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Thinking about painting your house exterior yourself? We get the temptation. DIY videos make it look easy. Maybe you’ve got a three-day weekend coming up, a ladder in the garage, and a couple gallons of paint on sale at the hardware store. But before you throw on your oldest hoodie and start taping windows, let’s talk.
Because here’s the thing: exterior painting is not a weekend warrior project. It’s physically demanding, technically complex, and if you do it wrong, your home won’t just look bad, it could be vulnerable to damage.
The Real Risks of DIY Exterior Painting
Let’s start with the obvious: ladders. We’ve seen folks perched ten feet up with a brush in one hand and a coffee in the other. Not safe. Now add uneven ground, sudden wind gusts, and trying to cut a clean line under the eaves. One misstep and things can go sideways fast.
Even if you manage to stay upright, there’s the prep. We’re not talking about a quick rinse with a hose. Proper prep means pressure washing with the right detergents, scraping old paint, sanding rough areas, caulking cracks, replacing rotted wood, and masking every window, light fixture, and surface you don’t want painted. It’s a grind. It’s messy. And it takes real knowledge to know what surfaces need what kind of attention.
Then comes paint selection. Not all paint is created equal and neither are surfaces. If your house in Portland battles wet winters, moss, mildew, or intense summer sun, you need paint that will hold up. Applying it wrong? You’ll be repainting in two years instead of ten.
What to Look for in a Professional Painter
If you’re in Portland, here’s what you should expect from a professional painter:
1. A Transparent Estimate
Not a scribbled number on the back of a card. A good painting company will walk you through everything, including what’s being painted, what’s not, how long it’ll take, how much it’ll cost, and how they’ll protect your home while they’re on-site.
2. Prep Work That’s Thorough (and Documented)
Ask how they prep surfaces. Do they pressure wash? Will they scrape, sand, and prime? Do they spot wood rot and repair it before painting? Prep is 80% of a good job. If they skip it, they’re not professionals.
3. A Local Track Record
Portland homes have their quirks. Look for reviews from customers in your area and photos of past work. (You can check ours right here).
4. Respect for Your Property
Where do they wash out brushes and clean up equipment? Will they protect your landscaping, your AC unit, your windows? If you’re not sure, ask. We’re used to those questions and happy to answer them.
5. No High-Pressure Sales
A good painter doesn’t need to pressure you. They’ll give you the info, answer your questions, and let you decide. If someone’s pushing a same-day discount or trying to scare you into booking, that’s a red flag.
Why Pearl Painters?
We’ve been painting homes in Portland and the surrounding areas since 2001. Our crews are experienced, full-time employees (not subcontractors), and we show up with a plan and a purpose. We don’t just paint. We prep, protect, and deliver high-end results with zero drama.
Clients love the way we communicate, especially our scope-of-work videos that document exactly what we’re doing and why. We walk the job with you, talk through all the options, and answer every question, even the ones you didn’t know to ask. It’s our job to make you feel confident and taken care of.
Most of all, we respect that your house is more than just wood and paint, it’s your home. That’s why we don’t cut corners.
Get in touch with Pearl Painters and let’s talk about your project.
