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How to Paint Exterior Walls

Want to give your home’s exterior a fresh, weather-ready makeover? Painting your exterior walls not only enhances kerb appeal but also protects your surfaces from the elements. Whether you're a seasoned DIY-er or tackling your first big job, this step-by-step guide will walk you through everything you need—from tools and preparation to finishing touches—with helpful tips for Irish homes and weather.

Painting Exterior Walls: Tools for the Job

Prep: 
 ✔ Farbex Fungicidal Wash - To remove and treat fungal growths such as moss, mould and algae
✔ Prestonett Exterior Filler & filling knife - To fills cracks, holes and surface imperfections
✔ Deltec Masking Tape Extreme - High-performance tape for outdoor use
✔ Dust Sheets - To protect paving, plants, decking, and driveways
✔ Scraper - To remove flaking paint
✔ Sandpaper - To smoothen filled or rough surfaces

Other Accessories:
✔ Suitable ladder or platform - For safe access to upper walls, eaves, fascia and soffits 
✔ Wet Paint sign - Especially important if your home faces a public footpath

Seal (If Required):
✔ Ralston Wall Primer - To seal chalky or powdery surfaces and improve adhesion
Applicators:
✔ 4” Harper & Green Masonry Brush - Ideal forpainting rough exterior surfaces
✔ 2” Wooster Soft Tip Brush – Great for cutting in around doors and windows
✔ Corona Tuff Pro 9” Sleeve – Pick the nap thickness to suit your wall texture
✔ 9” Roller Frame & Extension Pole – Essential for large areas and working at heights
✔ Harper & Green Blue Roller Bucket - A wide, stable option perfect for rollers

Paint: 
✔ Choose from Dulux Weathershield, Colourtrend Weather, or Farrow & Ball Exterior Masonry paint
✔ For a breathable option, choose Ralston Siloxan Matt

 

 

How to Paint Exterior Walls: A Step-by-Step Guide


Before You Start

Check the forecast! Choose a dry, mild spell—typically summer is ideal in Ireland. As a general rule, if it's not warm or dry enough to dry clothes on the line, it's not good painting weather.


Painting a New Build? Please note that if you’re working with a freshly plastered surface, we recommend waiting about six months before painting to give it a chance to fully dry out. For more advice, check out our new build painting guide here. 

Step 1: Clean the Area

Before you grab that paintbrush, let's talk prep. As with all painting projects, meticulous prepwork is the key to achieving a flawless and durable finish. 


  1. Clear: Move planters, tie back plants, remove wall hangings etc. 
  2. Protect: Use protective coverings to protect surrounding surfaces from inevitable splatters and spills. Lay down dust sheets, hang up window foil, and mask off all features and fittings (e.g., windows, door frames etc.). 
  3. Clean: Next, give those walls a good scrubbing to remove nasty contaminants like dirt and mould. 
  4. Treat Fungal Growths: You can use a fungicidal wash to treat areas affected by moss, mould and fungi.
  5. Warn Passers-By: If your house faces onto the street, display “wet paint” signs so passers-by don’t get any nasty surprises! Fortunately, you can pick these up for free at your local branch of Pat McDonnell Paints!  

Step 2: Prepare the Surface


  1. Scrape: Once the walls are fully dry, scrape away any loose or flaking paint so there are no uneven surfaces. 
  2. Repair: Fix minor defects (e.g., cracks, holes, scratches) by applying an appropriate filler such as Prestonett Exterior Filler. Apply and smooth with a filling knife, ensuring that there are no air bubbles. Once dry, lightly sand the area so that it is flush with the surface, making sure to wipe away any sanding dust before moving on. 
  3. Sand: Once dry, smooth it out with sandpaper and wipe away any dust. If sanding, make sure to wear suitable PPE such as a face mask.

 

 

 

Step 2: Check If Your Walls Need Sealing 

If the surface of your exterior walls is chalky, flakey or powdery, it will likely require sealing. Sealing will also help to improve the adhesion of your first coat of paint. 

If you are unsure, you can do a quick test by running your hand along the wall. If your hands come away clear - you're in the clear and can skip to the next step! However, if you're left with a powdery residue on your hands, then you will need to seal the walls.


How to Seal Your Walls: 

✔️ Apply Ralston Wall Primer on any unstable areas
✔️ Dilute it with water by a ratio of 1:1, making sure to mix thoroughly
✔️ Apply the primer to your wall as you would a normal paint
✔️ Give it roughly four hours to dry


Step 3: Choose Your Paint

Always use a masonry paint when painting your home’s exterior. A high-quality masonry paint will not only beautify your home's exterior with colour, but it will also offer essential protection against the elements, including moisture, UV rays, temperature changes, mould and more. What's more, many masonry paints contain fungicidal properties, which will help to prevent the growth of moss, algae, and fungi - a must in Ireland's damp climate!


At Pat McDonnell Paints, we stock a variety of masonry paints including:

✔️  Dulux Weathershield: Specially formulated to withstand the ups and downs of Irish weather, the Dulux Weathershield range is a popular option that offers an extensive range of ready-mix and bespoke colours.

✔️  Colourtrend Weather: Tough, breathable and easy-to-clean, this collection boasts all your favourite Colourtrend shades.

✔️  Farrow & Ball Exterior Masonry: Suitable for use on brick, render and concrete, Farrow & Ball's exterior paint range offers weatherproof and breathable protection for your home in all the Farrow & Ball colours you know and love.

✔️  Ralston Siloxane Matt: In recent years, there has been an uptick in the use of lime-based or breathable plaster in Ireland. To maintain the breathability of your walls, you will need to use a breathable masonry paint such as Ralston Siloxan Matt that will not unnecessarily seal your surface.


Unsure what colour to choose for your home's exterior? Why not book a one-to-one consultation with one of our Colour Experts to receive personalised advice tailored to your unique needs and taste.

Step 4: Paint!

  1. Mix: Using your trusty Pat McDonnell Paints stirring stick, thoroughly mix your paint before use.
  2. Start at the Top: Always begin at the top of the wall and work your way down. Use the cutting-in brush to paint edges, corners, and around features. Then use a roller for larger areas.
  3. Let it Dry: Allow to dry for 2-4 hours depending on manufacturer’s instructions. 
  4. Recoat: Then, go ahead and apply a second coat without thinning the paint, and maybe even a third depending on your wall's surface. 
  5. Peel Tape Carefully: Remove masking tape within a few hours of finishing. If you leave it too long, the adhesive may dry and peel off part of your fresh paint.

Step 5: Aftercare

Drying and curing times will vary from brand to brand, so be sure to check the manufacturer's instructions for the most accurate information. Bear in mind that damp or humid weather will likely slow down this process. 

If you have invested in high-quality applicators, then you will be able to re-use them for future projects as long as you take the time to wash them properly. If you used a water-based paint, then you can clean your brushes and rollers with warm, soapy water. 

 

 

House painted by JK Painting & Decorating. Colours used include 'Wicklow Way' and 'Soft Avoca' from Dulux Weathershield. Paint supplied by Darius & the team in our Commons Road store
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House painted by Jonno Brien in Kerry. Colours used include "Blush Noisette 2" (30/133),  20YY 60/104, 20YY 24/177 - all in Dulux Weathershield. All paints supplied by Tony & the team in our Tralee store

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 If you are thinking about painting your home's exterior walls but don't know where to start, why not call into your local branch of Pat McDonnell Paints? Our expert team members can guide you on paint colours and offer technical advice on how to get a flawless finish.


 

Inspired? Call or drop into one of our nine stores nationwide for expert advice about your home.
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