Exterior Painting in Lithonia, GA

Before exterior painting in Lithonia begins, it pays to look at the wood for damage that has nothing to do with weather. Neat round holes in a fascia board, a pile of sawdust on the porch rail, a chewed corner where the soffit meets the roof: insects, birds and small animals all leave marks that paint will not fix and may hide for only a few months.

Finding that damage, repairing it, knowing when another trade should step in and sealing the wood afterward all belong in the plan.

What we look for on the walk-around

Most of this damage shows up in predictable places. We check fascia and rake boards, exposed rafter tails, the undersides of porch rails, window trim, corner boards and any wood that is bare or has lost most of its paint. Signs include:

• Clean, round holes about the width of a finger, often with sawdust or stains below them.
• Rows of small holes or ragged larger openings in siding or trim.
• Gnawed edges at soffit corners, gable vents or gaps along the roofline.
• Wood that sounds hollow when tapped, or thin mud tubes running up the foundation.

Areas that are hard to reach, such as high gable ends and trim above a porch roof, are checked from a ladder or noted for closer inspection once access is set up.

Carpenter bee holes in fascia and trim

Carpenter bees bore into softwood, especially wood that is unpainted or weathered, and tunnel along the grain to lay eggs. The entry hole looks small, but the gallery behind it can run several inches. Fascia boards, rafter tails and the ends of railing caps are common targets.

Repairs depend on how extensive the tunnels are. A few holes in sound wood can be cleaned out, filled with an exterior wood filler or epoxy and sanded flush. Boards riddled with galleries, or softened by moisture that got into them, are better replaced and primed on all sides before installation.

Woodpecker, squirrel and bird damage

Woodpeckers sometimes drill into siding or trim, and the holes are often near carpenter bee galleries because the birds are after the larvae inside. Squirrels chew at loose fascia corners and gaps beside gable vents to get into attics. Birds may nest in openings at the roofline.

Small holes are filled and sealed; larger openings in siding are patched with matching material or the damaged piece is replaced. If animals are getting into the attic, the openings need to be closed properly, not just painted over, and an animal removal service may need to come first.

When pest control should come before paint

Signs of termites, such as mud tubes, hollow wood or damaged framing, call for a pest control professional before any repair or painting goes ahead. Painting over active termite damage hides it from view and can delay treatment.

The same goes for an active wasp or bee nest in a work area. We will point out what we see during the visit, but treating insects is not part of a painting scope, so that call is yours to make before the work is scheduled.

The repair scope in writing

Each repair should be listed by location with the planned method: fill, patch with new material, or replace the board. The estimate should also say what happens if more damage turns up once loose paint and old caulk are removed, including how it will be shown to you, priced and approved before anyone continues.

Repairs come before priming, and primer comes before caulk and finish paint. Body and trim colors are confirmed early, so replacement boards can be primed and, where practical, given a first coat before they go up.

Making the wood less inviting afterward

A complete paint film on all exposed faces, including the end grain and the underside of boards where possible, leaves less bare wood for bees to pick. Caulking gaps between trim pieces and at roofline corners removes easy entry points for insects and small animals. No coating makes a house immune, but well-maintained paint and sealed joints make the wood a less attractive place to nest.

Checking the fascia and rafter tails each spring, and touching up any spot that has worn through, helps the paint keep doing that job.

Lithonia permit contacts in DeKalb County

Lithonia lies in DeKalb County. Should replacing damaged wood turn into structural work, or plumbing or electrical changes join the job, take the permit question to the City of Lithonia Building and Permitting Division before that part of the work begins. If you are planning work inside as well, see our page on interior painting in Lithonia.

Questions about insect and animal damage before painting

Will painting the trim stop carpenter bees from coming back?

It helps, though it is not a complete fix. Carpenter bees prefer bare or weathered wood, so a complete coat of primer and paint on every exposed face, including the end grain, makes the trim less appealing. Old holes should be filled first, because bees often reuse existing tunnels. Keeping the paint maintained over the years matters as much as the first coat.

Do I need a pest control company before the house is painted?

Only if there are signs of an active problem, such as termite mud tubes, hollow-sounding wood, an active nest in a work area, or animals living in the attic. In those cases treatment or removal should happen first, followed by the wood repairs, and only then painting. If the damage is old and nothing is active, repairs and painting can go ahead.

Can woodpecker holes in siding be patched and painted?

Yes, in most cases. Small holes in wood siding are cleaned, filled with an exterior filler or epoxy, sanded and primed before painting. Larger holes or split boards are better repaired by replacing the damaged section with matching material. Because woodpeckers often go after insect larvae, it is worth checking for carpenter bee galleries nearby at the same time.

Show us the holes and soft spots

Call 404-409-4448 and describe what you have found on the trim or siding. We will come take a look, sort out what needs repair and what needs a different specialist, and give you a written estimate for the repairs and painting.