On a St. Louis brick house, the exterior paint job is the wood: cornice, windows, sills, doors, dormers and porch. On the frame houses of Webster Groves and Kirkwood it is every board. Humid summers and winter freeze and thaw test both, so we wash, scrape, prime bare wood and caulk before any finish coat.
St. Louis was built in brick, and on most houses in the city the brick should be left bare. The exterior job is everything else: the wood cornice, window sashes and sills, the front door, dormers, porch columns and ceilings, and the frame addition on the back. Out in Webster Groves, Kirkwood and Ferguson there are many full frame houses with clapboard, and in the newer suburbs there is aluminum, vinyl and fiber cement. Each of these needs different prep and a different primer.
We start with a gentle wash to remove dirt and mildew, then let the wood dry. Loose paint is scraped to a sound edge and sanded. Bare wood is primed the same day where we can, soft or rotted sills and boards are repaired or replaced, and open joints are caulked. Then come two finish coats, brushed and rolled on trim and sprayed only where it suits the surface. Brick, glass, walks and plants are masked or covered the whole time.
Weather sets the calendar. The National Weather Service counts 35 to 40 days a year at 90 degrees or more here, plus 40 to 50 days with thunderstorms. We paint in the shade as it moves around the house on hot days, and we stop early when storms are due. Spring and fall give the longest runs of good days. In a City historic district, ask the Cultural Resources Office before changing anything other than the paint on wood trim.
Exterior painting in St. Louis: common questions
Will you paint my brick?
We will talk it through first. Bare St. Louis brick needs no paint and is easier to live with unpainted. Brick that is already painted can be repainted with a breathable masonry coating. In a City historic district, ask the Cultural Resources Office before painting brick.
When can exterior painting be done in St. Louis?
Most outdoor work here runs from spring into fall. Paint needs a dry surface and mild temperatures through the day and the night after. Summer heat and afternoon storms mean some days start early and end at lunch.
Why does the paint on my window sills peel every few years?
Sills sit flat, hold water and take full sun. Peeling there usually means water is getting into the wood through open joints or failed glazing. We fix the cause, prime the bare wood and then paint.
How it works
- Free estimate: Call, text or book online. We walk the job and measure.
- Written quote: Prep, paint and price in writing.
- Prep & protect: We cover floors and furniture, repair and prime surfaces.
- Paint & walk-through: Two coats, clean lines, full clean-up and a final walk-through.