How to Paint the Outside of a House Faster

Power-wash the outside of the house to clean off dirt and loose flaking paint. Hold the spray wand no closer than the recommended distance away from the surface to avoid doing damage to the siding. Allow the house to dry, then scrape all remaining loose paint off with a wire brush and a stiff putty knife. Dust or blow off the outside of the home with an air compressor.

Spot-prime all bare paint areas using a small paint roller and a hand-held paint holder. Overlap or feather the primer over the surrounding paint about 2 inches out from the bare spot being primed.

Mask off all windows, wires, hardware, light fixtures, electrical outlets and boxes you don't want to hit with overspray. Mask using a 12-inch hand masker with 1 1/2-inch masking tape and 12-inch rolls of paper. Wet all shrubs and bushes with water, then cover them with painter's drop cloths or plastic. Cover sidewalks, patios and driveways with painter's plastic or drop cloths.

Prime the paint sprayer pump and load the spray hose until paint comes out of the spray gun when you pull the trigger. Follow the instructions you'll find on the side of the paint sprayer you rented. Insert a 515 or 517 spray tip in the paint gun for exterior paint. Spray the paint while walking at a steady pace and while keeping an even distance from the surface you're painting throughout the entire length of the stroke for an even finish. Back-roll all spray-painted surfaces with a 12-inch roller to further even out paint and ensure the paint is pushed into more porous surfaces. Remove all masking and clean up your tools.