Painters Madison WI & Madison Painting Contractors

Exterior Painting Guide: Table of Contents

1. When is The Best Time of Year to Paint House Exterior?

2. How Long Does an Exterior Paint Job Last?

3. How Many Coats of Paint Do I Need?

4. What Is The Best Exterior Paint?

1. When is The Best Time of Year to Paint House Exterior?

Up until recently, 50 degrees or above was the general rule when it came to exterior house painting. Due to recent advances in paint technology, you may be able to apply paint outdoors in 35-degree weather using a special low-temperature paint.

Having said that, we wouldn’t risk anything below 40-45 degrees. In our opinion, it is better to be safe than sorry when it comes to painting the exterior.

Conversely, the highest recommended temperature you can apply exterior paint is 90 degrees with an advisable relative humidity of 35% to 75%.

Why does temperature matter when it comes to exterior painting?

In brief, paint simply doesn’t dry properly when it is too cold or too hot. Consequently, this leads to peeling and paint adhesion issues down the line.

To be sure, what is the best time of year to paint your house? Well, it depends on when you are located.

For example, our company 3rd Gen Painting is Midwest-based (we have locations in both Madison, WI and Chicago, IL) so let’s check the average temps in Chicago.

To illustrate further, the typical exterior painting season in Chicago begins April/May and runs until November, depending on how mother nature is treating us that year.

Since we primarily paint homes in Chicago’s Near-West Suburbs (La Grange, Hinsdale, & Oak Park), we don’t deal with the lake effects in the city but cold is cold.

Insofar as Summertime (June-Aug) in the Midwest tends to be hot and super humid, the best time to paint is actually in the Springtime.

Finally, the fall-time in the Midwest comes in a close 2nd-place when it comes to the best house painting conditions. Primarily because the humidity of summertime tends to persist through mid/late Summer in the Midwest region.

2. How Long Does Exterior Paint Last?

The average exterior house paint job lasts about 5 years. Although, the longevity of your paint job will vary based on a number of factors including your climate and the amount of surface prep work performed before painting.

In the best case scenario, a quality paint job can last up to 6-11 years. Furthermore, some exterior surfaces (if prepared and coated properly) can last up to 15 years!

Alternatively, a failing surface area that hadn’t been prepared properly may barely make it past the first winter.

As you can imagine, factors like prep work and using the right paint generally comes down to the quality of house painting contractor you hire (certainly, a factor you control).

3. How Many Coats of Paint Do I Need?

Okay, so I am going to fill you in on some pretty valuable insight we have learned over the past decades of painting homes.

All things considered, opting for two coats vs one coat of paint may possibly be the best long-term decision you can make for your home (and for your wallet). Here are some of the most important reasons why you should opt for that second coat of paint.   

A. The 2nd Coat Can TRIPLE The Life of The Paint Job

That’s right, a quality two-coat paint job can TRIPLE the lifespan of your paint job vs applying a single coat.

The reason why is simple: Many exterior surfaces on your home are quite porous (wood, brick, cement, etc). In like fashion, exterior surfaces dry out over time as they are battered with rain, sun, and every other outdoor element you can imagine.

Generally speaking, your first coat of paint fills the worn out, porous exterior surfaces. These worn surfaces act like a sponge and soak up the 1st coat.

Your 1st Coat Allows The 2nd To Do Its Job

Consequently, your second coat of paint goes on way smoother and looks noticeably more consistent following the initial coat. Furthermore, paint colors are noticeably richer and you can be confident that your home is protected from the elements.

In short, your first coat of paint allows the second coat to do its job properly as it works to both beautify and protect exterior surfaces. Likewise, your 2nd coat is able to provide ample resistance to moisture, fading, and future paint breakdowns that, in turn, maximizes the life of the paint job.

B. A 2nd Paint Coat Makes Colors Look Fantastic!

Opting for a 2nd coat ensures that the new or current paint color really pops on your home.

No doubt, a two-coat paint job helps make colors richer and more vibrant. Regardless whether you are sticking with the same color or changing colors, your home will look considerably better with a 2nd coat.

Concurrently, the benefits of a 2nd coat really shine through when you change colors. Painting two coats completely opens up the spectrum of colors you can choose from. As a whole, you won’t have to worry about the original color showing through the top coat when opt for 2nd coat.

