Exterior paint in Santa Rosa faces a dry summer of strong sun and then a wet winter. South and west walls fade first, and rain gets in wherever caulk or paint has cracked. We wash, scrape, caulk and prime before two coats, and we plan the work for dry weather.
Vinyl and aluminum siding are rare in Santa Rosa. What we paint is redwood lap siding and trim on the old homes around downtown, stucco and plywood panel siding on the postwar and 1970s houses, and fiber cement and stucco on the homes rebuilt after the Tubbs fire. Each fails in its own way. Redwood peels where water gets behind the film. Panel siding swells along its lower edge. Stucco cracks in fine lines. Fiber cement holds paint well but its caulked joints still open up.
We begin by washing the house to remove dust, chalk and mildew, then let it dry. Loose paint is scraped and the edges sanded. Bare wood is primed, soft wood is repaired or replaced, stucco cracks are filled and joints around windows, doors and trim are caulked. Plants, walks, windows and fixtures are covered. Then the body gets two coats and the trim is painted by hand. The south and west sides usually need the most preparation because they take the hardest sun.
Exterior work here fits the dry season. Rain is mostly limited to November through March, and summer mornings can start cool and foggy, so we wait for siding to dry and often work the shaded sides in the heat of the afternoon. You get a written quote with the surfaces, repairs and number of coats spelled out. If your home is in a preservation district or an association, check whether your new colors need approval before we order paint.
Exterior painting in Santa Rosa: common questions
Which side of my house will wear out first?
In Santa Rosa it is nearly always the south and west walls. They take months of direct summer sun, which fades color and makes the paint film brittle. North walls last longer but tend to grow mildew in the shade.
My panel siding is swollen at the bottom. Can it still be painted?
If the swelling is slight and the wood is firm, we can seal the edge, prime and paint it. Panels that have gone soft or are coming apart in layers should be replaced first, because paint will not hold them together.
Do rebuilt homes in Coffey Park or Fountaingrove need repainting yet?
Some do. Fiber cement and stucco hold paint well, but strong sun still fades darker colors, and caulk at joints and trim is often the first thing to fail. A look at the sunny sides will tell you whether it is time.
How it works
- Free estimate: Call, text or book online. We walk the job and measure.
- Written quote: Prep, paint and price in writing.
- Prep & protect: We cover floors and furniture, repair and prime surfaces.
- Paint & walk-through: Two coats, clean lines, full clean-up and a final walk-through.