Portland’s 36 inches of average annual rainfall and notoriously wet winters mean that exterior paint on wood-framed homes faces constant moisture stress, and shaded walls in the city’s heavily treed neighborhoods can stay damp long enough to develop mildew between dry spells. The city’s Craftsman bungalows, Victorian houses, and mid-century ranches, concentrated in neighborhoods like Southeast Portland, Sellwood, and Irvington, typically feature wood siding that requires repainting every five to seven years under Portland’s conditions, compared to eight to twelve years achievable with thorough prep work and quality product selection. Without proper sealing and breathable coatings, the combination of rain exposure and trapped moisture accelerates rot in trim, fascia, and horizontal surfaces at a pace that outpaces cosmetic scheduling.
Portland homeowners selecting painters consistently focus on moisture management expertise: primer selection, caulking quality, and product choices that seal without trapping vapor. Lead-safe certification is also a practical filter, as much of Portland’s desirable older housing stock predates the 1978 federal lead paint ban.
Sundeleaf Painting
Founded: 1930
Address: 2037 SE Ochoco St, Portland, OR 97222
Phone: (503) 236-9797
Website: https://www.sundeleafpainting.com
Services: Interior painting, exterior painting, cabinet painting and refinishing, deck staining and restoration, wood refinishing, decorative painting, lead paint inspection and removal, pressure washing, plaster repair, wallpaper removal, faux painting, color consulting
Products Used: Not specified
Wesley Sundeleaf founded the company in 1930 at the suggestion of his brother Richard, a local architect, and three generations of the family have operated it since. The company maintains a commercially equipped spray shop for stripping, sanding, and spray finishing of cabinetry and architectural millwork, a service that sets it apart from most residential-focused painters in the metro area. Sundeleaf has built its reputation specifically on the historic structures that define Portland neighborhoods, including a portfolio of exterior projects on the city’s notable residences and landmarks.
Smith and Company Painting
Founded: 1960
Address: 570 SE Davis St, McMinnville, OR 97128
Phone: (503) 472-4334
Website: https://smithandcompanypainting.com
Services: Interior and exterior painting, wood staining and sealing, pressure washing, specialty garage and concrete floor coatings, masonry sealing and waterproofing, non-slip and anti-graffiti coatings, metal roofing coatings, plaster and stucco work
Products Used: Not specified
Delane Smith founded the company in 1960, and his son Parker took over four decades later, adding commercial painting and floor coatings to the residential base. The company serves Portland, Salem, Lake Oswego, Beaverton, and surrounding communities, and its project scope extends to breweries, wineries, and restaurants in the region’s food and beverage scene, giving it a versatility beyond typical residential contractors.
Posten Painting
Founded: 2001
Address: 12706 SE 27th Ave, Milwaukie, OR 97222
Phone: (503) 740-8620
Website: https://postenpainting.com
Services: Interior painting, exterior painting, cabinet painting, deck staining and refinishing, door staining, wood restoration, fence painting, drywall repair
Products Used: Sherwin-Williams
Kevin and Angelique Posten established the company in 2001 after Kevin obtained his contractor’s license, and have since built it into a lead-certified operation serving the greater Portland metro including Lake Oswego, Oregon City, and Gresham. Every signed project includes a free two-hour color consultation using Sherwin-Williams ColorSnap tools, an offering that reflects a service model focused on homeowners who want design guidance built into the painting contract rather than managed separately.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: How much does exterior painting cost in Portland?
A: Exterior painting for a typical Portland-area home generally runs between $3,500 and $8,000 depending on square footage, surface condition, and the extent of prep work including wood rot repair and caulking. Homes with extensive trim, multi-story facades, or cedar siding requiring primer and two-coat applications tend to fall toward the upper range.
Q: How does Portland’s rain affect the timing of exterior painting?
A: Exterior painting requires surface temperatures above 50 degrees Fahrenheit and a dry weather window of at least 24 to 48 hours for proper curing. In Portland, this limits quality exterior painting primarily to June through September, with shoulder windows in May and October that experienced painters monitor closely. Attempting exterior work during the wet season typically results in adhesion failure and premature peeling.
Q: What paint types hold up best on Portland’s wood-sided homes?
A: One hundred percent acrylic latex paints with mildew-resistant additives are the standard choice for Portland exteriors because they remain flexible through temperature changes and allow some vapor transmission while still sealing against rain. Thorough surface preparation, including scraping all loose paint, sanding, and applying a quality primer before the finish coat, extends effective paint life from five to seven years up to eight to twelve years on well-maintained surfaces.
Portland’s layered history of wood construction, persistent moisture, and intact historic neighborhoods makes surface preparation and product selection more consequential here than in most American cities, distinguishing experienced local painters from those who treat exterior coating as interchangeable with interior work.