The Ultimate Guide to Exterior House Painting

The Ultimate Guide to Exterior House Painting

If you're a homeowner planning to paint your house's exterior, researching beforehand is key. This will help you make informed decisions right from the start and ensure that your home looks good while staying protected. Some vital factors to consider include asking a painter the right questions and verifying their answers, selecting appropriate paint types, and preparing adequately for the project. With these insights and thorough preparation, you can achieve a successful exterior house painting project. Our guide will detail the essential things to know as you embark on this journey.

What Are The Benefits Of Painting The Exterior Of Your Home?

Protecting Your Home From Wind, Sun & Rain

There are several benefits to painting the exterior of a home. For one, it can improve the home's overall look and make it more attractive, especially if the owner intends to sell it soon. Additionally, exterior paint shields the house from natural elements like wind, rain, and sunlight. This safeguard can prevent harm to the siding or stucco and lengthen the home's lifespan.

Increase The Value Of Your Home

Applying high-quality paint and selecting a color scheme that complements the architecture and style of the house can increase the value of a home's exterior. Furthermore, a fresh coat of paint can hinder moisture from infiltrating the home, which could result in costly repairs for mold, mildew, and other issues. Hence, investing in exterior painting can reduce maintenance expenses for homeowners over time.

Beautify Your Home

Home Improvement and Personal Fulfillment: By giving your home a fresh coat of paint, you can achieve a renewed and refreshed look that can fill you and your family with a sense of pride and personal satisfaction. A well-maintained home can be a source of joy and contentment for homeowners.


Questions To Ask a Painting Contractor 

  • How many years have you been operating?
  • Are you licensed, bonded, and insured?
  • Do you use subcontractors or do all the work for your employees?
  • Can I see a portfolio of past work that you’ve completed? 
  • What types of paints and materials will be used for this project? 
  • Is there a warranty for the paint job? 
  • What is your process for preparing and painting an exterior surface? 

We are happy to provide the answers to the questions above and if you can think of any other questions that would help you plan your painting project, please reach out to us and we will be happy to provide the information.


License and Insurance 

Trico Painting has been in the business of painting homes similar to yours since December 2008. With a workforce of 30 full-time employees, we successfully finish almost 400 projects every year. We are licensed, bonded, and insured. Our license number is 929737 and our information can be verified on the Contractor License Board Website at www.cslb.ca.gov.  This website will include important information about the contractor and will list their insurance information as well.  All contractors with employees are required to have workers' compensation insurance. 

License Information For Trico Painting


Training and Education

All of our painters are Trico Painting employees and many of them have been with us for 10 years or longer.  We have a robust training program that includes bi-weekly safety meetings as well as extensive training on equipment, tools, and painting techniques.

Photos of Trico Painting training classes


Our Exterior House Painting Portfolio

As a painting contractor, we are happy to showcase our previous exterior house painting projects to potential customers. It is crucial to review a painter's past work to ensure that they are the best fit for your exterior house painting project. When reviewing the exterior painting projects of a painting contractor, it's a good opportunity to also examine their online reviews. It's expected that painting contractors providing exterior house painting services will have numerous online reviews on platforms such as Google, Facebook, Yelp, and the BBB.  Trico Painting is one of the painting contractors that maintain a 4.5-star rating or higher which shows their capability and eagerness to provide excellent exterior house painting services.  It is recommended that you request a list of addresses of homes in your neighborhood that have been painted by Trico Painting or other exterior painters. Take the time to drive by these homes for a visual inspection of the quality of their work and how well the paint job has aged over time.

Above, you'll find a selection of the exterior house painting projects we've successfully undertaken in the regions we cater to. We take immense pride in showcasing additional photographs of our accomplishments. 


What Are The Best Exterior House Paint For Your Project?

It's important to get a written proposal that clearly states the type of paint and materials that will be used for your exterior painting project. This will help avoid misunderstandings or confusion. 

What Brands Of Paint Does Trico Use?

