Prep work determines your paint's lifespan

Prep work is where quality paint jobs begin

Skipping prep leads to peeling, cracking, and short-lived results. Here's how we do it right for Sacramento homes and commercial spaces. We get calls all the time from homeowners in Lincoln, Rocklin, and Elk Grove who are frustrated because their painter showed up, did a quick wash, and started painting the next day. Then six months later, the paint is already failing. We've seen it so many times it has its own nickname on our crew — the "drive-by paint job." The problem is that most people don't know what proper prep work looks like, so they don't know to ask for it or demand it. Here's the reality. For exterior work, prep is typically 60-70% of the job. For interior work, it's closer to 40-50%. If your painter is spending more time painting than prepping, something's wrong. Let us walk through what a proper exterior prep looks like, especially for stucco homes which are common in Rocklin and Roseville. First, we pressure wash the entire exterior to remove dirt, mildew, cobwebs, and any loose material. Not a light rinse — a thorough, methodical wash. Then we let it dry completely, usually at least two days. Next, we scrape any peeling or loose paint. We sand rough edges smooth. We fill cracks and holes with the appropriate filler. Then we prime. Any bare wood gets primed. Any stucco patches get primed. Any rust stains get treated and primed. For interiors, prep looks different but it's just as important. We move or cover furniture. We mask off floors, windows, fixtures. We fill nail holes and cracks with spackle. We lightly sand walls to create a surface the new paint can grip. All of this takes time. And time costs money. That's why a proper paint job costs more than a quick slap-and-dash job. You're paying for the work you can't see — the work that ensures the paint actually lasts. We've been doing this since 2010, and we've built our reputation on doing things right the first time. Ask about our prep process when you call. A good painter will explain it in detail. A bad painter will give you vague answers.