C. Your Second Coat of Paint Costs You Less

A second coat typically costs 30-40% less than your first coat coat of paint and for good reason.

First, you save a ton on labor and materials as areas are already masked and taped from the 1st coat.

Next, there is no need to scrap sand or prime failing paint again as all prep has been performed before the first coat was applied.

All in all, we’ve learned that a 2nd coat triples longevity, makes paint colors look twice as vibrant, and costs 40% less.

Still not convinced? No worries, here is one more important yet often overlooked benefit of a 2nd coat.

D. A 2nd Coat Is Needed To Qualify For Paint Warranties

Did you know that most paint companies offer up to a 30-year warranty on chemical failures of it’s paint?

Yep, it’s right there in fine print on the paint can. Sherwin Williams, Benjamin Moore, and most reputable paints carry similar warranties on their exterior paint.

To illustrate further, the manufacturer warranty basically protects you in case there is a chemical breakdown in the paint which actually happens more often than most people think.

More specifically, the warranty protect you from things like premature fading, bonding issues, and curing issues after the paint dries.

Also found in the fine print are the conditions required to qualify for your paint warranty. Certainly, one of which is (you guessed it) the application of a two coats of paint.

E. Your Second Coat Should Extend Your Painter’s Warranty

Most reputable painting contractors should a written guarantee of labor and materials to back the quality of their work.

Notwithstanding, these warranties can range from 1 year to even 5 years in some cases. Normally, any warranty over 5 years requires two or more paint coats.

As you can imagine, this will really save you down the line in case your paint starts peeling prematurely.

Hopefully, you chose a reputable contractor that will come out free of charge within the warranty period to prep and repaint the failing areas. Now, you just have to find one you can trust will be in business that long (which is another story altogether).

Prep Work Is The Best Work

All things considered, the most important factor in a paint job that lasts is the amount of prep work performed.

The top 3 prep work tasks that affect paint job longevity most are:

1. The washing of the home’s exterior surfaces before painting
2. Amount of scraping, sanding, & priming of failing paint surfaces
3. Caulking, sealing, and priming areas of bare wood and cracks

No question, a painter may have 30 years of experience but if they aren’t willing to roll up their sleeves & prep, you are going to have issues down the line.

4. What Is The Best Exterior Paint?

The type of paint you choose for your exterior has a major effect on the longevity of your paint job.

Generally speaking, higher quality exterior paints like Sherwin Williams’ Emerald exterior paint or Aura exterior paint by Benjamin Moore, tend to last longer. As you might have guessed, they also happen to have a higher price tag (upwards of $75 per gallon!).

Keep in mind that even the most expensive or best house paint can’t make up for a lack of prep work (feel free to insert your favorite “lipstick on a pig” idiom here).

Also worth noting, different types of exterior surfaces on homes (wood, metal, Hardie-board) have their own quirks when it comes to painting. Nonetheless, the type of paint you use & the amount of recommended coats vary based on the surface being painted.

3rd Gen Painters Madison WI Reviews

Madison Painting Homeowner Resources

With over 100 5-Star house painting reviews online, 3rd Gen Painting is, without a doubt, the #1 reviewed house painter in Madison WI, and Dane County of 2022!

For one thing, our painters and carpenters take a lot of pride in the customer service and quality of work they provide and it shows. Their attention to detail is unmatched and has helped make us one of the best rated painting companies in Madison.

Whether we are doing simple drywall repairs and painting a wall in your living room or building a composite deck in your backyard, our goal is to earn a stellar review from each of our painting or remodeling clients.

By the same token, keeping our top spot as one of the top rated painting companies in Madison isn’t going to be easy. However, I have a feeling our painting and remodeling crews are up for the challenge!

Paint Stores Madison WI

Madison Painting Homeowner Resources

3rd Gen Painting has put together a quick list of Madison paint store locations to help homeowners in Madison and surrounding Dane County find great paint!

-Each tab below has a few PRO TIPS with specific paint product recommendations for each Madison area paint store!

Frequently Asked Questions

We believe that finding a quality painter in Madison doesn’t have to be difficult. 3rd Gen prides itself on the level of communication and transparency we are able to provide our painting clients in Dane County. In turn, we’ve created a useful local resource of frequently asked questions to ensure you are able to make an informed painting decision.