Behind the Transformation: Exterior Painting Project

A fresh exterior looks great in the final photo. What makes it hold up is everything that happens before the first coat goes on.

On this two-story home, the old paint had started to peel and flake, especially on the trim. Here's how our crew took it from worn to finished: the original condition, the prep work, the details, and the result.

Before and after

A quick note on these photos: the before and after shots were taken from different spots and in different light, so they don't line up exactly. It's the same home.

Where it started: failing paint

Paint that's peeling or flaking has already lost its grip on the surface, and new paint is only as good as what's underneath it. So before any color went on, the failing paint had to come off.

Close-up of cracked and peeling paint along the edge of a painted fascia board beneath the roofline. — Cracked, peeling paint on exterior trim before preparation.

Prep first: scraping and masking

Our crew scraped the peeling and flaking paint from the trim, working along the edges and up under the eaves until the loose material was gone. Preparation is part of the project, not an afterthought.

Where the painted surfaces meet brick, the crew masked off the brick edges to keep the finished lines clean.

The details: windows and doors

Around the windows, the crew caulked and weatherized before painting. It's work you won't really see in a photo, but it matters once the weather turns. The photo below shows the finished window trim and siding up close.

The front entry got the same care. We painted both the security door and the main front door. The door hardware and weatherstripping came off first, the surfaces were sanded, and then two coats went on.