House painting involves two extremely important things

Inspection - walk around the house with a pen and a pad of paper. Examine the entire house, paying extra attention to fascia boards, doors, windows, edges and eaves. Note down peeling, blistered or loose paint, cracked or missing caulking and any signs of mold. It is important to take care of these problems prior of the actual house painting.

Exterior preparation typically requires power washing, as this is the main requirement for a quality paint job. Keep in mind however that the use of a power washer involves certain risks. Never use a power washer from a ladder as they do not present sufficient stability for such an activity. Wash the exterior from the ground or properly stabilized and quality scaffolding.

Scraping and sanding - blistered and peeling paint needs to be removed with the smooth sanding of the edges of the area. Blistered and peeling paint can also be removed by using a wire brush.

If you have discovered any rotted wood, make sure to replace it. For minor damages, you can clean it out and use wood filler to fill up the space.

Get rid of all problem caulk areas use quality paintable caulk to recaulk it.

If paint sprayer is going to be used, you should mask off windows, doors, trim and anything else you want to protect.

If you are going to use water base paint over other type of paint (for instance oil base), the surface needs to be primed.

In case climbing ladders is not your preferred exercise, just hire a professional to do the job. Keep in mind that dust can remain in the house even after the completion of the work.

It is recommended to move your family out of the house until the job is done and everything is thoroughly cleaned. This is especially important if your wife is pregnant or your have children. It is also important to follow all applicable safety measures to prevent any potential lead hazards. You can find information on these hazards online or in brochures about things you need to do before, throughout and after your home renovation.