Almost every paint failure we get called out to look at is a prep failure. Paint peeling off in sheets means it was applied over something it could not bond to. A crack that reappeared after a year means it was filled but never stabilized. New paint over a bad surface buys you one season.

Prep is not glamorous and it is the first thing cut when a bid needs to look cheaper. We price it openly instead, because it is the actual difference between a finish that holds for two years and one that holds for ten.

What is included

Sanding and scraping

Loose and failing coating removed back to something sound, and glossy surfaces dulled so the next coat has something to grip.

Patching and filling

Drywall damage, nail pops, dents and gouges filled, sanded flush and feathered so the repair does not read as a patch under raking light.

Caulking

Trim gaps, joints and penetrations sealed. Inside it is what makes lines look sharp; outside it is what keeps water from getting behind the paint.

Priming

Bare wood, patched areas, stains and bleed-through spot-primed or fully primed depending on what the surface is doing.

Honest assessment

If a board is rotted through or a substrate needs replacing rather than coating, you hear it before we paint over it — not after.

How the job goes

Free estimate

We assess what the surface actually needs and put the prep in writing as its own line, so you can see what you are paying for.

Clean and dry

Nothing gets filled or primed over dirt, moss or moisture. That is where most of the shortcuts happen.

Repair

Fill, sand, caulk and prime in the order the surface requires, with cure time respected between steps.

Hand off to finish

The surface goes to paint only when it is ready. If that means a day longer, it means a day longer.

Prep and repair across Beaverton, Aloha, Tigard, Hillsboro, Portland, Lake Oswego, Tualatin and Sherwood. Licensed and insured in Oregon. Se habla español.

Surface prep and repair in Beaverton, OR