The outside of a house takes more punishment than any room inside, and in Okanagan Falls the paint is working against sun, wind and the occasional hard winter. Our exterior work is built around one idea: paint only holds as well as the surface under it.

A typical Falls exterior starts with a wash, moves into scraping and repairs, and only then gets primer and finish coats. The painting itself is the shortest part of the schedule.

What goes into an exterior repaint

Pressure washing to remove dirt, chalk and loose paint
Scraping, sanding and feathering the edges of failing areas
Spot priming of bare wood and stained patches
Caulking at trim joints, window frames and siding seams
Two finish coats on siding, fascia, soffits, trim and doors
Cover and protection for plants, walkways, windows and fixtures

Planning around the weather and the lake

Homes near the south end of Skaha Lake get strong sun on some faces and wind off the water on others, so the sides of a house rarely age evenly. We look at each elevation separately and adjust prep, because a sun-baked south wall and a shaded north wall do not fail the same way.

Timing matters as much as product. Exterior latex generally should not go on below about 10 C, and the wall surface can be colder than the air, so we check the data sheet for the coating we are using and pick days that suit it. If a cold snap or a windy week pushes us back, we move the job rather than rush the coat.

Access is the quiet part of an outdoor quote. Steep lots, tight side yards and tall gables change how we set up ladders and staging, so we look at the footing around the house on the first visit and note it in the scope. Gardens and decks next to the walls get covered, and we ask you to move vehicles and outdoor furniture before the washing starts.

The order of an outdoor job

Inspect. We walk the whole house with you, look at siding, trim and flashing, and write down every repair that should happen before paint.
Clean and repair. Surfaces are washed and allowed to dry, then scraped, sanded, patched and caulked.
Prime and coat. Bare spots get primer, then the finish goes on in the number of coats listed in the quote.
Detail and close out. Trim and doors are cut in last, we check every elevation with you, touch up, and clear all masking and debris.

The full process, prep and pricing factors are on our main exterior painting page.

Exterior Painting in Okanagan Falls: questions

How long does exterior paint last before it needs redoing?

It varies with the surface, the product and how much sun the wall takes. We would rather tell you what we see on your own siding than quote a number of years.

Do you paint over peeling areas?

Not without removing what is loose. Painting over failing paint just moves the failure to the next layer, so we scrape back to a sound edge first.

Should I be home during the work?

Not required. We do ask that someone can confirm colours before day one and be available for the final walkthrough.

Other painting services in Okanagan Falls

Exterior Painting in nearby towns

If your Okanagan Falls exterior is chalking, peeling or fading, request a free written quote and we will list the repairs and coats in writing.

Request your free written quote or call (778) 760-0346.

More about exterior painting and Okanagan Falls

Have a question first? Read the FAQ, learn about Alto Pro Painters or contact us.

Further reading: Okanagan Falls on Wikipedia and Latex paint on Wikipedia.

Watch: exterior painting in action

Exterior siding painting preparation, by Okeefe Painting on YouTube.