We use Sherwin Williams and Benjamin Moore for our exterior house painting projects because we believe they produce the best exterior house paint for your project. These exterior house paints are high-quality, long-lasting, and perform well in Roseville and the surrounding areas. Please remember that there are various types of paint available in the market that are specifically made for different surfaces like stucco, exterior siding, gutters, doors, concrete floors, and wood decks. Additionally, different grades of paint are also available.

Our Recommendations For Exterior House Paints

For Trico Painting customers, we typically recommend and specify the following products for exterior house painting:  

Elastomeric For Stucco 

Vista Paint Elastomeric Product Description


(Breathable - Non-Moisture Trapping)

To protect stucco surfaces, we apply a flexible elastomeric coating like Vista Paint Weather Master . This coating is made from an elastic polymer that can expand and contract with temperature changes and movement of the substrate. It is frequently used on external surfaces, including stucco homes in Roseville CA, to provide long-lasting protection against harsh weather and possible cracks.

Using an elastomeric coating on stucco homes in Roseville and nearby communities provides several advantages.

  1. Elastomeric coatings can enhance durability by creating a strong and flexible barrier that resists moisture, UV rays, and other environmental factors which may harm the stucco surface.
  2. Enhanced flexibility: Due to their elastic nature, elastomeric coatings can accommodate the natural expansion and contraction of stucco homes caused by temperature changes and structural movement, reducing the likelihood of cracking and peeling.
  3. Better aesthetics: Elastomeric coatings are available in a range of colors and finishes, allowing homeowners to customize the appearance of their stucco homes while still providing protection.
  4. Energy efficiency: Some elastomeric coatings can reflect sunlight and reduce heat absorption, which can help lower cooling costs in hot climates.

Overall, using an elastomeric coating like Vista Paint's Weather Master can help protect and enhance the appearance of stucco homes, while also providing added energy efficiency and durability


Best Exterior Paint Benjamin Moore

Homes With Paintable Wood Siding -Benjamin Moore Element Guard

For homes with wood siding in Roseville, we highly recommend using Benjamin Moore Element Guard. It has exceptional durability and can resist harsh weather conditions such as heavy rain, extreme sunlight, and high humidity. Trico Painting suggests using Element Guard's  low-lustre finish for your home's exterior. This finish provides a slight shine and conceals imperfections effectively. Element Guard is renowned for its outstanding coverage and durability, guaranteeing that your home's exterior will remain beautiful and well-protected for years to come.  

Garage Doors, Gutters, Fascia & Wood Trim

We also suggest using Benjamin Moore Element Guard for your overhead garage doors, gutters, fascia, wood trim, and stucco pop-outs framing windows and doors.  It is a versatile product that performs exceptionally well in the challenging weather conditions that Roseville homeowners experience.

Available Paint Upgrades For Exterior House Painting

There are additional coatings available that are rated higher in terms of color retention and durability. These products cost more but the benefits may be worth considering. 

Benjamin Moore Regal Select vs Benjamin Moore Element Guard

Benjamin Moore Regal Select and Benjamin Moore Element Guard are both excellent exterior paint products, each with distinct advantages.

Benjamin Moore Regal Select is a premium exterior paint known for its outstanding durability and long-lasting finish. It is formulated to resist fading, peeling, and cracking while providing superior mildew resistance. Regal Select is self-priming, making it easier to apply on various surfaces without the need for a separate primer. It is available in a wide range of colors and finishes and is ideal for wood, stucco, masonry, and other surfaces. Its rich finish and color retention make it a top choice for homeowners seeking a high-end exterior look.

Benjamin Moore Element Guard is another high-quality exterior paint that offers reliable protection against the elements. Designed to withstand harsh weather conditions, it is also self-priming and delivers strong resistance to mold and mildew growth. Element Guard is a slightly more affordable option compared to Regal Select and is built for climates with extreme temperature changes, offering a robust, flexible finish. It can be applied to surfaces like wood, vinyl, and masonry, providing excellent coverage and durability.

