A fresh coat of paint over those bumps and scrapes on your house is a good idea before the cold weather sets in. But if you don’t do it right, you may find yourself painting the same spot over again next fall.
Cleaning all the painted surfaces is a good idea, but you should at least clean the areas you need to repaint. Once the surface is dry, sand the blemishes, and apply a primer to areas where the bare wood is exposed.
You’ll want a primer that is designed for bare wood in an exterior environment, so that it blocks stains and promotes bonding. As soon as the primer is dry, you’re ready for that topcoat of paint. And after that, a long winter’s nap.