Racine in two Census counts
Census QuickFacts gives Racine's population in the Census on April 1, 2020 as 77,816, compared with 78,860 on April 1, 2010. Those are the bureau's figures, quoted as published, and nothing about any particular house follows from them.
The station figures, and whose they are
NOAA's engineering weather data has no Racine station. In an average year at Milwaukee/Mitchell, about 22 miles from Racine, NOAA counts about 207 hours with the wet-bulb temperature above 73°F and about 848 hours above 67°F. NOAA's engineering weather data for Milwaukee/Mitchell, near Racine lists a 50-year basic wind speed of 90 mph (3-second gust at 33 feet), a 100-year rainfall rate of 3.0 inches per hour and about 53 freeze-thaw cycles in an average year.
Those belong to the Milwaukee/Mitchell station. In general terms, freeze-thaw cycles punish paint wherever water gets behind it, heavy rainfall tests every open joint, and warm, humid hours slow the drying of water-based paint. Keep those three in mind as you walk around your own house.
A walk-around before you call anyone
You can learn a lot about what an exterior job will involve by looking closely yourself from the ground, with binoculars for the upper walls. Here is what each sign usually means.
Chalking. Rub a palm across the siding. A powdery residue means the paint's surface is breaking down under sun. It isn't a failure on its own, but new paint won't grip chalk; the house needs a thorough wash and sometimes a primer made to lock it down.
Cracking and alligatoring. Fine cracks, or a pattern like reptile skin, mean the old film has gone brittle. Paint straight over it and the cracks telegraph through. Depending on depth, the painter may scrape and sand or, in the worst patches, remove the old layers.
Peeling to bare wood. When paint lifts clean off the wood, moisture is usually behind it: water from inside the wall, a leak, or wood that was damp when it was painted. Look above the area for a source, such as an overflowing gutter or a bathroom on the other side of the wall.
Blistering. Bubbles in the film may hold water or air. Water blisters point to moisture; heat blisters can come from painting in strong direct sun.
Mildew. Grey or black specks that return after washing are usually mildew, often on walls that stay shaded. They need killing, not just covering.
Caulk and sills. Look at the caulk around windows, doors and trim corners. Cracked or shrunken caulk lets water in. Press a screwdriver gently into window sills and the bottoms of door frames; soft wood needs repair before paint.
Turning notes into a scope
Bring what you've found to the painter and ask how each item will be handled. A sound proposal pairs each problem with a fix: washing for chalk, scraping and sanding for cracked or peeling areas, mildew treatment, repairs for soft wood, new caulk where the old has failed, primer on bare spots. If a bid doesn't mention a problem you've seen, ask why. Our exterior painting page explains each step, and the pricing guide shows how preparation drives the price.
When the painting happens
Exterior coats go on when the air and surface meet the label's temperature range, the siding is dry and no rain is due before the paint sets. Ask how the painter decides on a doubtful morning and what happens to the schedule when a day is lost. Indoor rooms can be done any time; see interior painting.
Your notes, in a list
- Chalking: which walls?
- Cracking or alligatoring: where, and how deep?
- Peeling to bare wood: where, and what's above it?
- Blisters: water or air?
- Mildew: which walls?
- Failed caulk and soft wood: which windows and doors?