Painting questions, answered

Most painted exteriors here last somewhere around 5 to 10 years, depending on the siding, the paint, the prep and how much sun and moisture each wall takes.

In Charlotte the shaded and north sides usually fail first from mildew and moisture, and the south and west sides from sun. It is common for one side of a house to need attention years before the others.

Signs it is time:

• Paint that leaves a chalky powder on your hand.
• Green mildew or algae that comes back soon after washing.
• Peeling or cracking on trim and around windows.
• Caulk that has split open at joints and corners.
• Soft or bare wood anywhere - that needs repair, not just paint.

Repainting before the paint has failed completely is usually cheaper, because less prep and repair is needed.

If the cabinet boxes are solid and the layout works for you, usually yes. Painting changes the look of the kitchen for a fraction of what new cabinets cost, and the counters and plumbing stay put.

The result depends on the prep - cleaning off grease, sanding, a bonding primer - and on using a hard cabinet enamel rather than wall paint. Laminate and thermofoil fronts are the exception; they do not hold paint well.

Yes. Paint seals sound wood; it cannot hold soft wood together. Painting over rot traps moisture and the damage keeps spreading behind the new paint.

Rotten siding, trim, fascia and sills should be cut out and replaced with new wood, primed on all sides, and then painted with the rest of the house.

Spring and fall are the most comfortable, but in Charlotte exterior painting runs most of the year. Interior painting can be done any time.

The limits are cold nights in winter - paint needs the surface warm enough while it cures - and rain and heavy dew. On humid summer mornings crews often wait for siding to dry before painting.

Booking early in the year gives you the best chance of the timing you want.

That is usually mildew or algae, which grows on the shaded, damp sides of a house in Charlotte's humid summers. It is not always a sign the paint has failed.

Washing it off - with the right cleaner, not just water pressure - often brings the paint back. Paint applied over mildew without cleaning will peel, so it always has to come off first.

In many Charlotte-area neighborhoods, yes - HOA covenants often require approval for exterior color changes, and some limit you to a set palette.

Get the approval in writing before work is scheduled. Albert has helped customers through the approval process, including providing color details for the application.

Every job is priced after a free estimate, because the amount of prep and repair changes the price more than the size of the house. No prices are quoted over the phone or in chat - Albert gives you a written price that covers the repairs he finds.

Yes. Albert comes out himself, walks the job with you and puts the estimate in writing.

Yes - in Albert's words, "a 5 year warranty that includes one free inspection and pressure washing per year for 5 years." He will go through the details at the estimate.

Charlotte and Mecklenburg County - including Huntersville, Cornelius, Davidson, Matthews, Mint Hill and Pineville.

Monday to Saturday 7am to 8pm, and Sunday 8am to 8pm.

Sí - se habla español.

Cash, check and credit card.

Albert Salazar, the owner. He gives the estimate himself and is on the job to check the work and lay out the tasks.