Paint only lasts as long as the prep underneath it. Here's every step real prep includes, in order, so you know what you're paying for.
Proper paint prep includes washing or pressure washing the surface, scraping and sanding failing paint, filling holes and cracks, caulking gaps, spot- or full-priming bare and stained areas, masking and protecting surfaces you're not painting, and a final wipe-down before the first coat goes on. Skipping any step shortens the life of the finish, sometimes by years.
High humidity, heavy pollen, salt air near the coast, and intense UV exposure all attack a paint film faster here than in drier climates. Paint applied over a dirty, chalky, or damp surface doesn't bond — it sits on top and peels or blisters within a season or two. We see this constantly on homes in Ponte Vedra and St. Augustine where salt air breaks down poorly-prepped exteriors in under three years.
Every exterior job starts with a pressure wash at 2,500–3,000 PSI on stucco or hardiplank, lower for softer wood siding. This strips mildew, pollen film, chalking paint, and dirt. We let the surface dry a full 24–48 hours before touching it with paint — rushing this step is the single most common cause of early peeling we see on Jacksonville homes.
Any loose, cracking, or peeling paint gets scraped back to a sound edge, then feathered with sanding so the new paint doesn't telegraph a hard ridge. On older wood-sided homes in Riverside and Springfield this can be half a day of work by itself.
Soft, rotted trim or fascia gets cut out and replaced — not just filled. Filling rotten wood with caulk or filler is a temporary patch that fails within a year in our humidity.
All gaps between trim boards, around windows, and at siding joints get caulked with a paintable, flexible exterior-grade sealant. This keeps water from getting behind the paint film, which is the #1 cause of blistering on Florida exteriors.
Bare wood, patched areas, stains, and rust spots get spot-primed with a stain-blocking or bonding primer before topcoats. Full-surface priming is used when changing sheen dramatically, painting bare Hardie board, or covering a chalky old finish.
Good masking is part of prep, not an afterthought. Outlets, switch plates, hardware, light fixtures, and cabinet hinges should come off or get taped, not painted around freehand. On exteriors, we mask windows, roof lines, AC units, and landscaping before spraying or rolling.
On a typical Jacksonville-area exterior repaint, expect prep to take 1–2 full days out of a 3–5 day job. On a whole-house interior repaint, prep is usually 20–30% of total labor hours. If a quote has almost no time budgeted for prep, that's the corner most likely to get cut.
Ask specifically: will you pressure wash and let it dry, how do you handle peeling paint, do you caulk gaps, and what primer do you use on bare wood or stains. A contractor who can answer these in detail, unprompted, is one who actually does the work — not just the topcoat.
Every estimate we write spells out the prep scope in writing — washing, scraping, caulking, priming, and repairs — so there's no guessing what's included. We carry liability insurance and workers' comp coverage and can provide a certificate of insurance on request.
Want a prep scope spelled out in writing before we start? Text or call (904) 593-4372 for a free estimate.
Washing, scraping and sanding failing paint, wood repair, caulking, spot-priming, and masking off surfaces you're not painting. On interiors it also includes patching holes and deglossing trim.
24–48 hours in typical Northeast Florida humidity, longer if it's rained recently. Painting over a damp surface traps moisture under the film and causes early blistering.
Yes — it's usually the biggest factor. A properly prepped exterior can last 7–10 years here, while the same paint over a poorly prepped surface can start peeling in 1–3 years.
Replaced. Filler and caulk over rotten wood look fine for a few months but fail within a year in Florida humidity. We cut out soft wood and replace it before priming.
Text or call (904) 593-4372 to get your project rolling, or request a free estimate.
Prominent Painting — 451 Dale Ct, Macclenny, FL 32063 — (904) 593-4372 — prominentpaintinginc@gmail.com. Open daily 7:00 AM – 7:00 PM.