Elmira in Chemung County's words
Chemung County's official history says the county was incorporated by Chapter 77 of the Laws of 1836 on March 29, 1836, taken from the western part of Tioga County, with the county seat at Elmira. The county also notes that its county seat, Elmira, is known as the 'Soaring Capital of America' because nearby Harris Hill has been hosting national soaring (sailplane) competitions since 1930.
We don't quote weather figures for Elmira on this page. Instead it covers the decisions that come before any weather: what to paint, in what order, and how to judge a proposal.
Deciding what to paint first
If the whole house needs work, it rarely makes sense to do everything at once. A sensible order looks at what's protecting the house and what's only cosmetic:
- Failing exterior paint on wood is protective work. Bare wood takes on water, and repairs get bigger the longer it waits.
- Sills, trim and porch parts come next, because flat and horizontal surfaces wear fastest.
- Faded but sound siding can wait a season if the budget is tight; the paint is still doing its job.
- Interior rooms are mostly about looks and wear, and they can be scheduled for any time of year in a heated house.
Planning an exterior without guessing
Without local weather figures to quote, the reliable guide is the product label and the forecast. Every exterior paint lists a minimum temperature for application, and many give a minimum for the surface and the overnight low. A painter should check the forecast against those numbers, not just the afternoon high. Ask:
- What are the minimum and maximum temperatures for the paint you plan to use?
- How long must it be dry before rain?
- Will you paint a wall in full sun, or wait until the sun has moved?
- What happens to the schedule, and the price, if weather stops work?
Our exterior painting page explains how washing, scraping, caulking and priming fit together.
What interior preparation involves
Inside, most of the effort is before paint: moving and covering furniture, filling holes and cracks, sanding patches flat, cleaning greasy or smoky walls, and spot-priming repairs and stains so they don't show through. Glossy trim needs scuffing so a new coat can grip. The drywall repair and surface preparation guide walks through each task, and paint sheens and finishes explains which sheen suits which room.
What New York says
The New York Department of State, Division of Consumer Protection, stated in a consumer alert that New York State does not license home improvement contractors, though some counties and local municipalities do, including New York City and Suffolk, Nassau, Westchester, Putnam and Rockland counties. That's the statement as given, and we don't stretch it to cover any place it doesn't name.
Putting it in writing
A good proposal lists each surface, its preparation, the products and sheens, the number of coats, what's excluded and how changes are priced. Our pricing guide explains why proposals differ, and the interior painting page covers how rooms are protected.