A guide to decorating the outside of your home

Take advantage of our Indian summer by decorating the outside of your home. Follow Julia Gray's top tips for painting exterior walls

A lick of paint can transform exterior walls PA Photo/JupiterImages

A lick of paint can transform exterior walls, but it's not as simple as you might think.

• The perfect conditions for decorating the exterior of your home are dry, warm and overcast weather, as high temperatures can cause paint to blister.
• Use good quality paint suitable for exterior walls. Look for products with added extras, such as fungicide to inhibit mould growth, and that come with a guarantee. New rendering and masonry with a chalky feel should be sealed with a stabilising solution first. Before painting, fill any cracks and holes with exterior filler, clean off any mould and dirt, and use a scraper and sander/sandpaper on any flaking paint.
• Cover the garden adjoining the house with plastic dustsheets to protect it from paint splashes. You may also want to mask off the gutting and woodwork when painting the walls.
• Work across the building from left to right, or right to left, painting a section at a time. Do the top half and then the bottom half, repeating for each section of wall. Don't stop painting in the middle of a section because the joins may show.
• If you're using a ladder, don't take any risks with your safety. Start by erecting the ladder correctly - for every 4m you extend it, it should be 1m away from the house, forming a 75-degree angle. The ladder should also sit on flat, firm and stable ground. Secure the ladder at both the top (to the house) and bottom (to the ground) as you work across the house. If you have to rest the top of the ladder against a window, fix a piece of wood across the window first to take the weight. Never lean across when working on a ladder - always move it so you can reach without stretching.