Your 2024 Ultimate Exterior Painting Guide for Madison Homeowners

So you’ve decided this is the year to paint and you’re in search of the perfect Madison Painter. But you may be wondering, what do I need to know to get this right?

That’s why we’ve compiled this comprehensive guide to assist you in navigating the world of exterior painting. From the benefits of painting your home’s exterior to selecting the perfect color, our guide covers everything you need to know to ensure you’re over the moon with your finished product. Whether you’re in Madison or the surrounding areas, let us take you through the process step by step.

The Benefits of Exterior Painting

Increase Your Health. Let’s start with physical health. Sealing off holes in your home exterior will keep mold-breeding moisture from getting into the home air. This’ll ensure you have cleaner air which is especially helpful for those of you who struggle with allergies.

Second, having a fresh look of your home exterior can and will improve your mental health. Imagine everytime you pull up to your house the look and feel of your home increases your mood. It may even give you more confidence knowing that your home is well-maintained and just beautiful to look at.

Enhanced Curb Appeal. A fresh paint job can transform the appearance of your home, making it stand out in your neighborhood. It’ll look newer, fresher and may even inspire your neighbors to improve the look of their homes. Your house may even be the talk of the neighborhood (or you know the Nextdoor channel) for months to come. Not saying anyone wants to be envied, but hey – the compliments are nice ;).

Increased Value. It’s no secret more buyers want something that is new and fresh vs dated and in need of repair. This is why an exterior painting project immediately increases the value of your home. And the more on trend the colors and the higher the quality of the paint, the more value you could amass.

Protection Against the Elements. This is super important in our cold winters and humid summers. Proper exterior paint preparation will seal any holes or gaps you have in your existing exterior material which will immediately improve the condition of your home exterior. Then once the exterior paint is applied, it acts as a shield protecting your home from moisture, insects, and dust. It can also further prevent wood rot and reduce wear from UV exposure.

Now that you’re super clear on all of the benefits to paint, let us guide you on how to hire a Madison Painter.

How to Hire a Madison Painter You Loveee

Like fingerprints or diamonds, no two painting companies are exactly the same. So it’s important to know what you care about most when hiring an exterior painting firm. Follow these three steps to get prepared to talk with a prospective painting firm.

Step 1: Write down what matters to you most when hiring a partner. We’ll help you get the list started: communication, warranty, timeline, price, experience, materials, color guidance, etc.. Then prioritize these for YOU.

Step 2: Ask friends and family and google ‘exterior painters’ to see who is out there in your local market. I’d personally look for a company with a solid track record – who has at least 50 reviews and has a 4.9 rating or better on google.

Step 3: have a free estimate with 1-2 painting firms you really feel good about. Make sure you get the following information from the painting firm:

  • Color Guidance
  • Communication plan
  • Price that won’t change. I’d also encourage you to ask when each payment is due.
  • Solid timeline from start to finish
  • Workmanship guarantee
  • Warranty on the work
  • Final project walkthrough before final payment.
  • If they are insured.

Now that you have guidance on how to hire a painting firm, let’s dig into a topic that is SUPER FUN – COLORS!

How to Choose Home Exterior Colors

There are so many colors to pick from which can paralyze even the most-effective decision makers. This is why we encourage you to go with a painting firm who offers color guidance. Each of our clients enjoy a dedicated color consultant to ensure you have help discerning what colors look great, what colors others love in your area and what colors coordinate well.

Before we dive into what exterior colors are popular, we have a VERY important recommendation for you: choose the color that YOU love. The color that represents your style, tastes and lifestyle. It is after all, your home.

In 2024, the trending exterior colors are mostly earthy tones, vibrant blues and classic neutrals. We will give you many examples below.

Let’s Start with the Sherwin Williams Expert Picks:

  • SW 7006 – Extra White
  • SW 7005 – Pure White
  • SW 7008 – Alabaster
  • SW 7029 – Agreeable Gray
  • SW 7015 – Repose Gray
  • SW 7036 – Accessible Beige
  • SW 7641 – Colonnade Gray
  • SW 0055 – Light French Gray
  • SW 9173 – Shiitake
  • SW 6235 – Foggy Day

There are many more which you can see directly below.

SW exterior colors 1

sherwin williams exterior painting colors 2

sherwin williams exterior painting colors 3

Home Exterior Process & Timeline

What steps are involved in painting your home exterior are typically what determines the timeline. This section will help you know exactly what to expect for your exterior painting project.

Step 1: Free-In Home Estimate so you will get a clear report on the condition of your home exterior and will it’ll cost to prep and paint your home.

Step 2: Preparation. Thorough prep is key and ensures proper application and paint durability. Prep includes taping/masking, power washing, scraping and priming the surfaces.

Step 3: Painting with high-quality durable material ensuring a smooth and beautiful finish.

Step 4: Final walkthrough so you can look at the finished product with a member of the team. At Ultra Painting, we want to ensure our clients are super happy with their project before we leave your home.

The timeline from estimate to finished product will depend upon when the firm can start your exterior painting project. Once a painting company can start your project, prep and paint can be completed in a few days and usually under a week unless the home is very large.

Now that you have a clear idea on process and timeline, let’s round out this article by telling you a critical component of hiring an exterior painting company: What’s it going to cost.

How Much Does Exterior Painting Cost?

This is a question every homeowner has when hiring a painting firm, and it’s an important one. As we said above, no two painting companies are exactly alike, and it’s important that you know what you care about most when hiring a painting firm.

The following factors typically affect the pricing of an exterior painting project:

  • Years of Experience
  • Painting firm’s standards for work and team
  • Difficulty & scope of the Job
  • Amount of Prep Work Required / Condition of Home
  • Quality of Paint
  • Workmanship Guarantee
  • Warranty

The cost of exterior painting will vary based on the size of your home, the type of paint used and and the extent of prep work required. We understand clients want to know pricing and timeline quickly which is why we at Ultra Painting provide same-day quotes at our in-home estimates.

Your 2024 Exterior Painting Guide Closing Summary

So there you have it! You should buy painting like a pro now that you’ve read the following sections:

  • The Benefits of Exterior Painting
  • How to Hire a Painting Firm
  • How to Choose Exterior Colors You Lovee
  • Home Exterior Process & Timeline
  • How Much Exterior Painting Costs

Ultra Painting is proud to serve Madison and the surrounding cities of Waunakee, Sun Prairie, Verona, Fitchburg, Middleton, and Deforest.

Every client enjoys a 100% workmanship guarantee and comprehensive warranties on our services. Our commitment to quality and customer satisfaction is super important to us, ensuring that you love your home, your home’s exterior looks stunning and stands the test of time.

Are you ready to transform your home? Schedule a free estimate today or call us at 608-575-6456 to start your exterior painting project. We would love the opportunity to serve you and enhance your home.