When to paint outsideEarly autumn and early summer are the best times to paint outside. Both times of year offer a good chance of settled weather, with plenty of daylight and light winds. Try not to paint when the sun is very hot, or there is a strong chance of rain or frost. As well as making the work uncomfortable, such weather makes the paint dry badly, bubble up or even peel off.

When you're ready to paint, the rule is 'follow the sun.' That means - where you can - working on parts of the house that the sunlight has just left. They will be dry and in shadow, so it's cooler and easier to see.

Working on ladders *

Make sure the foot of the ladder has a firm and level base. Put a stout board under the feet on soft or uneven ground.

Secure the ladder by tying the sides to stakes or lean a heavy object such as a sand bag against it.

For every 4 ft of ladder, the base should be 1 ft out from the house wall.

Fitting a stand-off to the top of the ladder makes it easier and safer to work on eaves and gutters.

Never lean sideways on a ladder and never allow children to play on or under a ladder.

Use a paint kettle, hung from a wire hook, to hold paint so you have one hand free to hold on with when working high up.

If you need to lean your ladder against dry, newly painted areas tie rags to the top of the uprights for added protection.

Never stand too high on the ladder - allow 3 rungs above your feet so you can hold on to the side.

Preparing to paint

Preparing properly before you start painting is always time well spent, because your paintwork will last so much longer. This is especially true outside. It's best to start at the top and work down, and to do all the preparation work first and then get on with the painting. That way there's less risk of dirt or paint drips falling on work you've already done.

Cover plants and paths with polythene sheeting before you start. When buying paint, check that it's recommended for outside use.

Gutters

Paint the inside of metal gutters with two coats of bituminous paint. Give the outside a coat of undercoat and a gloss topcoat. Paint plastic gutters with oil-based gloss.

High level woodwork

Use exterior undercoat and gloss. Paint bargeboards (the protective boards that run up the edge of the tiles on a gable end) first, starting at the roof ridge and working down. Then paint the fascia and soffit boards (behind the gutters and under the eaves).

Walls

Use exterior grade emulsion, masonry paint or cement paint. Start painting in the top right hand corner if you are right handed (or the other side if you are left-handed). Aim to complete a whole wall in one session.

A roller is much faster than a brush but you will need a special tool support to hold a paint tray on to a ladder. You can use a roller extension pole to get more reach from the ground. If you plan to use a brush, buy a 125mm (4

Protect downpipes with a newspaper 'sleeve' that you can slide up and down as you work. Wipe splashes from doors and windows before they dry.

CladdingWork downwards from the roof, painting the under-edge of each board first, then the face. Pay particular attention to the ends, which are most at risk from the weather.

Windows
Start early in the day so that you can shut the window by nightfall. Don't start too early if there is dew around. For a neat finish, stick masking tape around the edge of panes before painting. Allow paint to go a few millimetres onto the glass so that rain cannot get between the glass and the putty. Peel the tape off before the paint dries.