paint.

Then apply the finish coat. Latex paint is generally recommended instead of oil-based paint because it breathes, while oil paint tends to crack.

Semi-gloss is often used for trim, the higher the sheen, the better the durability. If the trim has previously been painted with an oil-based paint, it needs to be sanded and primed with a latex primer before applying new trim paint.

Be sure the painter leaves a good amount of the same batch of paint he used to paint the house for touch-up. Even if you have the same formula made up later, it will vary enough to show if you try to touch up with it.

Q: What type of tape should be used to mask off the windows?

A: In sunny areas, many painters use blue tape instead of traditional masking tape because after a day or two, masking tape will leave a gummy residue and often causes anodized coating on aluminum window sills to peel away. Blue tape is more expensive but very effective and can remain in place up to two weeks.

by Kathy Maynard, reprinted courtesy of HomeAdvisor.com