Both Regal Select and Element Guard are great choices, but if you are looking for the most premium, long-lasting protection with a luxurious finish, Regal Select may be the best fit. On the other hand, if your priority is a high-performance paint that balances durability with value, especially for homes in more extreme climates, Element Guard is an excellent option. The choice will depend on your project's specific requirements and budget.

Benjamin Aura Exterior Paint ($$$) 

Best Paint For Color Retention

Benjamin Moore Aura is a line of premium exterior paint products manufactured by the Benjamin Moore & Co. company. Aura is known for its exceptional durability, color vibrancy, and coverage capabilities, making it a popular choice among professional painters, designers, and homeowners alike.

One of the key features of Aura paint is its patented Color Lock technology, which ensures that the paint maintains its color and vibrancy over time, even in the most challenging environments. This technology also helps the paint resist fading, cracking, and peeling and provides excellent resistance to stains and moisture.

Aura paint is available in a range of finishes, including matte, eggshell, satin, semi-gloss, and high-gloss. It also comes in a wide variety of colors, with over 3,500 shades to choose from.

Other Paint Manufacturers

If you prefer to use paint from a different manufacturer than Benjamin Moore or Vista Paint, we are willing to discuss alternative options with you. However, please note that selecting a supplier we do not typically work with may impact your pricing as we will need to pay more for the materials.


Our Process For Preparing and Painting The Exterior of Your Home

Trico Painting emphasizes the importance of proper preparation in achieving a high-quality paint job. To prepare your home for new paint, it is necessary to follow several steps, and cutting corners can result in a paint job that deteriorates quickly, as opposed to lasting for years. We have a comprehensive process for preparing your house exterior for painting. This process includes the following steps.

Infographic showing the steps Trico Painting uses to prepare a house for exterior painting

Our Exterior House Painting Services Include:

Pressure Washing

We begin every project by pressure washing the home to remove dirt, debris, mold, mildew, cobwebs, and loose paint. 

Scraping, Sanding & Wire Brushing

To ensure that we are painting on a smooth and clean surface, we will scrape, sand, and wire brush areas with old paint that is loose, flaky, or bubbling.

Caulking

We apply 55-year Siliconized Acrylic Caulking to window trim, door trim, and any other areas that would require new caulking to be applied. 

Mask and Protect Non Painted Surfaces

We will mask and protect your hardscape, landscaping, windows, and surrounding areas to protect them from paint spills and over-spray.

Prime Bare or New Wood- Patch and Repair Stucco

We will apply a suitable primer on exterior surfaces like new or bare wood and patch and repair any damaged stucco. We will also seal any cracks in the stucco using caulking or a stucco patch.

Other Exterior House Painting Services  That Are Included In Your Proposal

We will perform extra tasks such as trenching at the foundation of the house, removing and replacing light fixtures, and addressing numbers if possible, on top of the steps mentioned earlier.


Choosing Colors For Your Exterior Paint Job

Choosing colors for your home can be difficult, but some resources can help you. Consider hiring an ASID Certified Color Consultant, as they specialize in this field. Alternatively, some paint stores, like Sherwin-Williams, may offer color consultants as part of their services. If you don't want to hire a consultant, you can check out websites like Pinterest and Houzz for inspiration and ideas. You can also visit any Sherwin-Williams paint store, where you'll find color racks with peel-and-stick samples that you can test before making a final decision.

Graphics showing logos of color consultants


Conclusion 

Exterior house painting is an important project that requires careful consideration and research to ensure the best results. From choosing a contractor, selecting paint colors, understanding what type of paint should be used, and preparing for the job - there are many things to consider before starting your exterior house painting journey. We hope this guide has provided you with the information necessary to make informed decisions about how to approach your own home's exterior painting needs. With the right preparation and knowledge, you can create a beautiful look for your home while also protecting it from damage caused by weather or other elements.