Exterior painting and stucco repair in Tucson.

Why fall through spring is painting season

Tucson summers are hard on fresh paint. Walls in direct sun get far hotter than the air, and paint that dries too fast doesn't bond or level well. Then the monsoon, which the National Weather Service counts as June 15 through September 30, brings humidity, dust and sudden rain that can ruin a fresh coat.

October through April avoids most of that. Days are mild, crews can plan around the occasional cold morning (the minimum application temperature is printed on every can), and the weather is predictable enough to schedule. Searches for painters in Arizona peak in November, so booking early in the season helps.

What the sun does to paint here

UV is the main enemy of exterior paint in Tucson. It breaks down the binder in the paint, which leaves the surface chalky, faded and less waterproof. South- and west-facing walls usually fail first, sometimes years before the shady side.

Run your hand across a sunny wall. If it comes away with a chalky film, the paint has broken down. Peeling, flaking and color that looks washed out are the other signs. Wood trim, fascia and doors usually need attention before the stucco does.

Stucco cracks: what's normal and what isn't

Almost every stucco house in Tucson has some cracks. Most are hairline cracks from the stucco curing and the house settling, and they're mostly cosmetic. The problem is that even small cracks let water behind the stucco during monsoon storms, and that's where real damage starts.

• Hairline cracks, thinner than a credit card: common, usually cosmetic, and often handled with patching and an elastomeric coating that can bridge small cracks.
• Cracks you can fit a coin edge into: need to be opened up, filled and patched before painting, or they'll show right through.
• Cracks around windows and doors, in a stair-step pattern, or that keep getting wider: can point to settling or water problems. Have them looked at, not just painted over.
• Bubbling, soft or hollow-sounding stucco, or white powdery stains: usually means water is getting in behind it.
• Stucco cracked or stained near the roofline or below scuppers: often a roof or drainage problem showing up on the wall.

Why paint and stucco should be one job

Painting over cracks that haven't been repaired seals the problem in. Water keeps getting in, the paint starts peeling around the crack, and the patch has to be done later anyway, followed by another paint job.

Doing it as one project means the crew patches the stucco, lets the patches cure, primes them so they don't show through as dull spots, and then paints the whole house. You pay for one round of prep, one setup and one cleanup. Ask for the estimate to be written that way.

Paint choices for the desert

The right product matters more here than in milder places. Ask the crew what they're using and why.

• 100% acrylic exterior paint is the common choice for stucco and holds up well to UV.
• Elastomeric coatings go on much thicker, stretch, and can bridge hairline cracks. They cost more and need correct prep. They aren't the right call for every house, so ask whether yours needs one.
• Lighter colors reflect more heat and generally fade less visibly than deep, saturated colors.
• Trim and wood need a primer and paint suited for wood, not the same product used on the stucco.

HOA color approval

If you live in an HOA, and many homes in Oro Valley, Marana, Green Valley and parts of Tucson do, you probably need approval before changing your exterior color, and sometimes even before repainting the same color. Most HOAs have an approved color palette and an architectural review form. Get the approval in hand before the crew is scheduled, since it can take a few weeks.

What changes the price

• Size of the house and the wall area, not just the square footage inside.
• One story or two. Ladders and scaffolding add labor.
• How much stucco repair is needed before painting.
• Paint type. Elastomeric coatings cost more than standard acrylic.
• Trim, fascia, doors, garage doors, gates and walls, if they're included.
• Color changes. Going from dark to light, or the reverse, can take an extra coat.
• Prep: pressure washing, scraping peeling paint and caulking gaps.

How long it takes

Painting the outside of a typical single-story Tucson home usually takes several working days once the crew starts. Stucco repair adds time, because patches need to cure before they're primed and painted. Bigger homes, two stories and lots of trim take longer. Ask for the expected number of working days in writing.

Inside the house too

Winter is a good time to paint inside in Tucson. The windows can stay shut, nobody's fighting the heat, and it's done before family shows up for the holidays. Walls, ceilings, trim, doors and kitchen cabinets all count.

Call or text and we'll match you with a painting crew for the inside of your house. Small drywall repairs, like nail pops, cracks and the hole behind the door, get patched before the paint goes on, the same way stucco gets fixed before the outside is painted.

What to check before you hire

• A written estimate that lists the prep, the stucco repair, the exact paint product and the number of coats.
• Which surfaces are included: walls, trim, fascia, doors, garage door, garden walls.
• How they'll protect plants, windows, walkways and your neighbor's car.
• HOA approval in hand before the start date.
• A written warranty on the work.
• The crew's Arizona Registrar of Contractors license number. Look it up at roc.az.gov.