When we bought this house we knew there were four big projects waiting for us: the roof and the furnace, a few problematic trees, and several areas of rotting siding and trim that needed replacement and a fresh coat of paint. The interior had its share of colorful trim issues, but the exterior needed attention too—some spots of the siding were so damaged you could scrape them out, and one hole was large enough for a bat or mouse to crawl into.
Several pieces of wood trim and siding were beyond salvage and had to be replaced. The remainder required a thorough cleaning, scraping, priming and two coats of exterior paint to prevent further rot. Because much of the work was high off the ground and the rot was extensive, we decided to hire professionals. We obtained four estimates and selected a local chain that gave us confidence and flexibility. Their willingness to let us do a few simpler tasks ourselves saved us about $1,000.
Next came color selection. We wanted a two-tone approach: one color for the siding and a separate color for the trim to add dimension to the house. The original cream-on-cream look was fine, but after studying nearby brick colonials we settled on a putty tone for the siding—something between brown and gray that ties in with the brick—and a neutral white for the trim that wasn’t too yellow or too blue. Initially we chose a lighter putty but quickly realized, once the first coat went up, that it read too pale. Thankfully the painters were willing to use the darker putty for the second coat, which provided much better balance and depth.
The painters followed a reliable process: power-wash the entire exterior, scrape loose paint and damaged areas, cut out and replace rotten boards where needed, prime any bare wood, then apply paint—two coats on siding and trim, and one coat around the windows where we were going from cream to white. Over the course of the job they removed and repaired roughly 20 pieces of rotten siding and trim. The schedule ended up being one day for power washing, two days for rot repair and scraping, then two days for priming and painting.
For paint they used Duration by Sherwin-Williams, which provided excellent coverage and durability for exterior surfaces. We chose Snowbound for the white trim and Anonymous for the putty siding. The darker putty ties nicely to the visual weight of the brick while the crisp white trim helps architectural details pop without competing with the shutters or masonry.
The transformation is dramatic. From the curb the refreshed trim, siding and railing make the house feel more finished and balanced. The sunroom, which previously read as an almost-cream add-on, now looks integrated with the rest of the house: the darker storm windows harmonize with both the brick and the new siding color.
Costs for rot repair and exterior painting vary widely by region and house size. In our case, rot repair came to about $1,000 and the scraping and painting was slightly over $2,000. We also received a 10% discount through a local membership perk, so it’s worth asking about any available discounts when getting estimates.
To save money we agreed to paint several accessible areas ourselves: the garage doors, the interior of the sunroom (walls, trim and ceiling), and the front door with sidelights. Offering to take on these tasks reduced the contractor’s original estimate and let us spread out the remaining expenses while still getting the difficult, high-up work handled by professionals.
Aside from the cost, the project had its minor mishaps—like running over a stray screw in the driveway that required a $29 tire repair—but overall the results are worth it. Fresh paint and repaired siding not only improve curb appeal but also protect the house from future water damage. We learned a simple but valuable tip: when choosing exterior paint, go a shade darker than you think—natural light can wash colors out and what looks right on a sample can read much lighter on the full surface.
Home improvement can be expensive and occasionally exasperating, but a thoughtful approach—get multiple quotes, pick trusted professionals, test colors on the actual surface, and take on manageable DIY tasks—can lead to a rewarding transformation that protects your investment and feels great every time you pull into the driveway.