Prep Exterior - Painting Company in Nanaimo BC and Vancouver Island

Our Exterior Painting Process
Introduction
Thanks for inviting us in.
Letting a crew into your home is an act of trust, and we respect that.
A bit about how we do things:
We listen before we paint.
You know what you like. Our job is to help you get it — not talk you into something you don’t want.
We show up when we say we will.
And if something changes, you'll hear it from us in advance.
We keep it open and honest.
No vague line items, no quiet add-ons. If we have to step outside of scope of work we discuss it with you first.
We've been at this since 2000, we're covered by WorkSafeBC, and we carry liability insurance — so you and our team are both protected.
This estimate is here to help you make a good decision, not push you into one. Read it, ask us anything. And if something's outside your budget, tell us — we'd rather find a way.
Terms and Conditions
Our estimate. We hold our pricing as long as we can. The only thing that moves it is costs outside our control — materials, fuel, wages, and the like. If anything changes before you approve, we'll tell you.
No deposit. We don't ask for money up front. You have every right to change your mind, and we'd never hold a deposit over you.
If you need to cancel or reschedule, just give us as much notice as you can. We hold time for your job and keep a crew employed --a little warning lets us fill the gap and keeps everyone working.
Reviewing the work. When we're finished, we'll let you know and ask you to look everything over. If something isn't right, tell us within a couple of days and we'll make it right. If we don't hear from you, we'll send the invoice.
Payment. Invoices are due within 7 days of the invoice date, unless we've made other arrangements with you. We accept e‑transfer or cheque. Prefer credit card? We can run it through PayPal, though it carries a small processing fee. Balances unpaid after 30 days carry 2% monthly interest, unless a payment plan has been arranged.
Changes to the job. If you ask for work beyond the original estimate, or we uncover something hidden once we start, we'll talk it through and agree on any change before we carry on.
What to Expect with Exterior Painting.
At Sonshine Girls Painting, we believe a lasting exterior paint job starts with proper preparation, thoughtful product selection, and clear expectations. Our goal is to prepare the surfaces so the paint can bond well, protect your home, and provide strong curb appeal.
Every home is different, especially on exteriors. Our preparation is based on the condition of the surfaces we are painting and the scope listed in your estimate, not a one-size-fits-all checklist.
What Exterior Prep Includes
Unless otherwise noted in your estimate, standard exterior preparation may include:
Low-pressure power washing of the areas being painted
Spot cleaning of specific areas when full power washing is not required or not appropriate
Treatment of organic growth where needed
Scraping loose, peeling, or failing paint
Wire brushing areas where appropriate
Minor hand-sanding of rough or scraped areas where needed
Spot-priming bare wood or exposed areas before painting
Selective caulking or filling where appropriate
Masking and protection of areas not being painted
Brush, roll and spray application as appropriate
Two coats of paint on the surfaces listed in your estimate
Daily tidying and cleanup upon completion
Preparation is based on the specific surfaces being painted. For example, on a trim-only project, we may spot clean the trim rather than power wash the entire house. This helps avoid unnecessary water exposure or accidental marking of surfaces that are not part of the painting scope.
Power Washing, Spot Cleaning, and Organic Growth
When power washing is included, it is done to prepare the areas being painted. It is not intended to be a full house wash or window-cleaning service.
Not every exterior project requires full power washing. On smaller scopes, such as trim-only, door-only, or limited-area painting, we may spot clean the areas being painted instead. This allows us to prepare the painted surfaces properly without unnecessarily affecting adjacent surfaces that are not included in the estimate.
Where organic growth is present, we treat it with appropriate cleaners before painting. This is important because mildew, algae, and other growth can continue underneath the new paint if it is not properly addressed first.
Scraping, Sanding, and Surface Texture
Loose, peeling, or failing paint will be scraped where present. We may also wire brush areas where appropriate.
Standard exterior prep includes minor hand-sanding only. This is not the same as power sanding, full paint removal, or restoration-level surface preparation. On most exterior projects, hand-sanding is limited and may only be needed in small areas.
When old paint has peeled or been scraped away, the remaining paint and the exposed surface often sit at different elevations. This is commonly known in the painting industry as “scabbing.” It is normal on many exterior repaints, especially older homes.
Standard prep is intended to create a sound surface for painting and improve curb appeal. It is not intended to make all previous paint edges disappear. Removing or leveling those edges usually requires power sanding or more extensive restoration work, which is not included unless specifically listed in your estimate.
Curb Appeal Standard
Our exterior painting is completed with curb appeal in mind. The goal is for the home to look clean, fresh, consistent, and professionally finished from a normal viewing distance.
Exterior repainting does not always create a brand-new factory finish, especially on older siding, weathered trim, previously peeling areas, rough wood, stucco, textured surfaces, or surfaces with past coating buildup.
If a client wants a higher level of surface restoration, such as extensive sanding, paint-edge leveling, wood repair, or specialty preparation, that work would need to be quoted separately.
Our Approach to Caulking and Filling
We are careful and selective with exterior caulking and filling.
