St. Louis was built of brick, so we start there. After brick come the wood clapboard houses of Webster Groves, Kirkwood and Ferguson, then the aluminum and vinyl siding found on gables and suburban homes. Stucco is less common here and mostly appears on Tudor style gables and a few 1920s houses.
Price ranges on this page are national figures published by HomeGuide for 2026. They are not our quotes. Local labor, paint prices and the condition of your own walls, wood and brick move the number up or down. Last checked October 2026.
Is painting brick a bad idea, and does it trap moisture?
It can be. Brick takes in and gives off moisture, and a film of ordinary paint can trap moisture in the wall. In a climate with freeze and thaw, trapped water can make the face of soft old brick flake off. Painted brick also has to be repainted for the rest of its life.
Much of the older brick in St. Louis is softer than modern brick and is laid in lime mortar. It is the kind most at risk. If it has never been painted, our usual advice is to leave it.
Should I paint my brick or leave it natural?
Leave it natural if the brick is sound and has never been painted. If your brick is already painted, repainting it is normal and fine. If you still want to paint your brick, the joints must be repaired first, the wall must be dry, and the coating should be one made for masonry that lets moisture out.
Limewash and mineral-based coatings soak in and breathe better than a paint film. The published national figures are $1.50 to $4.50 per square foot to paint brick and $1.50 to $5.00 for whitewash or limewash. In a City historic district, ask the Cultural Resources Office before painting any masonry.
What paint is best on wood siding, and will paint fix dry cracked wood?
A quality 100% acrylic latex over an exterior primer is the best paint for wood siding. Paint will not fix dry, cracked wood on its own. Weathered boards need to be sanded to sound wood, primed, and the cracks filled or caulked. Then paint protects them.
Boards that are split through or soft get replaced. Painted wood siding lasts 3 to 7 years by the published national figure, so old frame houses need regular attention.
How much to paint a cedar shingle house?
No separate figure is published for cedar shingles. Wood siding in general is $1.50 to $5.00 per square foot, by the national figures. Shingles sit toward the slower end of any range, because the rough faces and the gaps between them take more time and more paint.
Around St. Louis, wood shingles are mostly found in the gables and upper floors of older frame houses. They can be stained or painted. Once painted, they stay painted.
Can you paint aluminum siding?
Yes. Aluminum siding takes paint very well. The chalky powder is washed off, any bare metal is primed, and an acrylic paint goes on top. The published national figure is $1 to $4 per square foot, and the paint lasts 5 to 10 years.
Dents stay visible, so paint will not make damaged panels look new.
Can you paint vinyl siding?
Yes, you can paint vinyl siding if it is in sound condition and you use an acrylic paint made to bond to vinyl. It must be washed first. The published national figure is $1 to $3 per square foot, and the paint lasts 5 to 10 years by HomeGuide's vinyl page.
Can vinyl siding be painted a darker color, or will it warp?
Vinyl can warp if it is painted much darker than its original color with ordinary paint. Dark colors soak up heat, and St. Louis gets many days of strong summer sun. The panels expand, buckle and may not go back.
The safe choices are a color no darker than the original, or a paint line made in vinyl-safe darker colors. Ask the painter which product they plan to use.
Does painting vinyl siding void the warranty?
It may. Many siding makers limit or end the warranty if the siding is painted. Read your warranty or call the maker before deciding. On older siding the warranty has often run out, so there is nothing to lose.
Can you paint stucco, and what paint sticks to it?
Yes. Stucco is painted with acrylic masonry paint or an elastomeric coating, over a masonry primer where needed. The stucco has to be clean, dry and fully cured. The published national figure is $1.00 to $5.50 per square foot.
Stucco is not a main wall type in St. Louis. Here it is mostly the panels between timbers on Tudor style houses in Clayton, Richmond Heights and University City, plus some porch walls and foundations.
Do hairline cracks in stucco need fixing first?
Yes. Hairline cracks should be sealed before painting, because water gets in, freezes and widens them. Fine cracks can be bridged with a flexible patch or an elastomeric coating. Wider cracks, or stucco that sounds hollow when tapped, need a proper repair.
How often does stucco need painting?
Stucco needs painting every 5 to 7 years by the published national figure. Small protected panels on a Tudor gable can go longer. Check the caulk line where the stucco meets the timber each year, since that joint opens first.
A free estimate with a written quote is the only way to get a real price for your job. Call or text (314) 742-3507.