Exterior house painting on the Treasure Coast

Most Treasure Coast homes are concrete block with stucco, and stucco painting needs a different approach from wood or siding.

Stucco is porous and moves a little with the heat. Hairline cracks open over time and let water in behind the paint. Small cracks get filled with a flexible patch, and larger damage gets repaired before painting (see drywall and stucco repair).

On walls with a lot of hairline cracking, an elastomeric coating is often the better choice. It goes on much thicker than regular paint and stretches over small cracks instead of splitting with them, which helps keep wind-driven rain out. It costs more and isn't needed on stucco in good shape, where a quality acrylic exterior painting system does the job.

The dry season, from about November to April, is the easiest time to paint outside. Summer jobs work too: we start early, follow the shade around the house, and stop before the afternoon storms, because fresh exterior paint needs a few dry hours before rain.

Trim, doors and shutters take more weather than the walls and show wear first. A trim painter needs a steady hand and the right gloss: semi-gloss or gloss on trim and doors, so they shed water and wipe clean.

Front doors are the quickest way to change how a house looks from the street. As a door painter, we prep, sand and paint doors in place, or take them off for a smoother finish. Shutter painting covers both working storm shutters and decorative ones, cleaned, sanded and painted to match or contrast with the trim.

The cost depends on the size of the house, the number of stories, and how much prep the walls need. [PRICE: JC's range for a one-story and a two-story exterior.]

What changes the price:

• Size and stories. Two stories means ladders or lifts and more time.
• Prep. Mildew, peeling paint and cracked stucco add washing, patching and priming time.
• Coating. Elastomeric costs more than regular exterior paint.
• Extras. Trim, doors, shutters, garage doors, fascia and lanai frames.
• Color change. A big color change can need an extra coat.

When comparing exterior paint contractors, check that the quote spells out the prep, the paint and the number of coats. See our house painting cost guide. We're insured, and we'll send a certificate of insurance on request.