Exteriors
Clapboard, shingle and trim, done in the right season
Siding, trim, doors and shutters, painted on the dry days between spring and late fall.
You need this when paint is flaking at the lower courses, the caulk has opened around windows, or a house is being repainted to a new color. Preparation is two-thirds of an exterior, and the schedule follows the weather.
The product data sheet sets the temperature and dry-time limits for each coat. We follow it, and we move the schedule rather than paint a wet board.
Preparation
What happens before the first coat
The surface
Washed and left to dry
Loose paint scraped back to a sound edge
Bare wood spot-primed
Rot reported, not painted over
The joints
Gaps caulked, nail holes filled
Trim edges and sills sealed
Shutters and doors taken down where needed
Old hardware removed or masked
The site
Plants and shrubs covered
Drop cloths under every work area
Ladders set and tied off
Paint chips collected and removed
The days
A house, in order
A typical house takes one to three weeks, with weather days on top. The walkthrough gives the range for yours.
- 01
Step 1: Wash and scrape
The house is washed, then scraped and sanded back to a sound surface.
- 02
Step 2: Prime and caulk
Bare wood is primed and every joint caulked, then left to cure.
- 03
Step 3: Finish coats
Two coats to the data sheet's spacing, trim last.
- 04
Step 4: Handover
A walk around the house with you, then touch-ups and cleaning.
Questions
About exteriors
What time of year do you paint outside?
From spring to late fall on dry days. Book in winter for the spring schedule.
What if it rains?
We stop, cover what is open and come back when the surface is dry. We don't paint a wet board.
Does the historic district need to approve a new color?
Some Greenwich neighborhoods review exterior changes. Check with your town's land use office, and we will supply the color and sheen information for the application.
My house was built before 1978. What changes?
Federal rules apply to paid work that disturbs paint in homes and child-occupied buildings built before 1978: the firm has to be certified by the EPA under its Renovation, Repair and Painting rule, and a certified renovator has to lead the job. Paint in a house of that age is treated as lead paint unless a test says otherwise. The work area is sealed, the paint is wet-scraped or vacuumed rather than dry-sanded, and the floors are cleaned and checked before the room is handed back. Our firm number is listed under Credentials.
Book the house for the spring
Send the address and which sides need work. We will set a walkthrough.