Exterior Painters in Salt Lake City

Looking for exterior painters in Salt Lake City who understand what 4,300 feet of elevation, 94-degree Julys and 52 inches of snow do to a house? Met House Painters is locally owned and operated — not a franchise — based at 650 S Main downtown, and exterior repaints are a big part of what we do from the Avenues to Rose Park.

We wash, scrape, repair, prime and caulk before any color goes on, and we schedule inside the weather window where acrylic coatings actually cure. Here is how we approach exteriors here, what to expect, and what it typically costs.

When Exterior Painters in Salt Lake City Can Actually Paint

Most exterior acrylics want surface temperatures between 50 and 90°F and about 48 hours above the dew point after application. In Salt Lake that gives a practical season from mid-April to late October, with two sweet spots: May through June, when normal highs run 73–84°F, and September into early October, as highs ease from 81°F to 66°F. The first freeze usually lands between October 15 and 31.

July and August are workable if crews chase shade; paint applied to a 100-degree wall in direct sun flash-dries and can peel, and monsoon afternoons mean early starts. We use coatings rated for application down to 35°F, which stretches the shoulder seasons. November through February, once the inversions settle in, is not exterior season.

Our Exterior Prep Sequence

A good exterior job is mostly prep. This is our order on nearly every Salt Lake home:

Wash. Remove dirt, chalk and inversion grime, keeping pressure low on stucco.
Scrape and sand. Take off loose paint and feather the edges.
Repair. Replace rotted fascia, trim and siding; tighten loose boards.
Prime. Spot-prime bare wood, rusted nail heads and patched stucco; full-prime where chalking is extensive.
Caulk. Re-caulk window and door perimeters, butt joints and seams with a flexible caulk that survives freeze-thaw.
Mask and paint. Two coats of 100 percent acrylic, sprayed and back-rolled on stucco, back-brushed on wood.
Walk-through. You inspect with us and we touch up before we pull off.

Roughly 65 percent of Salt Lake homes predate 1980, so lead-safe practices on pre-1978 houses are built into this sequence.

Brick, Stucco, Wood, Fiber Cement and Aluminum

Brick dominates pre-1960 neighborhoods and wainscots everywhere. We advise against painting unpainted brick: it traps moisture, and in local historic districts unpainted historic masonry may not be painted at all. On brick homes our scope is usually trim, soffits, fascia, porches and windows; previously painted brick gets a masonry primer and a breathable coating.

Stucco is washed and patched, then gets masonry primer and a breathable acrylic; elastomeric is reserved for real cracking or water intrusion. Wood and hardboard lap siding from the 1960s–80s is the most prep-intensive, with swollen bottom edges that often need replacing. Fiber cement on newer builds recoats easily and lasts longest. Aluminum on 1950s–70s ramblers needs de-chalking and a bonding primer before a satin acrylic.

Thinking about a project in Salt Lake City? Get a clear, written proposal from a local crew.

High-Elevation Sun and How Long the Job Lasts

At 4,300 feet with a July UV index around 10 and more than 3,000 hours of sunshine a year, Salt Lake sun is hard on paint. UV breaks down binders and pigments, so south- and west-facing walls fade and chalk first, and dark colors go fastest. Thirty-degree daily swings and freeze-thaw work caulk joints open.

A professionally applied exterior typically lasts five to ten years, and high-UV regions like ours trend toward the shorter end unless product and prep are right: roughly five to seven years on wood, six to ten on stucco, eight to twelve on fiber cement, longer on painted brick.

We recommend premium 100 percent acrylics with UV-stable pigments and higher solids: more per gallon, less per year of service. For colors on an older home, see our post on painting historic homes in the Avenues.

Why Salt Lake Homeowners Choose Met House Painters for Exterior Work

Prep you can see. We photograph repairs and primed areas so you know what is under the color.
Weather-smart scheduling. We book inside the Utah window and will say if a late-October start should wait for spring.
Material-specific know-how. Brick trim in the Avenues, aluminum in Rose Park, stucco on the east bench: each gets the right primer and coating.
Licensed and insured, with a written scope before we start.
A clean site every day: chips collected, ladders stowed.

Browse recent exteriors in our work gallery, or see our broader house painting services in Salt Lake City.

Frequently asked questions

What does exterior painting typically cost in Salt Lake City?

Full repaints including wash, prep and two coats typically run about $5,000–$9,500 for a smaller home, $7,000–$12,000 for a mid-sized one, and $9,000–$18,000 for large or multi-story homes. Extensive wood repair and lead-safe containment push the number up; we price after a walk-around.

Can you still paint my house in October?

Often, yes. We use coatings rated down to 35°F, and early October highs typically sit in the 60s. The surface must stay above the dew point for about 48 hours, so we watch the forecast and will say if a project should wait.

Do you paint brick?

We repaint brick that is already painted, using a masonry primer and breathable topcoat. We advise against painting unpainted brick: it traps moisture, and in local historic districts it is not allowed. On most brick homes the job is trim, porches, soffits and windows.

How long does an exterior project take?

Most single-family exteriors take several working days to a week or so, depending on size, repair and weather. Your proposal includes a schedule with a weather clause.

My home was built before 1978. What changes?

We assume lead-based paint is present and follow EPA lead-safe work practices: containment at the base of the wall, no open-flame or uncontained power sanding, careful cleanup. It adds some prep time, which the proposal reflects.

Also serving nearby neighborhoods

Our services

Ready to repaint before the season closes?

Call (385) 469-5010 or request a free consultation and we will walk your exterior, talk colors and materials, and give you a written proposal with a realistic schedule!