Pittsburgh houses are mostly brick or wood frame. Many frame houses were covered in aluminum siding in the mid 1900s and vinyl later. Stucco is less common here and shows up mainly on Tudor style homes and some gables. This page takes the materials in that order.
Price ranges on this page are national figures published by HomeGuide for 2026. They are not our quotes. Local labor, the paint you choose and the condition of your own walls move the number up or down. Last checked October 2026.
Is painting brick a bad idea, and does it trap moisture?
Painting brick can be a bad idea on some walls. Brick takes in moisture and lets it out again. A film of ordinary paint can slow that drying, and in a freezing climate trapped water can damage soft old brick and make the paint peel.
It works when the brick and mortar are sound and dry, the wall is cleaned, a masonry primer is used and the paint is breathable. Mineral-based paints and limewash let moisture pass more freely than acrylic. Brick with crumbling mortar, white salt deposits or damp patches should be repaired and dried out first. In a city historic district, painting brick needs approval.
Should I paint my brick or leave it natural?
Leave it natural if the brick is in good condition and you like it. Unpainted brick needs almost no upkeep. Once you paint your brick, you have taken on repainting it for as long as you own the house, and removing paint from brick is costly.
Painting makes sense for brick that is already painted, mismatched from past repairs, or stained. Nationally, painting brick costs $1.50 to $4.50 per square foot. Limewash costs $1.50 to $5.00 and brick staining $1 to $4. Published lifespans are 3 to 5 years for acrylic latex, 5 to 7 for limewash and 20 or more for mineral-based paint.
Can you paint aluminum siding?
Yes. Aluminum siding takes paint very well and it is one of the most common exterior jobs in the Pittsburgh area. The old finish chalks with age, and that chalk must be washed off completely first.
Bare or oxidized spots are primed, then the siding gets two coats of acrylic. Nationally it costs $1 to $4 per square foot, or $1,500 to $7,000 for an average house, and the published lifespan is 5 to 10 years.
Can you paint vinyl siding?
Yes, you can paint vinyl siding that is clean and in good condition. It is washed, and painted with an acrylic made for vinyl. Nationally it costs $1 to $3 per square foot.
Paint will not fix vinyl that is cracked, brittle or loose. Those panels need replacing.
Can vinyl siding be painted a darker color, or will it warp?
Vinyl can warp if it is painted a much darker color with ordinary paint. Dark colors absorb more heat, and vinyl buckles when it gets too hot.
The safe choices are a color no darker than the original, or a color from a vinyl-safe range that the paint maker has formulated to limit heat build-up. We check the color before we agree to it.
Does painting vinyl siding void the warranty?
It can. Some siding makers state that painting voids or limits their warranty, and others allow it with conditions. Read your siding warranty or call the maker before painting.
On older siding the warranty has often already run out, in which case this does not matter.
What paint is best on wood siding, and will paint fix dry, cracked wood?
The best paint for wood siding is a 100% acrylic latex over a primer suited to the wood. Paint will not fix dry, cracked wood by itself. Small surface checks can be primed and filled, and the paint film then protects the board.
Boards that are split through or cupped need replacing. Wood clapboard on older houses in Bellevue, Shaler and the city's frame neighborhoods lasts for generations if it is kept painted and dry. Nationally, painting wood siding costs $1.50 to $5.00 per square foot, with a published lifespan of 3 to 7 years.
How much does it cost to paint a cedar shingle house?
No national figure is published for cedar shingle on its own. Wood siding in general is listed at $1.50 to $5.00 per square foot. Shingles sit at the upper part of what a wood job takes, because the rough faces and many edges use more paint or stain and more time.
Cedar can be stained or painted. Stain soaks in and does not peel, which suits shingles. Cedar needs a stain-blocking primer under paint, because its natural tannin bleeds through. We price shingle houses after seeing them.
Can you paint stucco, and what paint sticks to it?
Yes. Stucco paint should be a quality acrylic or an elastomeric coating applied over a masonry primer. Both stick well to clean, sound stucco. Elastomeric is thicker and bridges fine cracks.
Stucco is not the main wall type in Pittsburgh. We see it on Tudor style houses in places like Mt. Lebanon and Squirrel Hill, on gables and on some additions. Nationally, painting stucco costs $1.00 to $5.50 per square foot.
Do hairline cracks in stucco need fixing first?
Yes. Hairline cracks should be sealed before painting, with a masonry caulk or patching product, or bridged with an elastomeric coating. Water that gets into a crack freezes in winter and widens it.
Wider cracks, bulges and hollow-sounding areas mean the stucco is coming loose and need a proper repair first.
How often does stucco need painting?
How often stucco needs painting is every 5 to 7 years, by the national published figure. Sheltered walls last longer. Walls that take wind-driven rain need attention sooner.
A free estimate and a written quote is the only way to get a real price for your job. Call or text (412) 668-1875.