Full Exterior House Painting in San Francisco
Painting an SF exterior is a different discipline than painting one in Sacramento. Salt air, fog cycles, hard UV in the inland neighborhoods, and pre-1978 lead paint all shape how we prep, prime, and topcoat. The right exterior system lasts 8–12 years here; the wrong one fails in three. We focus on whole-building exteriors — single-family, Victorian, Edwardian, and small multi-unit. Carpentry prep, lead-safe practices, and the right material spec for your microclimate are built into every quote.
Why it matters
What changes a full exterior job in SF
Fog and salt air are the enemy
Marine air pulls moisture into siding all year. Without proper substrate prep and primer, paint blisters and peels — fast.
Microclimate dictates the spec
Sunset and Richmond need fog-rated, mildewcide-additive systems. Potrero and Bernal face heavier UV. Marina-style stucco needs elastomeric crack-bridging. We spec to your block, not a generic recipe.
Pre-1978 means lead
Almost every SF home built before 1978 has lead paint. We're EPA RRP-certified and work to that standard on every old home — included in our pricing, not an upcharge.
Process
Our process for full exterior
- 1
Inspection & test scrape
Walk the building, test paint adhesion, flag rotted wood and lead concerns, write a scope.
- 2
Wash & lead-safe prep
Pressure wash, scrape, sand, contain debris per EPA RRP.
- 3
Carpentry repairs
Replace rotted sills and trim, re-caulk gaps, install backer rod where needed.
- 4
Prime
Oil-based primer on bare wood; stain-blocking on bleeding wood; bonding primer on chalky paint.
- 5
Two-coat finish
Premium 100% acrylic topcoats, brush-and-roll on detail, sprayer on flat siding where mask allows.
- 6
Walkthrough & warranty
5–7 year written warranty depending on system.
SF microclimate challenges
San Francisco isn't one climate — it's a dozen. The Sunset and Outer Richmond live under the marine layer 9 months a year; fog deposits moisture overnight that paint has to handle. The Marina deals with salt air pulled off the Bay that rusts metal trim and degrades caulk faster. Potrero and Bernal face stronger UV that fades dark pigments faster on south- and east-facing walls. SoMa and Hayes Valley sit between those zones with mixed conditions. Spec'ing the same paint system across all of them is how exterior jobs fail at year 3. We spec to your block.
Materials
What we put on your home
- Benjamin Moore Aura Exterior
- Sherwin-Williams Emerald Rain Refresh & Loxon
- Oil-based primers for raw wood
- Mildewcide-additive finishes for fog-belt exposures
- Elastomeric crack-bridging coatings for stucco
Pricing
What it typically costs
Most full-exterior projects run $12,000–$45,000 depending on size, height, prep, and substrate condition. Victorians and Painted Ladies are quoted under restoration services.
From the gallery
Full Exterior projects
Related
Other services we offer
FAQ
Common full exterior questions
Yes — but we time prep and topcoat application around fog windows and rain forecasts. Late spring through early fall is ideal; we work most of the year.
A 2,000 sqft single-family with normal prep is typically 2–3 weeks. Victorians with carpentry and lead-safe containment run 4–8 weeks.
Yes — EPA Lead-Safe Certified. RRP containment, wet methods, HEPA cleanup, and proper disposal on every pre-1978 home. Included in our pricing.
5 years on standard exterior systems, 7 years on premium systems with full prep. Written and transferable to a buyer if you sell.
Ready for full exterior?
Free on-site estimate within a week. Fixed written quote within 2 business days.