Exterior Painting Prep Checklist for
CT Homeowners.

Once you've signed the contract, there are a handful of things you can do (and a handful of things you shouldn't) to make sure the prep stage goes smoothly. Most of this is straightforward — but the small details affect the project timeline more than people expect.

Two weeks before we arrive.

1. Trim back foliage against the house. Rhododendron, hydrangea, and ivy growing onto siding all need to be cut back at least 18 inches.
2. Schedule pet care for the prep days specifically — power-washing and sanding are stressful for dogs.
3. Move outdoor furniture away from the house perimeter — at least 6 feet of clearance for ladder staging.
4. Confirm color choices in writing. Paint should be ordered to arrive 48 hours before painting day; last-minute color changes push the start date.
5. Coordinate access for any side gates, garage codes, or alarm systems.

Day of arrival.

1. Park your cars away from the perimeter.
2. Close all windows and storm windows on the elevations being prepped.
3. Remove window screens (we'll do this if you prefer — but it's faster if it's already done).
4. Take down anything mounted to the siding: lanterns, addresses, decorative plaques.
5. Identify any fragile features (security cameras, satellite dishes, dog runs) for the foreman.

What you don't need to do.

• You don't need to power-wash the home yourself. We do that as part of prep.
• You don't need to scrape failing paint. Hand-scraping is the foundation of a 10-year repaint and requires specific technique.
• You don't need to caulk gaps. Caulking is sequenced after wood repair — doing it ahead actually creates rework.
• You don't need to be home for the full project. A walk-through at the start and another at the end is sufficient.

What to expect during the project.

Day 1–2: prep stage

Soft-wash the entire exterior. The home will be wet for 24 hours — paint cannot start until it's dry.

Day 2–4: scrape, sand, repair

Hand-scrape all loose paint. Sand transitions smooth. Replace rotted wood. Spot-prime bare wood. This is the noisiest stage.

Day 4–5: caulk and prime

Full caulk on every joint. Final spot-priming of any newly exposed wood.

Day 5–7: paint application

First coat. Cure 24 hours. Second coat.

Final day: walk-through

You walk the home with the foreman. Anything you flag gets touched up the same day.

Weather contingency.

We watch the dew point as carefully as the temperature. If overnight temperatures will drop below the dew point with paint on the wall, we don't paint that day — paint that's still curing when condensation forms will fail in 18 months. This means we sometimes pause for a day mid-project. We never paint to a deadline at the cost of a 10-year result.

Frequently Asked Questions.