How to Paint Old Exterior Wood

Put on a pair of rubber gloves. Take a can of liquid paint stripper and shake it well. Use a can opener and open the can; then, take a can stirrer and stir the contents even more to make sure the liquid is well mixed. Use a paintbrush and paint a small section of the exterior wood. It does not matter which section you paint first, but it would be helpful if you start on the edges of whatever surface you are working on.

Use the putty knife and scrape off the wood in the same direction as the grain after you have applied the paint stripper. Hold the knife with both hands to make the scraping easier and more secure. Continue with this process of applying the paint stripper and then scraping off the paint until the surface has been completely stripped of the paint.

Take the electric sander and install the paper or sanding discs to the sander. Refer to the sander manual instructions for how to properly install the paper. After the sander has been prepared, sand small sections of the wood until the gray, weathered surface has been completely sanded, and the fresh new wood is visible. From time to time, feel each sanded section to make sure it is smooth and even.

Take the can of liquid exterior primer and shake it well. Open the can and mix the contents with a new can stirrer. Use the paintbrush and apply an even coat over the surface of the wood. Let the entire surface dry completely before going on to the next step.

Paint a second, even coat with the exterior primer after the surface has completely dried off. You may paint a third or a fourth coat depending on your preference or on the climate. After you have primed the wood, use your chosen can of paint and apply it evenly on the surface. Depending on the size of the surface you are painting, you may want to use a bigger brush to cover more area and a smaller one for details or smaller areas.