Exterior Painting Q&A
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Brian Schwaller answers common questions about exterior house painting, staining and weatherization projects as we head into fall.
Wisconsin weather puts a lot of wear and tear on house exteriors. “If you have siding or an exterior door or trim that’s peeling, that’s a maintenance issue that should be addressed,” said Brian. “Wood that is not protected from moisture will rot. Exposed metal will rust. It costs far more to replace these things than it does to keep them painted.” |
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Commonly Asked Questions About Exterior House Painting
Q: What exterior painting projects should be on my fall home maintenance checklist?
A: As part of a fall exterior home maintenance checklist, homeowners should inspect all exterior wood, especially surfaces that are exposed to winter snow and ice. This includes house siding, deck boards, porch flooring, entry doors, window frames, and trim. Repair or replace damaged wood and then make sure it’s weather sealed with paint, or stain and sealer. A good painting contractor will prep thoroughly and apply the correct products for each application for best results.
Q: How can you tell if your house needs painting?
A: Exterior wood that doesn’t look new probably needs maintenance. Bare wood should be protected with paint or stain, even if it’s pressure treated. Signs of damage include blistering, cracking or peeling paint, fading or discolored stained wood, and mold or mildew. Damaged wood should be cleaned, repaired if needed, and repainted, stained or sealed to protect it from moisture.
Q: How often should wood siding be painted or stained?
A: The quality of the products used and how they are applied can affect how long exterior paint lasts. In general, a semi-transparent stain should last 2 to 5 years. A solid color stain should last about 8 years (the pigment provides more UV protection). Professional grade exterior house paint should last 10 years or more with proper prep and application. Wood, metal and fiber cement siding also need protective coatings to keep them looking great and prevent moisture rot or rust.
Q: Why is it important to do exterior painting before winter?
A: Wood on home exteriors can take a beating during Wisconsin winters. Moisture, wind and freeze/thaw cycles can damage siding, deck boards, soffit, fascia, and trim that’s not properly weather sealed, so it needs to be painted, stained or sealed to prevent rotting. A good painting contractor will also apply caulking around windows and doors to help weather seal your home to prevent drafts and help reduce your heating bills.
Q: How late in the fall can you paint outside in Wisconsin?
A: Most acrylic latex paints can be applied as long as it’s dry and above freezing (including overnight), typically mid/late April through November. Oil-based stain products typically used for decks, cedar siding and log homes require overnight low temperatures 50 degrees or higher, so the window for those projects is typically May or June through mid-October. That leaves a six to seven month window for exterior painting projects in Wisconsin, so it’s best to plan ahead and schedule as early as possible.
Q: How often do I need to reseal my deck?
A: Wood decks need to be cleaned and sealed every year or two for UV protection and moisture sealing. If water on your deck does not bead on the surface (it soaks in instead), it likely needs to be resealed. Deck maintenance is also important for safety reasons. If there is mildew or mold growing on your deck, it can be very slippery when wet, creating a slip hazard. “If you don’t maintain it, you will end up replacing it sooner than necessary,” says Brian Schwaller, owner of Schwaller’s Painting, Staining & Drywall. “Prolonged moisture exposure rots wood.”
The window for deck maintenance is fairly short in Wisconsin. It must be dry and at least 50 degrees (including overnight) for oil-based deck stain and sealer products to cure properly.
Q: Why should a homeowner choose Schwaller’s Painting, Staining & Drywall for their exterior painting project?
A: Schwaller’s has been serving Eastern Wisconsin homeowners and businesses for 21 years, with skilled professional painting and drywall crews working from Kewaunee to Milwaukee County. Our goal is simple: to make every client happy with great service at a fair price. We do things right, respect our clients, and protect their property. Our team members are highly trained with years of interior and exterior painting, staining, and drywall experience, ranging from residential, commercial and industrial projects to log homes and interior finishes. We have been recognized as the Best Painting Company 8 years in a row in the annual Community’s Choice Awards.
Q: What exterior painting projects should be on my fall home maintenance checklist?
A: As part of a fall exterior home maintenance checklist, homeowners should inspect all exterior wood, especially surfaces that are exposed to winter snow and ice. This includes house siding, deck boards, porch flooring, entry doors, window frames, and trim. Repair or replace damaged wood and then make sure it’s weather sealed with paint, or stain and sealer. A good painting contractor will prep thoroughly and apply the correct products for each application for best results.
Q: How can you tell if your house needs painting?
A: Exterior wood that doesn’t look new probably needs maintenance. Bare wood should be protected with paint or stain, even if it’s pressure treated. Signs of damage include blistering, cracking or peeling paint, fading or discolored stained wood, and mold or mildew. Damaged wood should be cleaned, repaired if needed, and repainted, stained or sealed to protect it from moisture.
Q: How often should wood siding be painted or stained?
A: The quality of the products used and how they are applied can affect how long exterior paint lasts. In general, a semi-transparent stain should last 2 to 5 years. A solid color stain should last about 8 years (the pigment provides more UV protection). Professional grade exterior house paint should last 10 years or more with proper prep and application. Wood, metal and fiber cement siding also need protective coatings to keep them looking great and prevent moisture rot or rust.
Q: Why is it important to do exterior painting before winter?
A: Wood on home exteriors can take a beating during Wisconsin winters. Moisture, wind and freeze/thaw cycles can damage siding, deck boards, soffit, fascia, and trim that’s not properly weather sealed, so it needs to be painted, stained or sealed to prevent rotting. A good painting contractor will also apply caulking around windows and doors to help weather seal your home to prevent drafts and help reduce your heating bills.
Q: How late in the fall can you paint outside in Wisconsin?
A: Most acrylic latex paints can be applied as long as it’s dry and above freezing (including overnight), typically mid/late April through November. Oil-based stain products typically used for decks, cedar siding and log homes require overnight low temperatures 50 degrees or higher, so the window for those projects is typically May or June through mid-October. That leaves a six to seven month window for exterior painting projects in Wisconsin, so it’s best to plan ahead and schedule as early as possible.
Q: How often do I need to reseal my deck?
A: Wood decks need to be cleaned and sealed every year or two for UV protection and moisture sealing. If water on your deck does not bead on the surface (it soaks in instead), it likely needs to be resealed. Deck maintenance is also important for safety reasons. If there is mildew or mold growing on your deck, it can be very slippery when wet, creating a slip hazard. “If you don’t maintain it, you will end up replacing it sooner than necessary,” says Brian Schwaller, owner of Schwaller’s Painting, Staining & Drywall. “Prolonged moisture exposure rots wood.”
The window for deck maintenance is fairly short in Wisconsin. It must be dry and at least 50 degrees (including overnight) for oil-based deck stain and sealer products to cure properly.
Q: Why should a homeowner choose Schwaller’s Painting, Staining & Drywall for their exterior painting project?
A: Schwaller’s has been serving Eastern Wisconsin homeowners and businesses for 21 years, with skilled professional painting and drywall crews working from Kewaunee to Milwaukee County. Our goal is simple: to make every client happy with great service at a fair price. We do things right, respect our clients, and protect their property. Our team members are highly trained with years of interior and exterior painting, staining, and drywall experience, ranging from residential, commercial and industrial projects to log homes and interior finishes. We have been recognized as the Best Painting Company 8 years in a row in the annual Community’s Choice Awards.
