Exterior painting
Stucco, siding and trim, painted for sun and salt air
San Diego houses are stucco, wood siding and craftsman trim, and each takes paint differently.
Jimmy walks every side of the house with you, taps the stucco and marks each crack. We wash, repair, prime and paint in that order, and the color plan decides the body, the trim and the front door.
Stucco, wood siding and trim
Front doors and garage doors
Washing and repairs before paint
Prep
What we do to the wall first
Cracks get filled and sealed
Hairline cracks and wider ones are opened, filled and sealed so water doesn't get behind the paint.
Loose coating is scraped back
Anything that flakes comes off to a sound edge. New paint only holds on what is holding on.
Windows and fixtures are masked
Window frames, lights and hardware are taped before we wash or paint.
Scheduling
Fog, rain and the paint schedule
Exterior paint needs a dry surface. This is how a typical San Diego year shapes your start; the dates are ours to confirm with you.
Foggy mornings
We start later and tell you the day before.
May to Jun
Dry and warm
The easiest window for stucco and siding. It books early.
Sep to Nov
Rain days
We move the day and say so. We don't paint over wet stucco.
Dec to Mar
Exterior questions
What does San Diego weather do to an exterior job?
Paint needs a dry surface. On foggy coastal mornings we start later and tell you the day before. If rain is forecast we move the day and say so, and we don't paint over wet stucco.
What prep is included, and what costs extra?
Washing, scraping loose paint, filling small holes and cracks, caulking, masking and priming bare spots are on the estimate. Large repairs, rot and drywall work are counted and priced separately.
Does my HOA or historic district need to approve the colors?
Many do, for exteriors. Check your rules first. We can print your color plan with the names and sheens so you can send it to the board.
What does the estimate not include?
Repairs we find after the walls are open, such as hollow stucco or water damage behind trim, and colors added after you sign. We show you each one and price it in writing before we do it.
Walk the house with Jimmy
He looks at every wall, then we pick the colors together.