Pittsburgh gets about 40 inches of precipitation and about 44 inches of snow in a normal year, and winter brings repeated freezing and thawing. Wood trim, porches and sills fail first. On the city's brick houses the job is mostly trim, windows and porches. On frame houses it is often chalky aluminum siding or old wood clapboard. Outdoor work fits best from late spring to early fall.
Much of Pittsburgh is brick, so an exterior job here is often not a wall job at all. On a brick row house or foursquare we paint the wood: window frames and sills, the cornice, the front door, porch columns, railings and the porch ceiling. Frame houses in Beechview, Greenfield and Brookline are different. Many wear aluminum siding that has gone chalky, or vinyl, over the original clapboard. Each of these needs its own cleaning, primer and paint, so we look at the whole house before we quote.
The weather does most of the damage. Pittsburgh gets about 40 inches of rain and melted snow in a normal year, plus many freezing nights followed by a thaw. Water gets into open joints and bare end grain, then lifts the paint from behind. So the prep is what you pay for. We wash the surfaces, scrape loose paint down to a firm edge, sand, prime bare wood, replace failed caulk and flag any soft or rotted boards before a finish coat goes on.
Outdoor painting here fits best from late spring into early fall, when surfaces are dry and nights stay mild. Steep lots are common, and a house that is two floors at the street can be four at the back. Ladder and staging plans are part of the estimate. If your house sits in a city historic district, exterior painting needs a Certificate of Appropriateness first. In homes built before 1978, scraping is done with lead-safe methods. Call or text (412) 668-1875 for a free estimate.
Exterior painting in Pittsburgh: common questions
Should the brick on my Pittsburgh house be painted?
Often it is better left alone. Bare brick needs little care, and once it is painted it has to be repainted for good. If the brick was painted long ago, we can clean, prime and recoat it. We give you an honest opinion at the estimate.
Can old aluminum siding be painted, or does it have to come off?
It can be painted if it is sound and not badly dented. The chalky layer has to be washed off completely first, or new paint will peel. After that a good exterior paint holds well on aluminum.
How do you paint the back of a house on a steep hillside lot?
We look at the access during the estimate and plan ladders or staging to suit the slope. Tall rear walls take more setup time than the street side, and the written quote reflects that so there are no surprises later.
How it works
- Free estimate: Call, text or book online. We walk the job and measure.
- Written quote: Prep, paint and price in writing.
- Prep & protect: We cover floors and furniture, repair and prime surfaces.
- Paint & walk-through: Two coats, clean lines, full clean-up and a final walk-through.