Most people think exterior painting is mostly about the painting. It’s not. For a
professional crew on a typical MetroWest home, prep work takes 3 to 5 days. The
actual painting? 2 to 3. That ratio is intentional — and it’s the single biggest factor in
how long your finish lasts.
Paint won’t stick to dirt, mildew, or damaged wood. New England’s weather — freeze-
thaw cycles, summer UV, heavy humidity — punishes any finish that wasn’t built on a
properly prepared surface. Thorough prep is what separates a paint job that lasts two
years from one that lasts twenty.
Review our Exterior Painting Checklist.
A Few Things Worth Knowing
If your home was built before 1978, bring up lead paint before work starts. It can’t be
dry-sanded — that creates toxic dust. Professionals use wet-scraping or encapsulation
methods instead.
Priming bare wood is not optional. It seals the surface, blocks stains, and creates
something the topcoat can actually bond to. Skip it and you’ll be repainting in a fraction
of the time.
Timing matters more here than most places. The Boston-area window for exterior
painting runs late April through October. You need temps between 50°F and 85°F and
at least 48 hours of dry weather after each coat. May, June, and September tend to be
the most reliable.
“If painters arrive and start painting within a couple of hours, they’re skipping
prep. That’s the clearest red flag to watch for.”
Ready to Paint Your Home’s Exterior?
Ulta Home has painted hundreds of homes across Ashland, Framingham, Wellesley,
Weston, and surrounding MetroWest communities. We walk every homeowner through
the prep process before a project starts — no surprises.
