As you begin to prepare your exterior painting you will need to first wash everything off. Having any buildup of dirt and grime on the home will make the paint not stick as well, and it could peel in a relatively short period of time.
Begin by spraying it off with a pressure washing unit that has a minimum of 2500 PSI this allows enough power to get off the tougher grime and dirt that a hose can't remove alone. During this time, you should go over the exterior with a bleach solution that will help kill mold and mildew that might be forming. These thrive best in dark places, and by adding a coat of paint to them it increases their chance to thrive and destroy your home.
Next, walk around the exterior of the home and make sure there are no wasp nests present. When you are painting and using a ladder these nasty insects can create a potential hazard, and their stings can be painful and deadly in some circumstances.
After you have done your check, you will need to begin scrapping loose paint for the exterior painting job. Any area that has paint that is already peeling or bubbling should be removed to ensure a smooth and uniform application of the paint you have purchased.
Some wood including new wood may be present if it had to be removed. If you had to do a decent repair job there may be raw exposed wood. This wood will need to be primed before you begin your exterior house painting. If you don't prime the wood beforehand you will experience lighter shades of paint in the areas where this wood is, and a need for more colored paint.
Once you have that completed you then need to fill in the cracks that may appear in the exterior of the home. You should be using a top grade caulk that is highly flexible in case the house settles. This will also help improve the overall appearance of the final paint job. If possible allow a few hours to let the caulk dry before you begin painting.
Certain homes have glaze window panes before during your exterior painting you will need to fix these areas. They help with the insulation of the home, and will have an overall impact on the way your home looks. The process is relatively simple and once repaired you should wait a week before painting the area to ensure that everything has set properly. You can do the current exterior home painting everywhere else and then return to these sections a week later.
Just before you get ready for the exterior painting you need to do just one more thing. Walk around the house and be sure you cover all the exterior fixtures. These include the different lights on the walls, and door handles. Getting paint on these will require additional cleanup that can be prevented by simply covering them.
Unless you are planning on adding the deck to your painting, you should cover it with a tarp. This way any paint that sprays out will not be end up on it and extend your exterior house painting project. From this point you will also need to cover all walkways with a tarp to prevent any paint from staining them. It can be difficult to remove it after the fact.
After all this has been done you are now ready to begin the job. With the extra preparation you have done you have increased the value of the paint job and the appearance of the home. By protecting certain areas you have also reduced the amount of clean up you'll have to do at the very end.