Wood and stucco cover most houses in Santa Rosa. Older homes have redwood lap siding and shingles. Tract houses from the 1960s and 1970s have stucco and plywood panel siding. Homes rebuilt after the 2017 fire mostly have fiber cement and stucco. Vinyl, aluminum and full brick walls are uncommon here, but we answer those questions too.
The dollar figures on this page are national figures published by HomeGuide for 2026. They are not our quotes. Sonoma County labor rates, the paint chosen and the condition of your own surfaces move a real price up or down. Last checked October 2026.
What paint is best on wood siding, and will paint fix dry, cracked wood?
A 100% acrylic exterior paint over a suitable primer is the best paint for wood siding. Redwood and cedar contain tannins that stain through light colors, so bare spots get a stain-blocking primer first.
Paint will not fix dry, cracked wood, but it will protect wood that is still sound. Fine surface checks are filled by primer and two coats. Open splits are caulked or filled. Boards that are split through or cupped are replaced. Wood that has gone gray in the sun must be sanded back before priming, or the paint will let go.
Can you paint stucco, and what paint sticks to it?
Yes, you can paint stucco, and it holds paint well when it is clean and dry. Quality acrylic masonry paint is the usual choice. Elastomeric coatings are thicker and stretch over fine cracks.
Stucco is washed first to remove dirt and chalk. New stucco must cure before it is painted. Stucco is rough and porous, so it uses far more paint than smooth siding. HomeGuide lists two coats of acrylic covering only 100 to 175 square feet per gallon on stucco.
Do hairline cracks in stucco need fixing first?
Yes. Hairline cracks should be sealed before painting. Winter rain driven by wind gets into them and wets the wall behind.
Hairline cracks are normal in stucco, and in earthquake country more so. Very fine ones are bridged by a masonry primer or an elastomeric coating. Wider cracks are opened slightly, filled with a flexible patching compound and textured to match. A crack that is wide, stepped or growing should be looked at before it is covered.
How often does stucco need painting?
Stucco needs painting every 5 to 7 years by the published national figure. Many stucco houses here go longer, since stucco does not swell and shrink the way wood does.
Fading, chalking and cracks on the sunny sides are the signs. Often the wood trim around a stucco house needs paint well before the stucco does.
How much to paint a cedar shingle house?
No national figure is published for shingle houses on their own. Wood siding in general is listed at $1.50 to $5.00 per square foot, and shingles sit toward the upper part of any range.
Shingles have many edges and gaps, soak up a lot of product and are slow to prep. Cedar and redwood shingles are found on Craftsman homes near downtown Santa Rosa and across the west county. They can be painted, or stained with a solid or semi-transparent stain if they have never been painted.
Can you paint fiber cement siding?
Yes. Fiber cement takes paint very well, and HomeGuide lists paint on it lasting 10 to 15 years. It does not rot or swell, so the paint film is under less stress.
Many homes rebuilt in Coffey Park, Fountaingrove and Larkfield have it. At the first repaint the main work is renewing the caulk at the joints and trim, then washing and applying two coats of acrylic.
Is painting brick a bad idea, and does it trap moisture?
Painting brick is not always a bad idea, but it is hard to undo, and the wrong paint can trap moisture. Brick takes in and gives off water vapor. A coating that does not breathe holds that moisture in, and the paint then blisters or the brick face flakes.
Use a breathable masonry primer and paint, or a mineral-based coating or limewash, and only on brick that is dry and sound. Fix any source of water first.
Should I paint my brick or leave it natural?
Leave it natural if the brick is in good condition and you like it. Unpainted brick needs almost no upkeep. Once you paint a brick surface, you take on repainting it for good. HomeGuide lists acrylic paint on brick lasting only 3 to 5 years.
In Santa Rosa, brick is mostly a chimney, a planter, a porch or an accent band, not a whole wall. Painting it to match the house is a matter of taste. A fireplace is published at $200 to $1,000 to paint.
Can you paint vinyl siding?
Yes, you can paint vinyl siding that is clean and in good shape, using an acrylic paint made for vinyl. Vinyl is rare on Santa Rosa houses, but some have it.
The published national cost is $1 to $3 per square foot, and paint on vinyl lasts 5 to 10 years.
Can vinyl siding be painted a darker color, or will it warp?
Vinyl siding can warp if it is painted a darker color with ordinary paint. Dark colors absorb more heat than the panel was made to take, and it buckles.
Stay at or lighter than the original color, or use a paint line labelled vinyl-safe, which uses pigments that reflect heat. On a west wall in a Sonoma County summer this matters.
Does painting vinyl siding void the warranty?
It can. Some vinyl siding makers state that painting voids the warranty, and others allow it with conditions. Read your siding warranty, or ask the maker, before painting.
If the siding is old enough that the warranty has run out, the question no longer applies.
Can you paint aluminum siding?
Yes. Aluminum siding paints well once the chalky old finish has been washed off. Bare metal spots are primed, and two coats of acrylic follow.
HomeGuide lists the cost at $1 to $4 per square foot and the life at 5 to 10 years. Dents will still show through paint.
A free estimate with a written quote is the only way to get a real price for your job. Call or text (707) 205-3959.