Exterior Painting

Paint is only as good as the prep

The paint itself is maybe 20% of what makes an exterior paint job last. The other 80% is preparation. Scraping loose paint. Patching cracks. Caulking gaps. Priming bare wood. Cleaning surfaces so paint actually bonds instead of sitting on top of dirt.

Most painting companies rush through prep because it’s tedious and invisible once paint covers it. Ryan takes the opposite approach — he spends more time prepping than painting because a beautiful job over bad prep peels in two years.

Ryan does every exterior paint job himself. He’s not a painting company that sends a crew. One standard. One person. No shortcuts hidden under a coat of paint.

What we paint

House exteriors

The full exterior — stucco walls, wood siding, trim, fascia, soffits, eaves, window frames, and doors. Ryan handles single-story and two-story homes throughout Altadena, Pasadena, and the San Gabriel Valley.

Ryan patches hairline cracks with elastomeric caulk, fills larger cracks with stucco patch, and applies paint formulated to flex with the surface.

Fences

A new fence without stain starts weathering immediately. Ryan stains and paints wood fences — cedar, redwood, pine — using products matched to the wood species. Solid stain, semi-transparent, or clear sealer — each has a place depending on the wood and the look you want.

Decks and pergolas

Outdoor structures take a beating from sun, rain, and foot traffic. Ryan applies penetrating stains that soak into the wood grain rather than sitting on top where they peel and flake.

Trim, shutters, and accents

Sometimes the whole house doesn’t need painting — just the trim, shutters, fascia, and accent areas where wear is concentrated. A cost-effective way to refresh your home’s appearance without a full repaint.

Garage doors and exterior doors

High-visibility surfaces that set the tone for your home. Ryan preps and paints them with the same attention he gives the full exterior — sanding, priming, and applying finish coats for a smooth, durable result.

Why prep matters more than paint

Scraping and sanding

Loose, flaking, or peeling paint has to come off. Ryan hand-scrapes and sands every surface down to a solid base before any primer goes on.

Patching and caulking

Cracks in stucco let water in. Gaps around windows and trim let air and moisture behind the paint film. Ryan patches every crack and caulks every gap because paint is a finish coat, not a sealant.

Priming

Bare wood, patched areas, and scraped surfaces need primer — the right primer for the surface and topcoat. Ryan matches primer to the topcoat system so adhesion is maximized and the finish lasts.

Cleaning

Dirt, dust, mildew, and chalky residue all prevent bonding. Ryan power washes surfaces before painting and allows adequate dry time. Paint applied to a clean, dry surface bonds at the molecular level.

Paint selection

Ryan uses premium exterior paints from Sherwin-Williams, Benjamin Moore, and Dunn-Edwards. He recommends based on:

• Surface type — elastomeric for stucco, acrylic latex for wood, DTM for metal
• Exposure — higher UV-resistant formulas for south and west-facing walls
• Sheen — flat or matte for walls, satin or semi-gloss for trim, high-gloss for doors
• Color — darker colors absorb more heat and fade faster; Ryan advises on colors that hold up in Altadena’s sun

You pick the color. Ryan advises on the product and sheen that will look best and last longest.

Exterior painting in Altadena’s climate

The San Gabriel Valley gets intense sun, especially on south and west exposures. Summer temperatures can hit triple digits on exposed surfaces, and winter nights occasionally drop near freezing.

Ryan accounts for these conditions in product selection and application timing. He avoids painting in direct sun or extreme heat — paint applied in those conditions doesn’t cure properly and fails early. He schedules work to follow the shade around the house, applying paint in optimal conditions throughout the day.