Prep Standard
This checklist is part of every proposal. The crew lead signs it off per room or elevation before finish paint is applied.
Interior
- Furniture moved to room center and covered; floors papered or drop-clothed; outlets, fixtures and hardware masked or removed.
- Walls and trim washed where needed (kitchens, baths, smoker's homes).
- Nail holes, dings and cracks filled; larger damage patched with mesh and setting compound; textured to match.
- Glossy surfaces de-glossed and scuff-sanded; all patches sanded flush.
- Patches, stains and bare wood spot-primed with the right primer (stain-blocking where needed).
- Gaps at trim, casings and crown caulked with paintable acrylic.
- Dust removed from all surfaces before finish coats.
- Two finish coats, cut lines by brush, rolled walls with consistent nap.
Exterior
- Low-pressure wash with mildewcide; 2–3 dry days or moisture meter below 15% before paint.
- Failing paint scraped to a sound edge; edges feather-sanded.
- Bare wood primed within 48 hours; cedar and redwood with stain-blocking primer; rusted nail heads set and primed.
- Failed caulk removed; joints, trim and penetrations caulked with elastomeric sealant.
- Minor wood repair up to the proposal allowance; rot beyond that reported with photos and a price before proceeding.
- Windows, roofing, decks, concrete and plants masked or covered.
- Body sprayed and back-rolled; trim, doors and railings brushed. Two coats where the package says two.
- Daily inspection by the crew lead with photos.
Pre-1978 homes
Lead-safe practices apply when testing finds lead: containment, wet methods, HEPA-shrouded tools, no high-heat removal, HEPA cleanup and a written record. See lead-safe painting.