Painting questions, answered

Dave's rule of thumb: a good exterior paint job lasts 5 to 10 years. Stucco usually lasts toward the longer end; wood siding and trim, which expand and contract more, toward the shorter end.

Within that range, the walls that face south and west wear out first because they take the most sun, and at over 6,000 feet the sun is strong. It is common for one side of a house to need attention years before the others.

Signs it is time:

• Paint that leaves a chalky powder on your hand.
• Colour that has faded unevenly from one side of the house to another.
• Peeling or cracking, especially on trim and around windows.
• Caulk that has split open at joints and corners.
• Bare or grey wood showing anywhere.

Repainting before the paint has failed completely is usually cheaper, because less repair and prep work is needed.

Three things, in Dave's words: "a breakdown of time required, paint and labor estimate, and a list of things that you can do before we arrive to ensure that things can go as quickly and smoothly as possible."

The estimate is done in person, because the condition of the walls, the amount of repair and how much needs protecting all change the job - and none of that can be seen over the phone.

If it is dated, dusty, stained or damaged, removing it is one of the biggest visual upgrades a room can get - and it makes the ceiling easy to repaint and repair in future.

First, check its age. Acoustic ceiling texture applied before the 1980s can contain asbestos. A ceiling of that age should be sampled and tested before anyone scrapes it. Colorado's health department (CDPHE) regulates asbestos and has guidance for homeowners.

Once it is off, the ceiling can be re-textured with a light knockdown or orange peel, or finished smooth. Smooth looks cleanest but needs more drywall finishing, because it shows every seam.

It is possible, but it is rarely a good idea. Seams tend to show through the paint, and the moisture in the paint can loosen the paper so it bubbles or peels.

The lasting fix is to strip the paper, wash all the adhesive off, repair any torn drywall and prime the wall. Leftover glue under paint is a common cause of cracking and peeling months later.

Usually for one of two reasons: the texture does not match the rest of the wall, or the patch was not primed.

A smooth patch on an orange-peel or knockdown wall catches the light differently, however well it is painted. And bare joint compound absorbs paint differently from the painted wall around it, so it dries to a different sheen - a dull spot you can see from across the room.

The fix is to re-create the wall's texture around the patch, prime it, and then paint the whole wall rather than just the spot.

Generally late spring through early fall. Interior painting can be done any time of year.

The limit is overnight temperature more than the afternoon high. Paint needs the surface to stay warm enough while it cures, and nights here can drop 30 degrees or more after a warm day - especially in spring and in October. Summer brings afternoon thunderstorms and hail, which shape each day's schedule.

Booking an exterior early in the year gives you the best chance of the timing you want. Winter is a good time for interior projects.

For deck boards and stairs that get walked on, a penetrating stain is usually the better choice. Paint forms a film that wears through in traffic lanes and peels, and it is hard to touch up without it showing.

Railings, posts and trim can be stained or painted. Whatever you choose, the old failing finish has to come off and the wood needs to be clean and dry, or the new finish will not last.

Colorado sun is hard on horizontal wood, so plan on refreshing a deck more often than the house itself.

Often, yes - fresh paint is one of the most common pre-listing projects, because tired walls, scuffed trim and dated colours show in every listing photo.

Neutral colours, clean trim and repaired drywall matter most. Patching nail holes, re-texturing old repairs and removing wallpaper or popcorn ceilings can change how a room reads more than the colour itself. Several local realtors refer their clients to Brush Masters for exactly this kind of work.

In Dave's words: "We have all the licenses and insurance required for our area." Ask for proof of insurance at the estimate - any painter you are considering should be happy to show it.

Every job is priced after a free in-person estimate. Size alone does not set the price - the amount of repair, prep and protection does - so no prices are quoted over the phone or in chat. The estimate breaks down the time, the paint and the labor.

No. Estimates are free and done in person. Dave comes out, looks at the job and walks you through it.

Colorado Springs and the surrounding area - including Briargate and the north side, Monument and Palmer Lake, Black Forest, Falcon and Peyton, Fountain and Security-Widefield, Manitou Springs and Woodland Park. If you are nearby but not on that list, call (719) 425-0606 and ask.

Yes. Drywall patching and texture matching, popcorn ceiling removal, wallpaper removal and hanging, and siding, trim and door replacement are all part of what Brush Masters does, so the repair and the paint are handled by the same team.

Yes - restaurants, offices, retail spaces and condominium communities, as well as homes. Commercial work is scheduled around your hours.

Dave Shipler, the owner. Dave does the estimate himself and customers deal with him directly throughout the job.

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