Exterior painting
Painted for Atlanta weather, pollen and all
Humid summers, spring pollen and afternoon storms decide how an exterior is painted here. We wash and treat mildew first, let the walls dry, then prep every seam before any color goes on.
Painted brick, wood siding, fiber cement, trim, shutters, porch ceilings and doors are all part of the same estimate, so the whole house is finished as one.
Wash and mildew treatment, then drying time
Scraping, sanding and caulking at every seam
Rot repaired before it is primed
Primer on bare spots, then two finish coats
Prep
What happens before any color goes on
Paint lasts as long as the surface under it. These six steps are in every exterior estimate.
- 01
Wash
Pressure wash, treat mildew and let the walls dry, which can take a few days in a damp week.
- 02
Scrape and sand
Loose and failing paint comes off by hand, with a HEPA vacuum on older houses.
- 03
Repair
Soft or rotted trim and siding is cut out and replaced, not covered.
- 04
Caulk
Every joint around windows, doors and corner boards gets new caulk.
- 05
Prime
Bare wood, patches and masonry get primer before the finish coats.
- 06
Cover
Plants, porches, cars and walkways are covered and uncovered every day.
The week
A typical house, day by day
Ranges, not promises. Rain and wet walls move them, and your estimate gives the ranges for your house.
- 01Day 1
Step 1: Wash and cover
The crew lead walks the house with you, then washing and masking begins.
- 02Days 2 to 4
Step 2: Scrape, repair, caulk
The slow days, and the ones that decide how long the paint lasts.
- 03Day 4 or 5
Step 3: Prime
Bare wood and patches first, then the walls dry.
- 04Days 5 to 8
Step 4: Body and trim
Two coats on the body, then the trim, with the cut lines done by hand.
- 05Day 8 or 9
Step 5: Door, shutters and porch
The finishes that get touched are done last, so they stay clean.
- 06Last day
Step 6: Walk-through
You and the crew lead walk the house together, and touch-ups are done that day.
Finishes
Sheens in plain words
Premium exterior paint from a major manufacturer. Ask for the product data sheet and we send it with your estimate.
Body: flat to low sheen
Hides small flaws in siding and brick, and does not shine in afternoon sun.
Trim: satin or semi-gloss
Wipes clean and sheds water, and keeps a crisp edge against the body.
Door: gloss or semi-gloss
Hard enough for hands and weather, and the place a color can be loud.
Questions
Exterior questions
Do you paint brick?
Yes. Painted brick is hard to undo, so we talk it through first, and we paint a test square on your wall before you decide.
What if you find rot?
We show you, photograph it and write it into a change order before replacing it. Nothing is added without your yes in writing.
Do I need to be home?
No. We need access to the yard and a place to plug in, and we walk the house with you at the start and at the end.
How long does it last?
That depends on the surface, the exposure and the prep. Terms, limits and exclusions are in your written warranty.
Ready to walk the house?
We look at the walls, the trim and the lot, then send a written estimate.