Buying Paint: As with many other things, when you buy paint, you get what you pay for. Cheap, inexpensive paints usually use clays and other inert compounds to provide coverage, rather than more expensive resins. Check the quality of the paint you are thinking of buying by dipping a stick into the paint and lifting it straight out. A quality paint will leave an eighth to a quarter inch of paint on the stick, while the rest runs off. If the paint sticks to the piece of wood without running off, it is too thick and will not cover as much area, meaning you will need to buy more paint to to the job. If too much paint drips off the stick, it is too thin and will not cover what you are trying to paint. Always buy all your paint at the same time. The color of your paint from can to can will be a better match. Figure out how much paint you need by calculating the square footage of the area you are painting. The paint dealer will be able to convert the square footage into the number of gallons you will need. The average coverage is about 300 square feet per gallon, but this varies with the way the paint is fomulated.
Finally, when painting the exterior of your house, always paint in dry, calm weather. Don't paint if there is a threat of rain or the possiblity of dew forming overnight. Try to paint out of the sun. Professionals will start on the south side of a building in the morning and work their way around the building, staying one step ahead of the sun.
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