Siding, Painted or Stained
Wood clapboard, cedar shingles and shakes, fiber cement and previously painted siding, in a solid color or a stain that lets the grain show.
Exterior Painting That Holds Up to New Jersey Weather
The outside of a house in Morris and Somerset County goes through a lot in a year: snow sitting on sills, spring rain, humid summers and freeze-thaw cycles that open every small gap in the caulk. Paint that goes on over a dirty, damp or failing surface starts to lift within a season or two. Paint that goes on over a properly prepared one lasts.
Paint Plus is an owner-run painting and remodeling company. John Reyes started it in 2013 doing exterior work door to door, and he still walks every house himself before we quote it.
What We Look for on the Walkaround
Every house wears differently, and the estimate is where we find out how. We look for:
- Mildew and green film on the shady, north-facing sides, which has to be washed off, not painted over.
- Fading and blistering on the walls that take the afternoon sun.
- Soft wood at the bottom of trim, corner boards and window sills, where water sits longest.
- Cracked or missing caulk around windows, doors and trim joints, which lets water behind the paint.
- Chalky old paint that leaves a white film on your hand, which new paint will not grip until it is cleaned off.
We point these out to you on the spot, so the quote makes sense when you read it.
Prep, Done in the Right Order
Most of an exterior job happens before any color goes on:
- Wash the siding and trim to remove dirt, mildew and chalking, then let the house dry out completely.
- Scrape and sand loose and peeling paint back to a sound, feathered edge.
- Replace rotted wood. Our own crew cuts out and replaces damaged trim, sills and boards.
- Caulk open joints and seams around windows, doors and trim.
- Prime bare wood and repairs, using a stain-blocking primer on cedar so the tannins do not bleed through the new paint.
Then we paint, covering plants, walkways, windows and fixtures, and working the house side by side as the weather allows.
Paint or Stain?
Cedar shingles, cedar siding and decks can be either. A stain soaks into the wood, keeps the grain visible and is simple to refresh every few years. Paint sits on top, gives a crisp, even color and hides patches and old repairs. We have done both, and one of our customers had their cedar siding refinished alongside their kitchen cabinets in the same project. At the estimate we will tell you honestly which suits your house and how each will age.
Planning Around the Season
Exterior work in New Jersey runs from late spring into the fall, and the best dates go first. If you are thinking about painting the outside this year, get your estimate in the winter or early spring. That gives time to choose colors, plan any repairs and get on the calendar before the summer fills up.
Exterior House Painters Near You
We paint and stain homes in Morristown, Mendham, Chatham, Bernardsville, Basking Ridge, Far Hills, Randolph, Mountain Lakes and Denville, and across Morris and Somerset County. Call us or request a free estimate and we will come out and walk the house with you.
What’s included
The Whole Outside, Not Just the Walls
Trim, Fascia and Soffits
The roofline, window casings and corner boards, where peeling shows first and water does the most damage when it gets in.
Rotted Wood Replaced
Soft sills, trim and corner boards cut out and replaced by our own carpenters before paint goes on, not painted over.
Decks, Porches and Railings
Stained or painted, with loose boards and wobbly railings fixed first. These surfaces take the most wear, so they get the most prep.
Doors, Shutters and Garage Doors
The quickest curb-appeal change there is. A fresh front door and shutters make the whole house read as cared for.
Washing and Prep
Dirt, mildew and chalky old paint washed off, and the house left to dry, because paint will not hold to a dirty or damp surface.
Customer reviews
What Homeowners Say About Paint Plus
How it works
How an Exterior Job Runs
Walkaround Estimate
We walk the outside with you and note peeling, mildew, failed caulk and any wood that has gone soft.
Written Quote
Repairs are itemized next to the painting, so you can see where the prep time is going.
Wash and Repair
The house is washed and left to dry, then scraped, sanded, repaired, caulked and spot-primed.
Paint
Plants, walkways and windows are covered, and we paint on days the weather allows the finish to cure.
Final Walkaround
We go around the house with you, touch up anything you point out and pick up every paint chip.
Our work
From the Job Site
FAQ
Common Questions About This Service
Usually from late spring into October. What matters most is the day itself: dry surfaces, no rain expected while the paint sets, and temperatures within what the paint is rated for. We watch the forecast and move days when we have to rather than paint into bad weather.
Most houses take several days to a couple of weeks. The size of the house matters less than the prep: a house with a lot of peeling paint or rotted trim takes longer than one that was maintained. Rain days add time, and your written quote gives you the expected schedule.
No. New paint only sticks as well as the paint underneath it. Loose paint is scraped and sanded back to a sound edge and bare wood is primed first, otherwise the new coat comes off with the old one. That prep is in the quote, not skipped to lower the price.
No. Our own crew cuts out rotted sills, trim and corner boards and replaces them before painting. You will see those repairs itemized in the quote.
A stain keeps the look of the wood and is easier to refresh later. Paint gives a uniform color and hides wear and patches. Cedar needs the right primer under paint, because the tannins in the wood can bleed through. We will show you both options at the estimate.
No. As long as we can reach the outside of the house and an outdoor water spigot, you can go about your day. We will let you know which days we will need windows kept closed or cars moved.
It may contain lead paint, which changes how scraping and sanding are handled. We talk it through at the estimate and plan the prep around it.
By the surfaces being painted, their height and access, and above all how much prep and repair they need. You get a written quote with the repairs and painting listed before anything is booked.
