Exterior house
painting.
Washing, scraping, sanding, priming and two finish coats, with paint Ed picks to suit your siding and New England weather.
Cedar-shingle home with teal window trim
How Ed does
exterior painting.
A New England exterior takes a beating. Sun bakes the south wall, the north wall stays damp, and every winter pushes water into any joint left open. Exterior paint that looks fine in June can be peeling by the second spring if the work underneath was rushed.
Ed Norris has been painting houses since 1993. He walks every house himself, writes up exactly what it needs, and chooses a primer and paint that suit the siding and the coating already on it, whether that's clapboard, cedar shingle or old trim. Then his crew does the slow part properly, on homes, garages and barns across Stow and MetroWest Boston.
What's included
- Power washingDirt, mildew and chalky old paint come off first so the new coats can grip.
- Scraping and sandingLoose and peeling paint is scraped back and the edges sanded smooth, so the finish doesn't show ridges.
- Rot flagged earlyIf Ed finds rotted wood he tells you before any paint goes on, so it can be repaired first.
- Primer matched to the surfaceBare wood, old oil paint and weathered cedar siding each get a primer that bonds to them.
- Two finish coatsSiding, exterior trim and doors, with clean lines cut by hand at windows and corners.
- Garages and barns tooOutbuildings get the same prep as the house, so the whole property weathers evenly.
5 steps,
in the right order.
He looks at every side of the house, checks for peeling paint, rot and mildew, and asks what bothers you about the current paint.
Every step and every product is in writing, so you know what you're paying for before work starts.
The house is power washed and left to dry, loose paint comes off, and any rot Ed flagged is dealt with first.
Bare spots get a primer chosen for your siding, and open seams are caulked so water stays out.
Two finish coats go on in dry weather. Ed checks in every day and walks the finished job with you.
Want this on your house?
Why it
lasts.
Most exterior paint fails from underneath. Moisture gets behind it, or it went on over chalk, dirt or a coating it can't bond to. That's why exterior paint peels on so many New England houses. Ed starts with the surface: clean, dry, scraped and sanded wood. Then he picks a primer and topcoat that are chemically suited to what's already on the house, and the crew paints only when the weather allows. Done in that order, a paint job rides through freeze and thaw for years instead of a season or two.
- C2 PaintRich, deep color that holds
- California PaintsInterior and exterior paints
- Storm SystemStains for decks and cedar
- Benjamin MooreClassic colors, trusted finishes
“Beacon had painted the exterior of the house before and it had held up so well that only one small north facing section needed touching up.”
Questions about
exterior painting.
Or ask Ed himself: call now.
When is the best time to paint a house exterior in Massachusetts?
Late spring through early fall. Most exterior paints want dry siding and temperatures above about 50°F, and the paint needs a few dry hours before rain or evening dew. Ed will talk timing through with you in the estimate.
How long does exterior painting take?
Most houses take about a week, depending on size, prep and weather. Ed will tell you what to expect for yours in the estimate.
What affects the cost of exterior house painting?
The size of the house, how much scraping and priming the old paint needs, rotted wood, how many colors you want and how hard the walls are to reach. Ed gives you a detailed written estimate after walking the house, so you can see what each part involves.
How often does a New England house need repainting?
There's no single number. Sun, shade, siding type and the quality of the last job all change it, and south walls and trim usually wear first. Ed can look at your house and tell you whether it needs a full repaint or just the worn sides.
Do I need to be home?
No. The crew works outside and Ed stays in touch by phone and text. Just keep windows shut on the side being painted.
What if there's rotted wood?
Ed will point it out on the walk-through. Paint can't save rotten wood, so it should be replaced first, and he can refer you to a specialist who does that work.
Do you paint garages and barns?
Yes. Garages, barns and sheds get the same washing, scraping and priming as the house.
How long will the paint last?
That depends on sun, shade, the siding and upkeep, so Ed won't promise a number. He stands behind the work for the life of the paint job.
Exterior Painting in
20 towns around Stow.
Beacon is based in Stow and works about 18 miles in every direction. Pick your town to see how Ed works there.
What your estimate
will spell out.
Ed walks the house himself, then writes down every step and every product for your exterior painting job, so you know exactly what you're paying for.
- Power washing
- Scraping and sanding
- Rot flagged early
- Primer matched to the surface
- Two finish coats
- Garages and barns too
Ed NorrisWalks every house himself