How to Paint & Decorate Eaves

Obtain the right ladder for the job. For a one-story house, an 8-foot stepladder will suffice. For a two-story house with a peaked roof, use an aluminum extension ladder with an adjustable standoff for added stability and safety.

Set up the appropriate ladder and put on safety glasses. Climb the ladder, keeping your center of gravity forward of vertical, not behind. Reach up and scrape away loose paint with a wide-bladed scraper.

Scrub away dirt, mildew and mold from the eaves with a 10 percent solution of hot water and bleach, using a stiff-bristled scrub brush. Let it dry thoroughly.

Prime the eaves with exterior primer and a paintbrush. Allow the primer to dry two to four hours, or longer if the air is humid.

Apply a topcoat of exterior latex paint in the color of your choice when the primer is completely dry. Add to the decorative effect of the eaves by choosing a color that contrasts with and complements the wall color.

Install decorative, milled trim pieces at regular intervals along the eaves and at corners. These L-shaped pieces can be simply or ornately carved and can be cut to the width of the eaves. Prime and paint them as you did the wood of the eaves and nail them to the soffits and walls.

Install screw hooks to the eaves on one-story houses and suspend hanging baskets of plants for a decorative touch in summer.