An exterior repaint is judged three years later, and by then it is entirely decided by what happened before the first coat.
Washing
Old paint chalks — the surface breaks down into a fine powder. Paint applied over chalk is bonded to dust, not to the house. Washing removes it, and then the wall needs a full day to dry.
Scraping and sanding
Anything loose comes off. Feather-sanding the edges is what stops a repaired patch showing as a ridge through the new coat.
Caulking
Every joint where two materials meet — trim to siding, siding to window. This is the part that keeps water out, and it is invisible when done and obvious when skipped.
Priming
Bare timber, patched areas and anywhere the old coating has failed. Priming the whole house is rarely necessary; priming nothing is always a mistake.
Why it is most of the quote
Because it is most of the days. If a quote is well below the others, this is the section that was shortened — and it is the section that decides whether you repaint in eight years or in three.
Exterior painting covers the whole sequence. Finished houses are on our Facebook page.
