Exterior House Painting Services

Repairs Included With Your Exterior Painting Project

Most exterior projects need at least a few small repairs before paint goes on. We handle them in-house as part of the project — no separate carpenter, no separate trip, no surprise charges. This is one of the biggest differences between hiring a paint-only crew and hiring a full-service residential painting contractor: we find the rotted trim, the failed caulk line, the soft sill, the lifted siding panel, and we fix it before paint touches the surface.

• Wood rot replacement — trim, fascia, soffits, window sills, and door frames
• Caulking and sealing around windows, doors, trim, and joints to prevent water intrusion
• Exterior trim repair and full replacement, paint-grade or stain-grade
• Hardie board and fiber-cement siding repairs and panel replacement
• Stucco patching, hairline crack repair, and full re-coat
• Removing chipped, cracked, or alligatored paint down to a sound substrate
• Window glazing and putty repair on older wood-frame windows

When Should You Repaint Your Exterior?

A well-painted exterior in the Mid-Atlantic typically lasts 7–10 years, but every house wears differently. Watch for these signs and we can take a look during a free estimate:

• Peeling, cracking, flaking, or alligatored paint
• Faded or sun-bleached siding, especially on south- and west-facing walls
• Visible wood rot, soft trim, or warping siding boards
• Caulk failure or open gaps around windows, doors, and trim
• Mildew, mold, green algae, or staining on siding and trim
• Color updates before listing your home for sale
• HOA, neighborhood, or community color-standard updates

Common Questions About Exterior Painting Projects

More questions? Visit our full FAQ page or call us at 202-743-5072.

How much does exterior house painting cost in Northern Virginia?

Exterior painting in Washington DC and Northern Virginia varies widely in price with house size, siding material, prep needs, and whether trim or doors are included. As a general guide, single-story ranches and townhomes typically run $4,500–$9,000, two-story colonials $7,500–$15,000, and large estate homes or stucco mansions can exceed $20,000. The biggest variables are prep work (peeling paint, wood rot, mildew) and the number of stories, since two- and three-story homes require additional ladders, scaffolding, and labor. The only way to get an accurate number is a free in-home estimate — we measure every elevation, photograph problem areas, and write a transparent line-item proposal so you know exactly what you are paying for.

Can Northern Star repair damaged exterior surfaces as part of the project?

Yes — in fact, exterior repairs are one of the most common parts of an exterior painting project. Our in-house crew handles wood rot replacement, trim and fascia repair, soffit replacement, Hardie-board patching, stucco crack repair, caulking, window glazing, and re-securing loose siding panels. We do not subcontract repairs out to a separate carpenter, so there is no waiting between trades, no extra trip charges, and no finger-pointing if something goes wrong. Repairs are written into the original line-item estimate so you see the cost up front, and we walk through the repair plan with you before any work begins.

Can you paint my exterior in rainy weather?

No — exterior painting requires dry surfaces and dry weather to bond properly. We avoid painting on rainy days, on days where rain is expected within four to six hours of finishing a coat, and when humidity is excessively high (typically above 85%). For Northern Virginia and DC, that means we plan exterior projects mostly between April and October, with springs and falls being our peak season. If a storm rolls in mid-project, we cover the worksite, secure all materials, and resume the next clear day. Schedule flexibility is one reason we book exterior estimates well in advance — the calendar fills up fast in the dry season.

Can exterior painting be done in cold weather?

Modern acrylic exterior paints are rated for low-temperature application — Sherwin-Williams Emerald and Benjamin Moore Aura Exterior can be applied down to 35°F. That gives us a longer painting season in the DMV than older oil-based paints allowed. The catch is that nighttime lows must also stay above freezing for several hours after the final coat dries, otherwise the paint film will not cure properly. We monitor the seven-day forecast before scheduling any cold-weather exterior project and reschedule if temperatures drop. November and March are real exterior painting months for us in this region; December through February are usually too unpredictable.

What are the benefits of painting my home’s exterior?

A fresh exterior paint job is the single highest-return improvement you can make to a home in our market. It instantly raises curb appeal, can boost resale value (often returning more than its cost at sale), protects siding and trim from water intrusion and UV damage, prevents wood rot from spreading, and extends the life of expensive materials like Hardie board, cedar shingles, and stucco. A premium two-coat exterior repaint typically lasts 7–10 years in the Mid-Atlantic climate, which works out to a small annual cost for a significant improvement in how your home looks, performs, and holds value.

How should I prepare for my exterior painting project?

There is very little homeowners need to do — we handle nearly everything. Before we arrive, please move grills, patio furniture, planters, hose reels, and anything else within about three feet of the exterior walls. Trim back shrubs and tree branches that touch the siding so we can paint cleanly behind them. Plan to keep windows closed during the workdays we are painting near them. Pets should be kept indoors during pressure-washing and painting hours. We bring all the drop cloths, ladders, scaffolding, masking, and protective tarps; we cover all landscaping, driveways, walkways, and exterior fixtures before any paint or water hits a surface.

How often should I paint the exterior of my home?

In Northern Virginia and the DC area, a quality exterior paint job using premium 100% acrylic paint typically lasts 7–10 years. Wood-sided homes on the shorter end, Hardie-board and stucco on the longer end. Stains on cedar shingles, decks, and fences need refresh every 3–5 years because stain is absorbed rather than coated on. The honest answer: do not wait until the paint is visibly failing. Repainting at year 7 or 8, when the existing coat is faded but still intact, is dramatically cheaper than waiting until year 12 when peeling, rot, and water damage have set in. We will tell you straight at every estimate whether it is time or whether you can wait another year.

2-Year Workmanship Warranty

Every exterior painting in Washington DC project (and every exterior painting in Northern Virginia project) from Northern Star Painters is backed by a written 2-year workmanship warranty. If our work peels, cracks, blisters, or fails from workmanship within 24 months of project completion, we come back at no charge and make it right. The warranty is included in your contract; nothing to register, nothing to claim. Combined with $2 million in liability insurance and our Virginia Class A and DC contractor licenses, it is the most complete coverage you can get on a residential exterior paint job in the region.

The warranty does not cover damage from leaks, structural settling, or wear from impact — but those are exactly the issues we look for during the free estimate, so they get priced and resolved up front instead of catching you off guard a year later. Most painting contractors in Northern Virginia and DC offer a one-year warranty if any. Two years is the standard a serious crew should be willing to put in writing, and the difference between five-year and ten-year exterior paint usually shows up in the prep work, not the brand of paint.