Exterior painting that starts with the scraping.
Paint is only as good as what’s under it. We scrape, prime and caulk before the first coat, so your house doesn’t peel again in three years.
More than 7 in 10 Duluth homes were built before 1970, and the median home in town was built in 1952. Old siding has layers of old paint on it. That’s why the prep matters more here than almost anywhere.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2024 1-year, tables B25034/B25035, Duluth city (via Census Reporter)
What happens before the paint goes on
Scrape every loose edge
Anything that’s lifting comes off. Paint over a loose edge just lifts with it next winter.
Spot-prime bare wood
Bare spots get primer so the topcoat has something to grab.
Caulk the gaps
Joints at trim and corners get sealed so water stays out of the siding.
Cover what isn’t getting painted
Plants, decks, windows and walkways get covered. We clean up every day, not just at the end.
Older homes and lead paint
If your home was built before 1978, there’s a good chance there’s lead paint somewhere under the newer coats. The EPA’s lead renovation rules cover painting work that disturbs it, and the Minnesota Department of Health recommends asking any contractor about their lead-safe certification.
Ask us about it at the walkthrough. We’ll tell you plainly what applies to your house and how we’ll handle the scraping.
Cabins and lake places
Board-and-batten cabins, old knotty-pine places that got sided in the ’70s, saunas and boathouses. We paint those too.
Out-of-town owners can do most of it by phone. We’ll walk the place, send photos and the bid, and let you know when it’s done.
Painting season is short. Book early.
Duluth’s average last spring frost is around May 13 and the first fall frost is around October 1, according to NOAA’s climate normals. That’s about 140 days to get every exterior job in the area done.
Benjamin Moore’s Aura exterior can go on as low as 35°F. October nights in Duluth average 35.6°F, though, so we don’t count on October. Want the detail? Read how cold is too cold to paint outside.
Exterior jobs from our files
Questions we get
How long does an exterior paint job last in Duluth?
It depends mostly on the prep and on which way the wall faces. Sunny south and west walls wear first. A well-prepped job with good paint should go years longer than a quick one that skipped the scraping.
What paint do you use?
Benjamin Moore. It’s what we’ve used for years, and their exterior lines have the low-temperature range we need for spring and fall work up here.
Can you paint in the fall?
Into September, usually. Paint needs the air and the siding above its minimum temperature while it dries, and Duluth nights get cold fast once October starts.
Do you do the scraping, or do I?
We do it. It’s the part of the job that decides how long the paint lasts, so we don’t leave it to anyone else.
Sources
- U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2024 1-year, tables B25034/B25035, Duluth city (via Census Reporter)
- EPA, Lead Renovation, Repair and Painting Program rules
- Minnesota Department of Health, hiring a lead-safe contractor
- NOAA NCEI 1991-2020 climate normals, Duluth (USW00014913)
- Benjamin Moore, Aura Exterior product data (application temperature)
Tell us what needs doing.
Free estimate, written price, and Jason walks the job with you before it’s done.
Or call 218-310-4214