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You are probably going to paint the outside of your house this year. If so there is a few tip and tricks you need to know to make your paint job last a long time and look like a professional did it.

What are the two things I like to do, I will tell you. I like to spackle all of the nail holes in any little divots in the wood and caulk all cracks before we paint. Here is why. If you let water get inside of wood that is what causes the paint to blister and peel prematurely. What are the products I like to use? I like to use these new exterior spackling compounds. They are light weightier, fluffy, they are easy to work with and one of the things I like about them is that they do not shrink. So often even deep holes only have to be filled one time.

Now caulks, what do you like to use there? I happen to like to use the acrylic ones. These things are easy to work with as well. They are available at just about any home center, any paint store and the acrylic caulks, they do a good job of filling a cracks.

If you have really deep cracks, sometimes it might require two coats, in fact if the caulk shrinks a day so if you apply it. Make sure the tip is cut to the size of the crack that you are filling. Apply the caulk in a very small bead. Wipe it with your finger and for really professional results, take a damp sponge make a couple of swipes with a damp sponge to get any excess caulk of the wood.

Caulking and spackling, they are not that hard to do but they are very important if you want your outside paint to last a long time. Make sure you or your painter does it.

If you want it to discover more home improvement tips go to askthebuilder.com.