House Painters in Petaluma

Petaluma sits where the Petaluma Gap, a low spot in the coastal hills, funnels cool ocean air inland. Most summer days start with fog and end with a stiff afternoon wind. That combination is tough on paint. Siding stays damp through the morning, which is when mildew takes hold on north walls and under the eaves. Then the wind dries everything out fast and drives grit against the surface. On the west side, many houses are Victorians and Queen Annes that survived the 1906 earthquake, with tall walls, detailed trim and a lot of wood exposed to all of it. Houses near the river and the lower parts of town also deal with more ground moisture, so the bottom courses of siding and the trim near the ground tend to go first.

We paint homes across Petaluma, from the historic streets west of the river to the subdivisions east of Highway 101. A lot of what we do here is exterior house painting that starts with a thorough wash and mildew treatment, because paint over mildew fails fast. We also paint interiors and kitchen cabinets, and plenty of owners combine the two in one visit. Pick up the phone or send a message through the form to book a walkthrough.

Painting Petaluma's Victorian Homes

Victorian houses are rewarding to paint and slow to prep. The siding is usually old-growth redwood or fir with many coats of paint on it, and those coats need to be checked for loose edges and failing layers before anything goes on top. The trim takes the most time: corbels, fish-scale shingles, spindles, window hoods and porch columns, all brushed by hand. Many owners choose three or four colors to bring out the detail, so we plan the color layout with you before we start and keep each one crisp at the edges. Window sills and the bottom courses of siding take the most water, so they get extra attention for rot. Homes built before 1978 may have lead paint in the older layers, which changes how scraping is handled, and we'll go over that with you at the walkthrough. Tall gables on these houses often need extra ladders or a lift, which we plan for in the estimate. Just south, our Cotati page covers the smaller homes and cottages in that town.

East Side Homes and Downtown Businesses

East of the freeway, most homes date from the 1970s onward, with stucco, T1-11 plywood siding and wood trim. T1-11 is common here and soaks up water at the bottom edges and seams if the paint wears through, so those spots get primed carefully before color goes on. Stucco gets cracks patched and a breathable coating. Garage doors, fences facing the street and wood fascia boards usually show their age before the walls do, and including them with the walls keeps the whole property matched. Downtown, the historic commercial district has iron-front buildings and old storefronts that need paint suited to metal, masonry and old wood, often scheduled around shop hours. For shops, offices and rentals, see our commercial painting page. Wherever your property is in town, we'll give you a written estimate that spells out every step.