Painting questions, answered

Most painted exteriors here last somewhere around 5 to 10 years, depending on the siding, the paint, the prep and how much sun, salt and moisture each wall takes.

Houses close to the bay or the ocean usually need attention sooner. Shaded walls tend to fail first from mildew and moisture, and south- and west-facing walls from sun.

Signs it is time:

• Paint that leaves a chalky powder on your hand.
• Mildew or algae that comes back soon after washing.
• Peeling or cracking on trim and around windows.
• Caulk that has split open at joints and corners.
• Soft or bare wood anywhere - that needs repair, not just paint.

Repainting before the paint has failed completely usually means less prep and repair.

That is usually mildew or algae, which grows on the shaded, damp sides of a house in the humid Tidewater summer. It is not always a sign the paint has failed.

Washing it off with the right cleaner often brings the paint back. Paint applied over mildew without cleaning will peel, so it always has to come off first.

Yes. Near the Chesapeake Bay and the oceanfront, a fine salt film builds up on siding and trim. Paint applied over it bonds poorly, and salt draws moisture that speeds up peeling and rust on metal.

A thorough wash before painting, and washing the house now and then afterwards, are the simplest defenses.

Spring and fall are the most comfortable, but exterior work runs much of the year. Interior painting can be done any time.

The limits are cold nights in winter, rain, and heavy dew on humid summer mornings, when siding has to dry before painting starts.

Yes, if the patch is finished and primed properly. Joint compound absorbs paint differently from the surrounding wall, so an unprimed patch often shows through as a dull or shiny spot.

Feathering the edges, sanding smooth and priming before the color coat is what makes a repair disappear.

Clearing small items, wall hangings and anything fragile from the rooms or walls being painted saves time. Outside, keep cars and furniture clear of the walls.

For businesses, let us know about opening hours, deliveries or tenants so the work can be planned around them.

Every job is priced after a free on-site estimate, because the prep, repairs and access change the price more than the size of the space. No prices are quoted over the phone or in chat.

Yes. Osman comes out, looks at the job and gives you a price before anything is scheduled.

Yes - offices, retail stores, showrooms, hotels and apartment buildings, inside and out, including new fit-outs from bare drywall.

Norfolk, Virginia Beach, Chesapeake, Portsmouth and Suffolk, plus Hampton and Newport News on the Peninsula.

Monday to Friday, 7am to 5pm.

Yes - new drywall hung, taped and finished, and repairs to holes, cracks and water-damaged sections, all ready for paint.