Weatherproof decoration for render, masonry, timber and cladding
Exterior Painting
Exterior painting is the preparation and application of weather-resistant paint or masonry coating to a building's external walls, render, timber and cladding, priced as a day rate that reflects the level of preparation, height and access equipment such as scaffolding or towers required.
Definition
What Exterior Painting covers
Exterior painting protects and refreshes external surfaces — render, brick, weatherboarding, fascias and cladding — using coatings formulated to withstand UK weather. It typically involves more preparation than interior work (removing flaking or failed coatings, treating any timber decay, and masking) and depends heavily on safe access to upper storeys, which is priced alongside the painting itself.
Suitable for
- Render, masonry paint or timber cladding that's fading, flaking or due a repaint
- Weatherboarding and fascias needing protective decoration
- Properties being refreshed ahead of sale or after remedial works
- Exterior woodwork such as windows, doors and gutters needing repainting
Not suitable for
- Render or masonry with underlying cracks or damp issues that need repair before painting (painting over these will fail quickly)
- Very poor weather conditions — most exterior coatings need a minimum temperature and dry surface to cure properly, so work is weather-dependent
Process
How the work is carried out
- 01
Survey and access plan
Assessing the surfaces, condition and height involved, and agreeing what access equipment — ladders, towers or scaffold — the job needs.
- 02
Preparation
Removing flaking or failed coatings, treating any timber decay, and masking areas not being painted.
- 03
Painting
Applying weather-resistant coatings suited to the substrate, usually as a primer and two topcoats.
- 04
Finishing
A final check for coverage, removal of access equipment and protection, and clearing the site.
Typical timescale
Exterior painting is weather-dependent and typically takes a small number of days for a single elevation up to one to two weeks for a full property, depending on scaffold requirements and drying time between coats.
Cost guidance
Exterior painting typically costs £250–£350 per day in our area, with the cost of scaffold or access equipment added on top depending on the height and extent of the property. We provide an itemised quotation after a site visit rather than a fixed headline price.
Limitations and exclusions
- Scaffold and access tower hire is quoted separately based on height and duration
- Repair of render, brickwork or timber decay found during preparation is quoted as additional work
- Exterior painting cannot proceed in unsuitable weather (rain, frost or very high humidity), which can affect programme
Areas we cover
Exterior Painting across Sussex, Surrey, Kent and South London
Local property styles, planning authorities and neighbourhood coverage for exterior painting in each town we work in.
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FAQs
Exterior Painting FAQs
Why is exterior painting priced as a day rate rather than per room?
Exterior work depends heavily on access, height and the condition of the substrate, all of which vary far more than an interior room does — a day rate reflects that variability more accurately than a fixed per-area price.
Will you need scaffolding?
For anything beyond ground-floor level or single-storey work reachable by ladder, scaffold or a tower is usually the safest option and is priced as part of the quotation after survey.
What time of year is best for exterior painting?
Most exterior coatings need reasonably dry, mild conditions to cure properly, so spring through to early autumn is generally the most reliable window in our climate, though this depends on the specific product used.
Discuss your exterior painting project
Tell us about the property and what you have in mind, and we'll arrange a site visit.
Last reviewed 2026-07-28.