What exterior painting covers
We paint the whole outside of the house or just the parts that need it. That means siding, trim, fascia, soffits, corner boards, window trim, shutters, gutters and downspouts, porch ceilings, railings, columns, entry doors and garage doors. If your siding still looks good but the trim is peeling, we can do just the trim.
Every siding price includes a pressure wash and two coats of Sherwin-Williams exterior paint. You get a written estimate that lists what we are painting, the paint level, and the prep.
Who it’s for
Homeowners who want the paint to last, not just look good for one summer. Most exterior jobs we look at have one of three stories: paint that is fading or chalking, paint that is peeling in spots, or a color the owner is simply tired of. All three start the same way, with a close look at what the house is doing.
What Upstate weather does to paint
The Upstate is easy on houses in some ways and hard in others, and we plan around it.
- Pollen season. Every spring the pine pollen coats everything yellow. Wet paint catches it, so we wash right before painting and keep an eye on the forecast during the heavy weeks.
- Humidity. Summer air slows drying, and heavy dew can settle on siding in the morning and evening. We start after the dew burns off and stop with enough daylight left for the paint to set.
- Red clay splash. Rain kicks clay up onto the bottom courses of siding and leaves an orange band. We scrub it off, and where it has soaked in, we spot prime so it does not bleed through.
- Mildew on north sides. Shady walls stay damp and grow mildew. Painting over it does not kill it, so it gets cleaned off first.
- Sun on south and west walls. These sides fade and chalk first. They are where a better paint level earns its keep.
How we paint the outside of a house
- Walk the house with you. We look at every side, note peeling, soft wood, failed caulk and mildew, and talk through colors.
- Pressure wash. Included on every job. Dirt, chalk, pollen, clay and mildew come off so the paint bonds to the surface, not to grime.
- Let it dry. We give the siding time to dry out before any primer or paint goes on. Paint over damp siding is one of the main reasons paint fails early.
- Scrape, sand and spot prime. Loose paint comes off, edges get sanded smooth, and bare spots get primed.
- Caulk. Cracked and split caulk at trim, windows, doors and corners gets cut out and redone. Joints that are meant to stay open are left open.
- Protect plants and walkways. We cover shrubs, beds, walkways, decks and anything else near the work, and mask windows, lights and hardware.
- Two coats on the siding. Brushed and rolled, or sprayed and back-rolled where it makes sense for the surface.
- Trim, doors and details. Fascia, corner boards, window trim, shutters and doors get cut in cleanly.
- Final walk. We walk the house with you, touch up anything you point out, and clean up before we leave.
Siding types we paint
Each type of siding has its own prep and its own way of failing. We have a page for each.
Fiber cement (Hardie board)
Primed boards, factory-finished ColorPlus, caulked and uncaulked butt joints. See fiber cement siding painting.
Vinyl siding
When painting vinyl makes sense, and how to go darker without warping it. See painting vinyl siding.
Wood siding
Lap siding, board and batten, and T1-11, plus what to do about peeling and soft spots. See wood siding painting.
Brick and limewash
An honest look at paint versus limewash, and why brick needs to breathe. See brick and limewash.
Stucco
Hairline cracks, elastomeric versus acrylic, and why we check for EIFS first. See stucco painting.
Which paint level fits
We offer three exterior levels, all Sherwin-Williams.
- Essential: SuperPaint Exterior. Solid paint for sheds, rentals, or a house you plan to sell soon.
- Performance: Duration Exterior. Our most common pick for homes people plan to stay in. Good durability and color hold.
- Showcase: Emerald Exterior. Top of the line. The best coverage and color depth and the longest life, and worth it on sunny south and west walls or with deeper colors.
What affects the price
The biggest factors are the siding type and how much of it there is. Every siding price includes the wash and two coats. Here is what else moves the price:
- The paint level you pick.
- Tall walls. Walls 14 ft or taller, like two-story sides.
- Peeling paint. Scraping, sanding and spot priming, light or heavy.
- Trim and details. Trim, fascia, corner boards, soffits, gutters and downspouts.
- Doors and shutters. Shutters, entry doors and garage doors are priced on their own.
The estimate is free, and you get a written price before we start. Read more on how we price. Financing is available through Wisetack or Klarna; see financing. We paint across the Upstate, from Greer and Duncan to Simpsonville, and the painting brick or vinyl siding guide is a good read before you call.
