A repaint is a run of dry days
An exterior repaint isn't one task but a sequence: wash, dry, scrape, repair, caulk, prime, then coat, coat again, then clean up. Most of those steps need dry surfaces and dry hours after them. So the price of the job depends partly on how many working days it takes, and the number of working days depends partly on rain.
What the station's normals say about rain and wind
NOAA's 1991–2020 normals for the Victoria Rgnl AP station give the city 40.41 inches of precipitation in a normal year. May is the wettest month at 5.23 inches, followed by September at 4.53 inches and June at 4.21 inches; a normal year carries 25.1 days with at least half an inch of rain and 12.4 days with at least an inch. The station's hourly normals give a mean wind speed of 9.2 mph across the year, with March the windiest month at a 10.6 mph mean. NOAA computed the precipitation normals from 29 years of record within 1991–2020, flag "S"; the precipitation day counts from 30 years; and the wind normals from 30 years, flag "S."
For a painter, the days with half an inch or more of rain are the ones that can stop work and soak washed siding. The wettest months are worth knowing when you book; the windiest month matters if the crew plans to spray.
How the house itself sets the price
Size and height. Wall area is the base. Second storeys, tall gables and walls over roofs need ladders, planks or scaffolding.
Siding type. Wood lap siding, fiber cement, brick trim and stucco each take different prep and products. Rough surfaces take more paint.
Trim count. Windows, doors, fascia, soffits, shutters, porch posts and railings take more labor than walls.
Condition. Chalking, peeling, mildew, cracked caulk and soft wood all add prep.
The prep steps on the quote
- Washing with a cleaner that removes chalk and kills mildew, followed by drying time.
- Scraping and sanding failing paint, feathering edges.
- Repairs to rotted wood, listed separately or excluded in writing.
- Caulking gaps with a paintable exterior sealant.
- Priming bare wood, repairs and stains.
The drying time after washing is the step most affected by weather. Ask how long the crew waits and whether they check moisture.
Product and coats
A breathable exterior acrylic is the standard choice for siding. Trim and doors usually get satin or semi-gloss. A color change or weathered siding generally needs two finish coats. Higher-grade paints cost more per gallon but often cover better and hold color longer; ask which grade is priced. See exterior painting and paint sheens and finishes.
Spraying and wind
Spraying is fast on siding but drifts in wind, onto cars, roofs, windows and neighbors' property. Crews either mask heavily, wait for calmer days, or switch to brush and roller. Ask how they decide, and whether back-rolling or back-brushing follows the sprayer.
Rain days in the contract
A clear contract says how weather is handled:
- Is the price fixed for the job, or by the day?
- What happens if rain falls on fresh paint?
- Will the crew leave equipment on site between dry days?
- Is there a target finish date, and what moves it?
Older paint and lead
If the house was built before 1978, scraping and sanding exterior paint can release lead chips and dust. Under EPA's Renovation, Repair and Painting Rule, anyone paid to do work that disturbs paint in homes, childcare facilities and preschools built before 1978 must hold RRP certification, firms included, even sole proprietorships, and their workers must be trained in lead-safe work practices. Ground sheeting, chip collection and cleanup take time and should be in the price. You can ask whether the firm holds RRP certification.
Comparing exterior quotes
Line up prep, repairs, primer, product grade, coats, access equipment, spraying plan and weather terms. The pricing guide explains the rest of what moves the number.