Interior and Exterior Painting

Fresh paint is one of the most affordable ways to change how a home looks and feels, and one of the easiest to get wrong. Interior and exterior painting in Florida means dealing with intense sun, sudden afternoon storms, humidity that encourages mildew, and salt air near the coast. We handle full repaints, single rooms and touch-ups, and we can also help you narrow colors, including HOA-approved palettes.

Interior painting

What we paint inside

Living rooms, bedrooms, kitchens, bathrooms, hallways, stairwells, ceilings, doors, baseboards and casings. We also paint wood paneling and new trim after installation, and we can take on custom or more complicated projects such as accent walls and two-tone schemes.

Our interior process

1. Protect: We move furniture carefully, cover what stays in the room, and lay clean drop cloths so paint goes only where it belongs.
2. Prepare: Nail holes, dents and cracks are patched and sanded. Glossy surfaces are scuffed so new paint bonds.
3. Prime: Repairs, stains, bare wood and dramatic color changes get primer. Water stains and smoke marks need a stain-blocking primer or they bleed through.
4. Cut in and roll: Edges are cut in by hand for clean lines at ceilings and trim, then walls are rolled.
5. Second coat: We apply the coats needed for even color and sheen, usually two over primer.
6. Clean up and walkthrough: We remove tape and coverings, put furniture back, and check every wall with you in good light.

Choosing the right sheen

Bathrooms and kitchens

Steam and cooking moisture are hard on paint. In bathrooms, we use mildew-resistant paint in a washable sheen, and we recommend running a properly sized exhaust fan every time you shower. If you're fighting recurring spots on your bathroom ceiling, our guide on why bathrooms get mold in Florida explains the root causes. For color direction, browse our bathroom color ideas.

Exterior painting

Exterior paint is your home's first line of defense against sun and rain, not just a color choice.

Florida exterior surfaces

Most homes here have stucco over concrete block, along with wood or fiber-cement trim, fascia and soffits, and metal doors. Each needs different prep and coatings. Stucco often develops hairline cracks, which we fill with a compatible patch or elastomeric product before painting. Wood trim is checked for rot, which is common at fascia boards and door bottoms, and anything soft is replaced before painting.

HOA and condo rules

Many associations require approval of exterior colors, and some keep a list of approved palettes. Condo buildings may also control who can work on exterior walls and when. Check your association's guidelines before settling on a color; we're happy to work from an approved palette and schedule the job once you have the go-ahead.

Exterior preparation

1. Wash: We clean the surfaces to remove dirt, chalking and mildew, then let them dry.
2. Repair: Cracks are filled, failed caulk is removed and replaced, and rotted trim is replaced.
3. Prime: Bare areas, patches and chalky surfaces receive the appropriate primer or conditioner.
4. Paint: Two coats of exterior-grade paint suited to masonry or trim, applied within the manufacturer's weather limits.

Weather and timing

Afternoon thunderstorms are routine much of the year, so we plan exterior work around the forecast and avoid painting surfaces that will be rained on before the paint sets. Intense sun is the other enemy: lighter colors and quality exterior paints generally hold their color better under UV. Homes near the water also see salt and moisture that make thorough washing and good caulking especially important.

Tip: Before choosing an exterior color, paint large sample boards and look at them in morning and afternoon light. Florida sun can make a color look much lighter and brighter than the chip suggests.

Signs your exterior is due for paint

• Chalking: a powdery residue comes off on your hand when you rub the wall.
• Fading: sun-facing walls look noticeably lighter than shaded ones.
• Peeling or bubbling, especially at fascia boards, soffits and door bottoms.
• Hairline stucco cracks that let rain reach the block behind them.
• Failed caulk that's cracked or pulling away around windows and doors.
• Mildew streaks that come back soon after washing.

What affects the cost

Every painting job is priced after we see it. The main factors:

• Square footage and height: two-story walls, vaulted ceilings and stairwells need more setup.
• Surface condition: patching, crack repair, rotted trim and stain-blocking primer.
• Number of colors and sheens: accent walls and two-tone schemes take more cutting in.
• Trim, doors and ceilings, which take more time than open wall.
• Furniture and access: how much needs moving and protecting.
• Paint product: premium exterior and mildew-resistant paints cost more.

Our guide on what drives remodeling costs explains how scope and prep shape any project budget.

Why prep and crew matter

Skipped prep and the wrong sheen cause more failed paint jobs than the rolling itself. A professional crew arrives with the right primers, drop cloths and ladders, and works efficiently so your household is disrupted for less time.

Pair painting with other projects

Painting is often the last step of a bigger update. After new trim and moulding or shiplap paneling goes up, we fill, caulk and paint it so it looks original to the house. Painting also finishes off a kitchen remodel, giving the walls a clean start alongside new cabinets and counters.

Keeping fresh paint looking fresh

• Dust walls and trim occasionally with a soft cloth or duster.
• Address spills and marks promptly with a gentle cleaner, testing in a hidden spot first.
• Touch up chips and scuffs before moisture or dirt gets under the paint.
• Use ventilation and steady air conditioning to limit humidity that causes peeling and mildew.
• Rinse exterior walls periodically to remove dirt, salt and mildew before it builds up.

Painting across the Suncoast

We paint homes and commercial properties throughout Manatee, Sarasota and Charlotte counties and in south Hillsborough County. Check our service area page for your community.