Exterior Painting: Do You Know Your DIY Do's and Don'ts?

Last updated · 3 min play time


Elizabeth T. is a professional writer with experience in home decor and construction and writing how-to articles on dozens of DIY topics.

Exterior Painting Quiz Questions

30 Questions · 14.5K Plays · 1 Comment

Question 1

What is this? [PHOTO]

  • A
    A paint stirrer
  • B
    A caulk remover
  • C
    A roller cleaner
  • D
    A pump jack

Question 2

What is this? [PHOTO]

  • A
    A trim brush
  • B
    A power washer attachment
  • C
    A paint scraper
  • D
    A brush and roller cleaner

Question 3

What is this? [PHOTO]

  • A
    A paint key
  • B
    A paint stirrer
  • C
    A roller cleaner
  • D
    A detail scraper

Question 4

What is this? [PHOTO]

  • A
    A mini vacuum cleaner
  • B
    A dust collector
  • C
    A heat gun
  • D
    A trim sprayer

Question 5

Which type of paint is slowest to dry?

  • A
    Vinyl
  • B
    Latex
  • C
    Oil
  • D
    Acrylic

Question 6

What is this? [PHOTO]

  • A
    A unidirectional sander
  • B
    A paint key
  • C
    A putty knife
  • D
    A manual paint scraper

Question 7

Where should you start painting?

  • A
    At the highest point, working your way down
  • B
    On the east side of the house, working counterclockwise
  • C
    On the west side of the house, working clockwise
  • D
    At the lowest point, working your way up

Question 8

In what direction should you scrape paint?

  • A
    In a circular pattern
  • B
    Against the grain of the wood
  • C
    With the grain of the wood
  • D
    Back and forth

Question 9

What is this? [PHOTO]

  • A
    A ladder stabilizer
  • B
    A power washer extension
  • C
    An angled paint scraper
  • D
    A multi-use paint stirrer

Question 10

What's the best brush for painting trimwork?

  • A
    An angled sash brush
  • B
    A square brush with synthetic bristles
  • C
    A feather finisher
  • D
    A square brush with natural bristles

Question 11

What is this? [PHOTO]

  • A
    An orbital sander
  • B
    A Paintshaver Pro
  • C
    A circular saw
  • D
    A power washer

Question 12

When should you caulk gaps between the trim and siding?

  • A
    After priming
  • B
    Before priming
  • C
    Before scraping
  • D
    After the final coat

Question 13

What's the best primer for brick?

  • A
    Oil primer
  • B
    Latex primer
  • C
    Acrylic masonry primer
  • D
    Brick doesn't need to be primed

Question 14

Do you have to remove all old paint?

  • A
    Yes, a clean slate is crucial
  • B
    Only if it's darker than the new color
  • C
    No, just paint over it
  • D
    Only if it's failing

Question 15

What is elastomeric paint?

  • A
    Ultra high gloss paint
  • B
    Paint that dries to a super hard shell
  • C
    Flexible paint with additional solids
  • D
    Rubberized paint for electrical applications

Question 16

What's the best way to paint stucco?

  • A
    Spray and roll
  • B
    Roll only
  • C
    Spray and brush
  • D
    Brush only

Question 17

How should you protect foundation plants before painting?

  • A
    With a fabric drop cloth
  • B
    With a tarp
  • C
    With a vegetable oil spray
  • D
    With plastic sheeting

Question 18

How can you prevent color variations in your paint?

  • A
    Modern paints don't have color discrepancies
  • B
    Buy all your paint from the same store
  • C
    Mix individual cans of the same color in a large bucket to even out discrepancies
  • D
    Buy all your paint at the same time

Question 19

What are VOCs?

  • A
    Vanishing oil coatings
  • B
    Varnish-based oil colors
  • C
    Violet organic colors
  • D
    Volatile organic compounds

Question 20

What is TSP?

  • A
    Trisilicone phosphate
  • B
    Triple spray protection
  • C
    Timed silicone patches
  • D
    Trisodium phosphate

Question 21

What is this? [PHOTO]

  • A
    A ladder stabilizer
  • B
    A pump jack
  • C
    A pigment mixer
  • D
    A paint can holder

Question 22

What color exterior is best for resale value?

  • A
    Gray
  • B
    Yellow
  • C
    White
  • D
    Blue

Question 23

What's the lowest temperature at which you can use oil paint?

  • A
    60 degrees
  • B
    50 degrees
  • C
    30 degrees
  • D
    40 degrees

Question 24

What sheen should you use on siding?

  • A
    Matte
  • B
    Semigloss
  • C
    Satin
  • D
    High gloss

Question 25

Why should you keep a hammer and nail in your paint kit?

  • A
    To remove old caulk
  • B
    To attach your ladder to the siding
  • C
    To tack up plastic sheeting
  • D
    To keep paint cans neat

Question 26

What is blocking?

  • A
    When a paint sprayer becomes clogged
  • B
    When painters mask off large portions of a house
  • C
    When two painted surfaces stick together
  • D
    When a power washer suddenly loses pressure

Question 27

What kind of caulk should you avoid for exteriors?

  • A
    Acrylic Latex
  • B
    Silicone
  • C
    Acrylic
  • D
    Polyurethane

Question 28

What grit sandpaper should you use after scraping exterior paint?

  • A
    300 grit
  • B
    50 grit
  • C
    200 grit
  • D
    100 grit

Question 29

What should you do with exposed nail heads and screws before painting?

  • A
    Remove them
  • B
    Ignore them
  • C
    Spray them with metal primer
  • D
    Use a nail set to tap them below the surface

Question 30

When should you use gray primer?

  • A
    When it's on sale
  • B
    When painting over a dark color
  • C
    When the manufacturer recommends it
  • D
    When using a dark colored topcoat

Comments (1)

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very informational

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