Exterior Painting
Siding, trim, soffits, fascia, decks and outbuildings — finished with weather-grade products engineered for the Maritime climate.
The brief
Exterior paint in Nova Scotia has to survive freeze-thaw cycles, salt spray, ultraviolet load and weeks of horizontal rain. A finish that lasts a decade on a sheltered home in central Canada may fail in three years on the South Shore. The choice of substrate preparation, primer and topcoat is, for that reason, far more important here than almost anywhere else in the country.
Our exterior work is engineered around that reality. We strip back to sound substrate, we replace what is failing, we prime with products formulated for the surface, and we apply two to three coats of acrylic-latex topcoat from a manufacturer whose warranty actually means something.
What's included
A full exterior repaint includes a low-pressure power wash to remove dirt, chalk and mildew, scraping and sanding of any failed paint, replacement of small areas of failing wood (fascia, trim ends, sill noses) on a time-and-materials basis if needed, full caulking of joints and penetrations, spot or full primer as required, and two to three coats of acrylic-latex topcoat on the agreed surfaces.
We mask windows, light fixtures, hardware and adjacent surfaces. Drop cloths protect landscaping, decks and walkways. At the end of every day, ladders, tools and materials are secured and the site is left clean.
Materials we recommend
Our standard exterior specification is Sherwin-Williams Emerald or Benjamin Moore Aura Exterior — both 100% acrylic, both engineered for severe weather, and both backed by long manufacturer warranties when applied to a properly prepared substrate.
For wooden surfaces with active tannin or knot bleed, we prime with Zinsser BIN or Cover Stain to lock in the substrate. For galvanized metal, ferrous metal and previously oil-painted trim we use the appropriate bonding primer.
Timeline and pricing
A typical two-storey home exterior, with one full strip-and-prep cycle and two finish coats on siding plus trim, takes our crew between five and ten working days subject to weather. We track the forecast carefully and will not apply paint in conditions that compromise the finish — including temperatures below the manufacturer's recommended minimum or relative humidity above the recommended maximum.
Pricing depends on the square footage of the building, the height (a three-storey home requires more scaffolding and labour), the condition of the substrate, and the number of trim colours. The written estimate lists each variable explicitly.
Warranty
Exterior work is backed by a written one-year workmanship warranty in addition to the product manufacturer's warranty (which, for our standard topcoats, ranges from fifteen years to lifetime under the manufacturer's terms). We will return to address any workmanship issue within the warranty period at no charge to you.