Practical advice needed re preparation for painting exterior walls

[Isabeller]

I've been having some structural repairs done so have scaffolding up and planned to use it to paint the outside of house with help from DPs niece's bloke (a painter by trade but not local). Niece's baby arrived several weeks early so her bloke had to back out and I don't want to hassle him for advice.

I just got a quote from someone suggested by the plumber but it is stratospherically more than I can afford so I think I'm going to have to steel myself to do the best I can.

I need advice about preparing the surface, cleaning and scraping down. What tools should I use? I understand a wire brush isn't a good idea. Do I need to sand the areas of bare render where helibars were inserted? If so what should I use? Will a scraper and scrubbing brush be enough on the old paint? Should I use sugar soap or anything in the water?

I might not be able to get to the top of the scaffolding but my logic is that it is better to do at least some of the work.

Advice much appreciated

Have had contrary opinion about wire brush eg it is no problem.

Painter has come back saying Dulux All Seasons would be fine but I think it might be too cold and wet.

Any thoughts?

DH and I repainted our old cottage ourselves after having it repointed. We used Dulux Weathershield paint and didn't do anything to prepare the bricks other than making sure they were free from dust after the repointing (white painted Victorian cottage, so there was already residual paint there as a base). I think we did two coats and although we don't own the house any more, I still drive past it regularly and it's looking good nearly 8 years on.

Thank you, I'd like to use Dulux Weathershield if it's not too cold. Good to know it has lasted well.

I'm pretty sure we were advised that the paint would be ok as long as it wasn't freezing while we painted it or while it was drying - might be worth you calling Dulux to see if they can advise just to be sure.

if you are painting bare render or new patches, apply a couple of coats thinned with plenty of water as the Mist Coat. You will find it sinks into the surface and disappears. That's correct, you will know when it is primed enough because the wall will no longer suck the paint off your brush.

That is a great help, thank you all.

I explained that I just wanted to do basic preparation and fresh coat of paint at the front rather than let the scaffolding come down without doing anything else at all but the guy is adamant about doing more. I can understand he wants to do a good job...