Exterior Painting in Vinings, GA

Once the house is freshly painted, the detached garage, the garden shed, the fence and the deck railing can suddenly look worn by comparison. Many homeowners planning exterior painting in Vinings ask whether those structures can be included in the same project. Often they can, but each one has its own surfaces, repair needs and coating choices.

Settling what is included

Before work begins, every structure that will be painted or stained should be listed in the estimate, along with which surfaces are included. A fence, for instance, might mean only the side facing the street, or both sides, posts and gates. A deck might mean railings only, or railings, stairs and floorboards. Spelling this out before the start date means nothing is assumed on either side.

Detached garages, sheds and workshops

Outbuildings are usually painted to match the house, using the same body and trim colors. They often get less attention over the years, so preparation can take longer: siding near the ground is frequently soft, door trim may be damaged, and the bottom edges of panels may have soaked up water from splashing rain. Those areas are probed and repaired before priming.

Overhead garage doors, windows and hardware on outbuildings follow the same choices as on the house, so they are covered in the color schedule too.

Fences and gates

A wood fence has a large amount of surface packed into pickets, rails and posts, with edges on every board. Many homeowners choose a solid or semi-transparent stain for fences, since it penetrates the wood and wears more gradually than paint. If a fence was painted before, it usually needs paint again, because penetrating stain cannot soak into a painted surface.

Posts tend to rot at the ground line, and pickets split where nails were driven near the ends. Those are listed for repair. Metal gates, hinges and wrought iron sections are scraped and wire-brushed where rusted, coated with a primer that inhibits rust, then painted, and any metal that has rusted through is noted for replacement.

Deck railings, stairs and floors

Railings and balusters can be painted to match the house trim, and many homeowners like a painted railing with a stained floor. Deck floors and stair treads are a different matter: ordinary paint on a walking surface wears through and peels quickly. Floorboards are usually finished with a deck stain or a coating designed for foot traffic.

Before a product is chosen, the existing finish is identified, because the new coating has to suit what is already on the boards. Loose or cracked boards and wobbly railings are noted, and any structural repair to the deck is handled before finishing.

Pergolas, arbors and trellises

These structures are open to weather on every side, and their tops take the most sun and rain. Rafter ends and the upper faces of beams are where cracks, checking and soft spots show first. End grain is sealed with primer or stain, and open joints where members meet are filled with a flexible exterior caulk where they would otherwise trap water. Height and plantings often make access tricky, so ladders and planks are planned around them.

Tying the colors together

Outbuildings and structures look best when they relate to the house. A shed or garage often matches the body and trim. A fence can match the trim, take a neutral stain or recede in a dark color. Pergolas often follow the trim or the deck stain. Accent elements, such as a shed door in the same color as the front door, help connect the property visually. Sheen follows use: satin or semi-gloss on gates and railings that get handled, lower sheens on large surfaces.

Permits for deck and outbuilding repairs

Vinings is in Cobb County, where Cobb County Community Development handles residential permitting. Ask there before structural work such as rebuilding deck framing, or electrical or plumbing changes in an outbuilding, to find out whether a permit is required. For a new structure attached to the house, see our page on room additions in Vinings.

Questions about painting outbuildings, fences and decks in Vinings

Should a wood deck floor be painted or stained?

Stain or a coating made for decks is usually the better choice. Regular exterior paint on a walking surface wears through under foot traffic and tends to peel, especially where water sits. Deck stains soak into the wood and wear gradually, which makes recoating easier. If the floor has already been painted, it may need a deck-specific coating rather than a switch to stain.

Does a detached garage have to match the house color?

It does not have to, but matching the body and trim usually makes the property look cohesive. Some homeowners give a garage or shed a slightly different shade, or use the trim color as the main color for a small outbuilding. Whatever you choose, adding the structure to the written color schedule means its doors, windows and trim are planned along with the house.

Is a wood privacy fence worth painting or staining?

A coating slows weathering, reduces cracking and helps the fence look tidy longer. Stain is the more common choice because it wears gradually and is easier to renew. Paint gives a uniform color but will need scraping when it fails. Either way, the wood should be dry and clean, and damaged posts and pickets should be repaired first.

Include the whole property

Whether it is the house alone or the house plus a garage, shed, fence or deck, the number to call is 404-409-4448. We can walk the property with you and write an estimate that lists each structure and the surfaces covered.