Starting at the Top

Generally paint your house working from the top down, but following the run of the boards. Prime the overhangs and fascia boards first.

At the eaves: start at a corner, paint the overhang all the way across before starting the siding. From this point you can move onto the siding. Shingles can be painted a bit more randomly than some of the other types of siding. You can make a break point about any where along the edge of the shingles, thus you don’t get lap marks. However painting shingles by hand can be quit time consuming. Getting the paint worked into the edges and joints, the smoothing with downward strokes is generally the technique. You’ll need to check back for runs as you go.
Window casings can sometimes be reach entirely from having the ladder set on or under the windowsill of shorter windows, however tall window casings will have to be painted with your ladder to the side of the casing.

Applying Finish Paint
The methods for applying the finish coats are basically the same as we have given for applying the primer. During most of the painting season you will want to avoid painting on the sunny side of a building, so rotating to a different side before one side is finished is usually necessary. Some paints are ready to use directly from the paint can, while others perform better for us if we thin them slightly. While painting, you may find it necessary to thin paint, as it sometimes tends to thicken up in you paint-pot (Bucket You Work From) during the day.
 Be careful not to over thin.

Drying Time
Read paint can labels for recommended times between recoat.
Not to soon: Latex paint may have a recommended recoat time of less that 2 to up to 24 hours, however cool damp or humid conditions can slow drying time significantly. Oil/Alkyd paints usually recommend at least an overnight dry between recoats, however we have found that with some finish coats; it is better to allow the paint an extra day dry time. If oil/alkyd paint is recoated to soon, it could possibly wrinkle, and this is a situation you defiantly want to avoid.
Not to late: Some products are known to produce a soap like film in time thus, possibly affecting the adhesion of following coats. In this case you will probably be advised to recoat before two weeks. Glossy finish paints tend to harden over time, and this could create a surface to hard and slick for the following coat to develop a good bond with.
Letting the paint dry for longer than two weeks before recoating will often, not create a serious bonding problem. But if you ever see a house, that has a problem of paint peeling from paint, it could have been cause by to much time between recoats, if not something else.

Multi Colors
 If you are using more than one color, let the first color paint dry before cutting in with the next. Paint the overhangs first. Other trims colors can be applied before or after the siding is painted. If the edges of casing boards are to be painted along with the siding paint/color, and the face of the casing boards are to be painted with a different paint/color; than it will be easier to paint the trim after the siding is finished.
It is usually best to finish the doors after the siding is painted.
 If the window sash is to be painted, it can painted before or after the siding is finished. By getting the window sash done before the siding is finished it prevents you from placing a ladder on your freshly painted surfaces.