When you hire Pearl Painters for an exterior paint job, you’re not just hiring someone to slap color on your house. You’re hiring a team that knows how to protect what matters before a single brushstroke goes down. We don’t take shortcuts, and we don’t believe in risking damage to your property. Let’s break down exactly how we prepare your home (and ourselves) for a smooth, professional paint job.
Areas We Always Protect
First off: windows. We mask every single window, no exceptions. Why? Because paint drift and overspray happen, even with the steadiest hand.
Next, we protect your air conditioning unit. Your AC is an expensive piece of equipment and the last thing you want is a fine mist of paint clogging its vents.
We also cover stone or brick areas, garden beds, and any fixtures near the walls, like mailboxes or hose bibs.
Items You Should Consider Moving
We strongly recommend you move outdoor furniture, grills, bikes, toys, and heavy planters out of the work zone before we arrive. If something’s too bulky for you to move, let us know – but remember, time spent moving your stuff cuts into time spent painting. The more cleared the area, the better. Trust us, you don’t want us dodging around your barbecue when we’re carrying ladders and gear.
Our Methods for Covering and Protecting
We use heavy-duty plastic, masking paper, tape, and drop cloths to protect everything left near the house. We carefully mask edges with clean lines, seal off delicate areas, and drape protective coverings where needed. This isn’t a slapdash cover-up. We’re detailed and deliberate because good prep equals a good finish.
How Long Will Your Windows Be Masked Off?
Here’s the truth: your windows will be masked off for the duration of the exterior painting process. That usually means several days. We know it can feel claustrophobic or dark inside, but leaving the masking up ensures crisp lines and flawless coverage. Don’t worry – we remove it as soon as the final coats are done and dry.
Where Do We Park?
Great question. We coordinate with you ahead of time to make sure we know exactly where to park our trucks, trailers, and crew vehicles. We’re respectful of neighbors, avoid blocking driveways, and stay out of the way of your daily routine as much as possible.
We’ll also determine where you should park your vehicles during the project. This is one of the many things we’ll discuss during our very thorough initial consultation.
Where Do We Use the Restroom?
No surprises. We believe in professionalism, always. Our crew will either use a portable toilet we bring on-site or make arrangements ahead of time. We never assume we can walk inside your home to use your bathroom unless that’s something you’ve specifically allowed. We will discuss every practical detail of your painting project down to restroom usage during your initial walkthrough.
Where Do We Clean Brushes and Sprayers?
We handle all equipment cleaning responsibly. Brushes, sprayers, and other tools are cleaned off-site or in designated areas we set up, well away from your landscaping, walkways, and drains.
Do We Remove and Replace Fixtures?
Yes! We take off door handles, light fixtures, and house numbers. Anything attached that needs to be painted around or under gets removed and replaced. If you supply new ones, we’re happy to install them once the job is done. We make sure all the little details are handled so you end up with a polished, finished look.
Preparing a home for exterior painting in Portland is not just about paint. It’s about respecting your space, your time, and your trust. Pearl Painters goes the extra mile because your home deserves nothing less. Want to know more or get on our schedule? Contact us today!
Painters who respect your space
