Exterior House Painting Newton MA
Cedar shingles in Chestnut Hill, clapboard through West Newton, Victorian trim in Newton Highlands: since 2017 we've painted Newton's exteriors surface by surface, starting with scraping, sanding, and caulking before a brush ever touches paint.
The most common reason exterior paint fails in Newton is bad prep work. We scrape, sand, and caulk before we paint. Whether you have cedar shingles in Chestnut Hill or a clapboard colonial in Waban, we do the job right.
Exterior Painting Services
We handle all exterior painting needs:
- Full exterior repaints
- Exterior trim, soffits, and fascia
- Doors and porches
- Garage doors and foundations
Prep Work - The Most Important Part of Any Exterior Paint Job
"Their prep work was first-rate" is the review we are most proud of. We power wash, scrape loose paint, sand rough edges, and caulk gaps. We also look for wood rot and repair it before painting. This is the only way to make an exterior paint job last. "They scraped a lot on a shingle-sided house" because that is what it takes.
Cedar Shingle Painting and Staining
Many estate homes in Chestnut Hill, Waban, and West Newton Hill have cedar shingles. "The cedar shingles needed a lot of work" is a common theme. Cedar needs a penetrating stain like Benjamin Moore Woodluxe or Armstrong Clark, not a thick film-forming paint like Sherwin-Williams Duration that will blister and peel. We know the difference.
Clapboard and Wood Siding
For the classic Newton Colonial with clapboard siding, we scrape the joints, caulk where needed, and use a high-build primer to handle small surface cracks.
Lead Paint on Exterior Surfaces
About 84% of Newton homes predate 1978. Exterior lead paint is very common on window trim, doors, and older siding. We are EPA RRP certified. We use wet scraping to keep dust down, lay down containment plastic, and clean up with HEPA vacuums. Learn more about lead-safe painting.
New England Painting Season
Our exterior painting season runs from April through October. We often hear from homeowners who want the work done "before winter sets in" or "after the ice dams" cause damage. Heartbreak Hill and Comm Ave properties often want work done before Patriot's Day in April. Freeze-thaw cycles attack exterior paint. We use products like Benjamin Moore Element Guard that extend the painting season down to 35°F and handle high moisture.
Paint We Use for Newton Exteriors
We use premium exterior products:
- Benjamin Moore Aura Exterior: The best choice for estate homes.
- Benjamin Moore Regal Select Exterior: Great for clapboard siding, available with a high-build option.
- Benjamin Moore Element Guard: Ideal for high-moisture, north and east-facing surfaces, and 35°F application.
- Benjamin Moore Woodluxe: Our choice for cedar siding.
- Sherwin-Williams Emerald Rain Refresh: A top-tier option that washes clean when it rains.
- Sherwin-Williams Duration Exterior: Great for durability, but note it is not for cedar siding.
- Armstrong Clark and Cabot Australian Timber Oil: For cedar and deck work.
Wood Rot Repair
We often find rotted wood during the prep phase. We "replaced rotted clapboards and some of the trim wood" on many projects. We use epoxy consolidant for small repairs and replace boards when needed. "The crew was respectful of our Spring garden" while doing the work. Contact us for an assessment.
We also offer interior painting, cabinet painting, and deck painting. We serve all Newton villages.
Example Project: Exterior Painting in Chestnut Hill
Example only — illustrative rendering, not a photo of a completed job.
The Home
A cedar shingle Colonial in Chestnut Hill, an estate-style Newton village where cedar exteriors and detailed trim are common. The shingles had weathered unevenly and showed early signs of chalking, with some soft wood at the porch trim.
How We Built the Estimate
- •Exterior walkthrough checking shingle condition, trim wood integrity, and sun/moisture exposure by elevation
- •Identified areas of chalking (surface breakdown from age) and soft wood requiring epoxy consolidant before painting
- •Product discussion: Benjamin Moore Woodluxe for the cedar shingles versus a film-forming paint, since penetrating stains let cedar breathe
- •Written quote separating shingle treatment, trim repair, and trim painting
Cost Breakdown (Example)
| Line Item | What's Included | Estimated Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Prep | Power wash, scrape chalked areas, wood rot repair, caulking | $2,600 |
| Materials | Woodluxe for shingles, Aura Exterior for trim | $2,100 |
| Labor | Application across shingle siding and all trim | $4,300 |
| Total (example) | $9,000 |
Full exterior repaints on Newton Colonials and Victorians typically run $6,000–$14,000. This example sits in the lower-middle of that range for a moderate-condition cedar exterior.
The Process
- 1Assessment — Checked shingle and trim condition by elevation, flagged soft wood.
- 2Prep — Power washed, scraped chalked areas, repaired wood rot with epoxy consolidant, caulked joints.
- 3Application — Penetrating stain on cedar shingles, two coats on trim.
- 4Final Walkthrough — Reviewed the full exterior with the homeowners.
Timeline (Example)
- Days 1–3: Prep and repairs
- Days 4–6: Application
- Day 7: Final walkthrough
Why It's Worth Doing
Cedar shingles need a breathable finish, not standard exterior paint. Getting that product choice right is the difference between a repaint that lasts and one that blisters within a season.
Get a Free Exterior Painting Estimate
This is an illustrative example showing how a typical project like this comes together, from estimate to finished job. Costs, timelines, and photos are representative of typical Newton projects, not a specific completed job.