Fountain, CO · El Paso County

Wood Siding & Trim Painting in Fountain

The short answer

Wood Siding & Trim Painting in Fountain, CO: Scraping, rot replacement and priming on real wood, done to a standard that survives the freeze-thaw cycle here.

What it costs: Wood costs more than stucco or fiber cement to paint, and the variable is rot rather than square footage. We quote the painting and the carpentry as separate lines, because you should be able to see how much of the number is boards.
What is included: Scraping to sound substrate and feathering the edges; Replacing rotted siding boards, trim and sills rather than filling them; Priming replacement material on all six faces, including cut ends, before it goes up; Sealing end grain, which is where water enters wood first; Caulking at joints and transitions, left open where the assembly needs to drain; Two finish coats on bare or repaired substrate.
Where we work: Fountain and the surrounding El Paso County, including Cross Creek, Countryside, Ventana.
Getting a quote: Free and no obligation. Call (719) 963-7440 or request a quote online.

Painting wood is different from painting stucco or fiber cement because wood moves, absorbs water, and rots. On the older housing stock through Old Colorado City, Manitou and the established west side, an honest exterior quote is part painting and part carpentry, and the carpentry is the part that decides how long the paint lasts.

What this means in Fountain specifically

Siding and paint substrates here

Older sections carry painted wood and hardboard siding at an age where substrate repair is part of any honest paint quote. Newer subdivisions are vinyl and stucco needing trim work only.

Wind exposure

Strong downslope winds combined with an exposed position south of the Springs. Wind-driven rain against west elevations finds gaps in flashing and siding that a still-air roof would never reveal.

Snow load and ice damming

Lowest elevation in our El Paso County coverage at roughly 5,550 feet, so snow melts fastest here. Load is rarely the concern; wind-driven rain against low-slope additions is more often the source of leaks.

Where the water has to go

The lowest elevation we serve at around 5,550 feet, with a good deal of older housing on lots that were graded before current drainage practice. Downspouts discharging straight onto a walkway or against the foundation are extremely common on this housing stock, and correcting the discharge is often the cheapest meaningful improvement to the house.

Fountain sits at approximately 5,546 feet.

What is included

Scraping to sound substrate and feathering the edges
Replacing rotted siding boards, trim and sills rather than filling them
Priming replacement material on all six faces, including cut ends, before it goes up
Sealing end grain, which is where water enters wood first
Caulking at joints and transitions, left open where the assembly needs to drain
Two finish coats on bare or repaired substrate

How we do it

1
Find the water first
Rot is downstream of something. An overflowing gutter, a missing drip edge, a failed caulk joint. We identify it before painting, because otherwise you are repainting the same board in three years.
2
Scrape and cut out
Failed coating removed to a sound edge. Rot cut back past where it is visible, because it travels along the grain further than the stain suggests.
3
Prime everything, including the parts nobody sees
New boards primed on all six faces before installation. Back-priming is invisible, adds real time, and is most of the difference between a ten year job and a four year one.
4
Caulk with judgment
Not every gap should be sealed. Some are drainage paths, and caulking them traps water inside the wall. Knowing which is which is the skill.

What it costs

Wood costs more than stucco or fiber cement to paint, and the variable is rot rather than square footage. We quote the painting and the carpentry as separate lines, because you should be able to see how much of the number is boards.

We quote Fountain properties before starting, and the number you hear is the number you pay. If something on site changes the scope, you hear about it before we do the work rather than on the invoice.

Neighborhoods we serve in Fountain

Cross Creek, Countryside, Ventana, and everywhere else in Fountain.

Fully Insured

Free Photo-Documented Inspection

Written Scope Before You Sign

Locally Owned & Operated

Wood Siding questions from Fountain

Should I replace the rotted boards or fill them?

Replace, in almost every case. Epoxy filler is legitimate for small localized damage in something you cannot easily replace, like a decorative element. Used on a rotted siding board it is a cosmetic answer to a moisture problem and it fails from behind, where you cannot see it coming.

Is lead paint a concern on my house?

If it was built before 1978, assume yes until tested. That changes how the surface can legally and safely be prepared — containment, HEPA cleanup, and disposal requirements. It is a real cost difference and any contractor who does not raise it on a pre-1978 house is either unaware or ignoring it.

How long should paint last on wood siding here?

Seven to ten years with proper preparation, less on south and west elevations. Our freeze-thaw cycling is hard on coatings — the substrate expands and contracts through a wide daily temperature swing, and a coating with poor adhesion is worked loose faster than it would be in a milder climate.

Can you spray it instead of brushing?

Spraying lays a more uniform film and is faster. On weathered wood, back-brushing after spraying works the coating into the grain and adheres substantially better. Spraying alone on a rough substrate looks right and bonds poorly.

Related work in Fountain

Often booked together

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