Preparation and application are the foundation for excellent results: Even the ideal color selection needs to be properly applied to look good. The second half of EXTERIOR STYLE explains how to get lasting results, whether you plan to hire a professional or do the job yourself. Here you'll find expert technical advice for choosing the right finish and applying it to everything from a hundred-year-old clapboard Victorian to a vinyl-sided split level or a brand new stucco townhouse. We've also included tips, step-by-step preparation instructions, and an illustrated troubleshooting section that will help you track down and solve problems before they become serious. And, because caring for your home is important even after the last coat of paint has been applied, we've given some useful maintenance tips to help you make sure that your house and its paint finish will look good for years to come.

The second half of EXTERIOR STYLE explains how to get lasting results, whether you plan to hire a professional or do the job yourself. Here you"ll find expert technical advice for choosing the right finish and applying it to everything from a hundred-year-old clapboard Victorian to a vinyl-sided split level or a brand new stucco townhouse. We"ve also included tips, step-by-step preparation instructions, and an illustrated troubleshooting section that will help you track down and solve problems before they become serious. And, because caring for your home is important even after the last coat of paint has been applied, we"ve given some useful maintenance tips to help you make sure that your house and its paint finish will look good for years to come.

How to Use This Book

CHAPTER ONE

The Power of Color

Using the ColorWheel

How Color Changes

Color Building Blocks

Color and Architecture

Five Color Cues

CHAPTER TWO

Finding a Palette

Selecting from Color Chips

The Colors of White

Shades of Nature

Versatile Grays

Coastal Colors

A Bold Approach

Colors of the Past

CHAPTER THREE

Porches

Checkerboard Porch Floor

CHAPTER FOUR

Doing It Right

Choosing the Right Finish

Primers and Sealers

Paints and Stains

Getting the Right Start

Brushes and Rollers

Tools and Equipment

Surface Preparation and Painting Guide

Step-by-Step

Preparation by Surface

What to Paint First

Protecting the Finish

Hiring a Professional

CHAPTER FIVE

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