Exterior painting

Exterior painting, done when the weather is right.

Siding, trim, doors, decks and boathouses. Washed, scraped, primed, caulked and given two coats.

September is usually the last steady window for exterior paint here. Booking now for spring.

  • Painted only when the wall is ready
  • Siding-specific prep
  • Lead-safe on older homes
  • Jordan on every job
  • 1 to 3 year workmanship warranty, depending on the surface
Freshly painted grey cottage with white trim among pine trees, a Heartmind exterior job

How a house gets painted

Five steps, outside in.

01 Wash

Clean before anything else.

A low-pressure soft wash takes off dirt, mildew and chalk without forcing water behind the siding. Then it dries.

02 Scrape & spot-prime

Loose paint off. Bare wood sealed.

Failing paint is scraped and feather-sanded. Every bare spot gets primer so the topcoat bonds instead of peeling.

03 Caulk & protect

Joints sealed. Edges covered.

Open joints at trim, corners and windows get flexible exterior sealant. Windows, lights, plants and walkways are covered.

04 Two coats

Painted in the right conditions.

Surface warm and dry, well above the dew point, no rain due. Shaded sides first, following the sun around the house.

05 Evening

Clean lines from the curb.

Covers off, a walk around together, touch-ups done. You come home to a house that looks cared for.

Scope

What’s included

Not included: rotten board replacement beyond small repairs (quoted separately), roofing, eavestrough repair, full lead abatement, or spraying near neighbours’ property without containment.

  • Siding, trim, window and door casings, soffit and fascia, garage and front doors (as quoted)
  • Soft wash and mildew treatment, then drying time
  • Scraping, feather-sanding and spot-priming of bare or weathered wood
  • Flexible, paintable exterior sealant at open joints
  • Ladders, scaffolding and, when needed, a lift for second storeys and high work
  • Plants, walkways, windows and fixtures covered
  • Two finish coats in products suited to your siding
  • Decks, docks and boathouses: clean, prep, and stain or paint
  • A walk around together at the end, with touch-ups done

Proof

Real work, 2025.

A red-brick side wall going white, and cottage, boathouse, deck and dock work around the lake.

Red brick side wall of a house before painting
Before
The same brick wall painted white, masking tape still on the trim
During the final coats

The same brick house, 2025: before, and during the final coats with masking still up.

Grey boathouse with white trim on the lake, freshly painted
Boathouse, siding and trim
Grey garage with a dark garage door, freshly painted
Garage and door
Freshly stained deck boards and railing, still glossy
Deck, cleaned and stained
Stained wooden dock on a calm lake
Dock, stained
Wood front door with a fresh clear finish
Front door refinished
Patio door masked with plastic and tape before staining cedar siding
Glass covered before staining

Read client reviews on Google and Facebook.

Every space is different, so pricing comes after a free walkthrough.

Care & warranty

After we leave.

1 to 3 year workmanship warranty, depending on the surface: if peeling, cracking or another defect from our application shows up within the term for that surface, we come back and fix it. It doesn’t cover damage, moisture or structural problems, or normal wear. Deck and dock staining is regular maintenance, so it has no multi-year warranty: we promise proper prep and even coverage, and offer maintenance visits. Your written quote spells out exactly what’s covered.

  • Keep sprinklers off fresh paint for a few days, and avoid washing it for about a month while it cures.
  • Rinse the siding gently once a year. Mildew and dirt are easier to get off before they set in.
  • South and west sides weather fastest, so check them each spring for cracks at joints.
  • Decks: wait 24–48 hours before walking on them, and about 72 hours before furniture goes back.
  • Leftover paint is labelled by surface for touch-ups.

Questions

Exterior painting FAQ.

How much does exterior painting cost?

Every home is different, so pricing comes after a free walkthrough. Siding type, height, access and the amount of prep all shape it. You get a written quote after the walkthrough.

When is the best time to paint outside here?

Late May to June, and September to early October, are the most reliable. Paint makers want a dry surface, the wall warm enough for the product, at least 3 °C above the dew point, and no rain for the next few hours. Nights matter too.

How late in the fall can you paint?

Usually into early October. Low-temperature paints apply down to about 2–4 °C, but nights have to stay above the minimum for a day or two after. If the forecast doesn’t allow it, we move the date rather than risk peeling.

Can you paint vinyl siding?

Yes, with a paint and colour made for vinyl. Going much darker than the original can make vinyl warp in the sun, so we choose from vinyl-safe colours.

Can aluminium siding be painted?

Yes, and it often looks new again. It’s usually chalky, so it’s washed until a wipe comes back clean, primed with a bonding primer, then given two coats.

Should I paint my brick house?

It can look beautiful, but it’s a long-term commitment. Brick needs a breathable masonry coating, like mineral paint or limewash, so moisture can get out, and mortar needs repairing first. We go through the pros and cons honestly at the walkthrough.

