Exterior House Painting in the Lehigh Valley

What Happens on an Exterior Painting Job, Step by Step?

Every exterior job we quote follows the same core sequence, and the order matters because each step sets up the next:

Wash. Power washing removes dirt, chalk and mildew. Benjamin Moore's current Aura exterior data sheet requires surfaces that are clean, dry and free of oil, grease, wax, rust, mildew, chalk and loose paint, and says sheltered areas such as eaves, porch ceilings and overhangs should be washed because rain never cleans them.
Scrape and feather. Loose and peeling paint comes off and the edges are sanded smooth so they do not show through the new coat. The same data sheet says glossy surfaces must be dulled.
Caulk. Open joints at windows, doors, trim and siding laps are sealed so water cannot get behind the paint.
Prime where the system calls for it. Aura exterior is self-priming on most properly prepared wood, fiber cement, hardboard, nonferrous metal and cured masonry, but bleeding woods such as cedar and redwood get a stain-suppressing primer first.
Two finish coats. Siding, trim, doors and shutters get two coats of exterior acrylic.

How Much Paint Does a House Need, and Why Two Coats?

Paint makers publish spread rate and film thickness, and those numbers drive durability and quantity. Benjamin Moore lists 350 to 450 square feet per gallon for Aura exterior at a dry film of 1.4 to 1.8 mils per coat; a second coat roughly doubles that protective film. Sherwin-Williams describes Duration Exterior as self-priming, with one coat for repaints and two for unpainted surfaces. We apply two finish coats on exterior projects for an even, full-thickness film.

As an example of the arithmetic, 2,000 square feet of siding painted twice is 4,000 square feet of coverage, or about 9 to 11.5 gallons of finish at the published spread rate, before trim, doors and waste.

Which Siding Materials Can Be Painted, and What Changes for Each?

Most exterior surfaces in the region can be painted, but each has its own prep and primer:

Vinyl: usually no primer, but Benjamin Moore says not to paint vinyl darker than its original color or with a Light Reflective Value below 57 unless the color is on its approved vinyl palette, or the siding can absorb heat and warp. See the vinyl siding guide.
Rough or pitted masonry: a high-build block filler first. New masonry must cure 30 days, and surfaces with a pH of 10 or more get a masonry sealer or primer. See stucco and concrete block.
Fiber cement: Aura exterior is self-priming over it. See fiber cement siding.
Aluminum: degreased first, with shiny surfaces dulled. See aluminum siding.
Wood and shakes: stain-suppressing primer on cedar and redwood. See wood siding and cedar shake.

Does My Home Need Lead-Safe Exterior Work?

If it was built before 1978, the EPA's Renovation, Repair and Painting rule applies whenever paid work disturbs more than 20 square feet of exterior paint. Census estimates show that 74.4% of homes in Lehigh County and 70.8% in Northampton County were built before 1980, so this is the normal case here. Covered work requires an EPA-certified firm, the Renovate Right pamphlet for the owner before work starts, and lead-safe methods: no open-flame burning, no power sanding or grinding without a shroud and HEPA vacuum, and heat guns only below 1,100°F.

What Does Lead-Safe Containment Look Like Outside?

On a pre-1978 house, the rule spells out the setup. Doors and windows within 20 feet of the work are closed. The ground is covered with impermeable sheeting extending 10 feet beyond the surfaces being worked on, or farther if needed to catch debris. If the work is within 10 feet of the property line, the firm adds vertical containment so dust and chips cannot reach the neighbor's building or yard.

What Temperature Is Too Cold for Exterior Paint?

Each product in the system sets its own floor, and the highest one governs the job. Benjamin Moore's current Aura exterior sheet allows application down to 35°F, and Sherwin-Williams rates Duration Exterior to 35°F as well, but the alkyd primer Benjamin Moore specifies for cedar and redwood needs 50°F. NOAA's 1991-2020 normals for Lehigh Valley International Airport put the median last spring freeze on April 20 and the median first fall freeze on October 24.

How Do You Check a Painting Contractor in Pennsylvania?

Pennsylvania requires contractors who perform at least $5,000 of home improvements a year to register with the Attorney General's Office, and the registration can be looked up online. For any home built before 1978, also ask for the firm's EPA lead-safe certification. See how to hire a painter for the contract items Pennsylvania law requires.

Where Do We Provide This Service?

Joseph Assise III Painting is based in Easton and serves towns across eastern Pennsylvania and western New Jersey, centered on the Lehigh Valley. Town pages:

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does an exterior paint job take?

Most of the time goes into preparation rather than painting. Washing has to dry before scraping and priming, primer has to dry before finish coats, and each finish coat needs its own dry time: Benjamin Moore lists 4 hours to recoat Aura exterior at 77°F and 50% humidity, and an alkyd wood primer needs 8 hours. Rain days and the size, height and condition of the house set the schedule, so ask for a timeline with the written estimate.

Can you paint vinyl siding a darker color?

Only with the right product and color. Dark colors absorb more heat and can make vinyl siding warp or buckle. Benjamin Moore says not to paint vinyl with a color darker than the original or with a Light Reflective Value below 57 unless it is on its approved vinyl palette, and Sherwin-Williams offers VinylSafe colors in Duration Exterior. Check the chosen color against the manufacturer's vinyl-safe list before committing to a darker repaint.

Do you need a permit to paint the outside of a house?

It depends on where the house is. In historic districts such as Easton's Local Historic District and the Bethlehem Historic District, the city reviews exterior changes and may require a Certificate of Appropriateness before work. If your home is in a historic district, check with the municipality before choosing new colors.

Why is my exterior paint peeling after a few years?

Peeling usually traces back to preparation or moisture: paint applied over chalk, dirt or loose old coats, over bare cedar without a stain-suppressing primer, or where water gets behind the film through open joints. Benjamin Moore's data sheet requires removing chalk and loose paint and dulling glossy surfaces before painting. Fixing peeling means scraping back to sound paint, priming and sealing the water path, not painting over it.

Sources: Benjamin Moore Aura Waterborne Exterior Soft Gloss (N632) technical data sheet; Benjamin Moore Fresh Start Deck & Siding Primer (094) technical data sheet; Sherwin-Williams Duration Exterior product page and customer information sheet; EPA Renovation, Repair and Painting rule, 40 CFR Part 745 Subpart E; U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates (table B25034); NOAA NCEI 1991-2020 Climate Normals, Lehigh Valley International Airport (USW00014737); Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General, Home Improvement Contractor Registration; City of Easton, Local Historic District; City of Bethlehem, Historic and Conservation Districts; Benjamin Moore Ultra Spec Hi-Build Masonry Block Filler (571) technical data sheet; Benjamin Moore Ultra Spec Masonry 100% Acrylic Sealer (608) technical data sheet. Figures checked October 2026.