Do you do second storeys and high work?

Yes. We use ladders and scaffolding, and a lift when the height or ground calls for it. The access plan is in your quote.

What paint do you use?

We use premium paints from Benjamin Moore and Sherwin-Williams, among others, low-VOC wherever it suits. You’re welcome to choose. Products and sheens are listed in your quote.

Is there a warranty?

Yes, a 1 to 3 year workmanship warranty on exterior painting, depending on the surface. If peeling, cracking or another defect from our application shows up within the term for that surface, we come back and fix it. It doesn’t cover damage, moisture or structural problems, or normal wear. Deck and dock staining is regular maintenance, so it has no multi-year warranty: we promise proper prep and even coverage, and offer maintenance visits. Your written quote spells out exactly what’s covered.

What happens if it rains?

We don’t paint into rain or onto wet surfaces. Weather days are built into the schedule, and you’re kept updated on any change.

Do you stain decks and docks?

Yes. Clean, brighten and dry, then a penetrating or semi-transparent stain. Most decks are ready to walk on in 24–48 hours.

My house is older. What about lead paint?

Health Canada says paint from before 1960 probably contains lead, and exterior paint from 1960 to 1990 may. We test before scraping, avoid dry sanding and heat guns, contain chips with drop sheets, and clean up carefully. Full abatement is left to specialists.

Book a walkthrough

Book a walkthrough. We’ll go from there.

Coffee, a video call, or a visit. Then a written quote.

Add it if you’d like Jordan to reply by email.

Street and town.

Which space, and roughly when.

We only use your details to reply about your project, and to send updates only if you tick the box. Privacy · Prefer to talk? Call or text 705-300-9204.

What’s your siding?

Every surface needs its own prep.

Most peeling comes from the wrong prep for the material. Here is what each common siding needs, in plain words.

  1. Lap, board-and-batten, shakes

    Wood

    Scrape, feather-sand, prime bare wood, then caulk joints. Brush into the laps.

  2. Older bungalows

    Aluminium

    Usually chalky. Wash until a wipe comes back clean, then a bonding primer and two coats.

  3. Newer homes

    Vinyl

    Can be painted, but only in vinyl-safe colours. Going much darker can warp it in the sun.

  4. Masonry

    Brick

    Needs a breathable masonry coating, like mineral paint or limewash, or moisture gets trapped. Mortar is repaired first.

  5. Masonry & board

    Stucco & fibre cement

    Cracks are sealed and the surface primed. Stucco takes a thicker nap, and fibre cement paints well.

Older home? Paint from before 1960 probably contains lead, and paint from 1960 to 1990 may. It’s tested before any scraping, and the work is done lead-safe.

How the space helps

What you may notice afterwards.

Coming home

The first thing you see when you pull in is a house that looks looked-after.

Less on your mind

No more peeling corners to notice every time you walk to the door.

Evenings outside

A clean, sealed deck or dock that feels good to sit on at the end of the day.

Ready for winter

Sealed joints and sound paint going into the cold season, instead of one more thing to worry about.

While we work, we practice Dissolve: nothing carried into the space but care. About the practice

Glossary

What the terms mean

The words you may see in your quote.

Fascia

The flat board along the edge of the roof. The eavestrough hangs on it.

Soffit

The underside of the roof overhang. It’s often vented aluminium or vinyl, and sometimes wood.

Lap siding / clapboard

Horizontal boards that overlap. Paint has to be brushed into the laps and the bottom edges.

Board-and-batten, shakes

Vertical boards with narrow strips over the joints, and split or sawn cedar shingles. Both need brush work.

Chalking

Old paint breaking down into powder. It has to be washed off, or new paint sits on dust.

Dew point

The temperature at which moisture forms on a surface. Paint makers want the wall at least 3 °C (5 °F) above it.

Surface temperature

How warm the wall is, not the air. Measured with an infrared thermometer. Sunlit walls run much hotter.

Soft wash

Low-pressure cleaning with a mildew cleaner, so water isn’t forced behind the siding.

Spot-priming

Priming bare or repaired spots so the topcoat bonds and looks even.

Feather-sanding

Sanding the edges of scraped paint thin so they don’t show through the new coat.

Exterior sealant

Flexible, paintable caulk for joints that move with the seasons. Different from filler, which is for holes.

Back-brushing / back-rolling

Brushing or rolling paint in right after spraying, to push it into texture and laps.

Film build

How thick the dry paint is. Two full coats reach the thickness the paint is rated for.

LRV

Light reflectance value: how light a colour is. Vinyl needs vinyl-safe colours if you go darker.

Breathable masonry coating

Mineral paint or limewash that lets moisture out of brick instead of trapping it under a film.