When Alison started painting over 30 years ago, it was common practice to caulk far more areas on an exterior. Over time, products, building knowledge, and best practices have changed, and we have changed with them.
We do not caulk every crack, gap, or joint by default. Exterior materials expand, contract, and move with moisture and temperature changes. Caulking areas that should be allowed to move, drain, or breathe can trap moisture and create problems later.
We caulk or fill where it is appropriate, but we do not do it simply because it looks thorough on a checklist. Our goal is always to protect the long-term health of your home.
Priming
Bare wood, exposed areas, repaired areas, or surfaces that require additional adhesion support will be spot-primed before painting.
Some modern exterior paints have self-priming properties, but we still assess the surface and prime where needed. The goal is proper adhesion, coverage, and long-term performance.
Paint, Colour, and Sheen
Paint colour, product choice, and sheen all affect the final appearance and performance of an exterior paint job.
Our standard go-to exterior paint is Sherwin-Williams Latitude. We choose it because it uses current exterior paint technology designed for changing weather conditions, which is especially important on the West Coast. Exterior paint has come a long way, and we believe the products we use should reflect that.
We regularly review the products available to us and choose coatings based on durability, weather resistance, colour performance, application conditions, and long-term value for our clients. Latitude is not the only product we use, but it is our preferred choice in normal circumstances unless another product is better suited to the surface, colour, or project.
We generally do not recommend higher sheen finishes on the main exterior body of a house. Higher sheen reflect more light and can make surface texture, previous paint buildup, scabbing, dents, rough wood, uneven siding, or older repairs more noticeable.
For exterior doors, we typically use Sherwin Williams Pro Industrial Waterbased Alkyd Urethane. It provides a durable finish suitable for doors and trim, while still offering the benefits of a water-based product.
For doors, we usually recommend eggshell rather than semi-gloss. Higher sheen finishes can age less gracefully outdoors as sunlight and weather wear on the surface. In many cases, an eggshell finish gives a cleaner, more current look and helps the door stay looking better longer.
Some colours require additional coats for full coverage. This is especially common with bright colours, deep colours, major colour changes, whites over dark colours, dark colours over light surfaces, reds, yellows, oranges, and some greens or blues.
Most exterior projects are quoted for two coats of paint on the surfaces listed in your estimate. If additional coats are required beyond the quoted scope, they may be added at an additional charge.
Spraying, Brushing, and Rolling
Spraying is one method of applying paint. What matters is the process behind it.
On suitable surfaces, we may spray because it allows for an even and efficient application. Where required, the first sprayed coat is backrolled while the paint is still wet. This helps press the coating into the surface rather than allowing it to sit only on top.
The second coat may be sprayed and will bond properly to the first coat. We do not necessarily backroll the second coat unless the surface or product requires it.
Skipping the backrolling step on the first coat, where required, can shorten the lifespan of an exterior paint job. It is a detail we take seriously.
Protection and Cleanup
We take care to protect areas that are not being painted. This may include masking, tape, plastic, drop sheets, and careful setup around windows, doors, fixtures, decks, landscaping, and surrounding surfaces.
Please move furniture, planters, barbecues, décor, hoses, tools, and other belongings away from the house before we begin. This helps us work safely and protects your belongings.
Work areas will be kept tidy throughout the project, with cleanup completed at the end of the job.
Safety and Insurance
Sonshine Girls Painting is covered by WorkSafeBC and carries liability insurance.
We work with safety in mind for our crew, your home, and the surrounding property.
Please Note
Exterior painting is not a repair or restoration service unless those items are specifically included in your estimate.
Carpentry, rot repair, major filling, extensive sanding, power sanding, full paint removal, specialty coatings, deck or handrail refinishing, and other restoration work may require a separate quote or may be billed hourly if agreed upon in advance.
Our goal is to provide clear expectations, thoughtful preparation, and a durable, beautiful finish.

Call Us

Contact

Our Exterior Painting Process

Introduction

Letting a crew into your home is an act of trust, and we respect that.

A bit about how we do things:

We listen before we paint.

You know what you like. Our job is to help you get it — not talk you into something you don’t want.

We show up when we say we will.

And if something changes, you'll hear it from us in advance.

We keep it open and honest.

No vague line items, no quiet add-ons. If we have to step outside of scope of work we discuss it with you first.

We've been at this since 2000, we're covered by WorkSafeBC, and we carry liability insurance — so you and our team are both protected.

This estimate is here to help you make a good decision, not push you into one. Read it, ask us anything. And if something's outside your budget, tell us — we'd rather find a way.

Terms and Conditions

Our estimate. We hold our pricing as long as we can. The only thing that moves it is costs outside our control — materials, fuel, wages, and the like. If anything changes before you approve, we'll tell you.

No deposit. We don't ask for money up front. You have every right to change your mind, and we'd never hold a deposit over you.

If you need to cancel or reschedule, just give us as much notice as you can. We hold time for your job and keep a crew employed --a little warning lets us fill the gap and keeps everyone working.

Reviewing the work. When we're finished, we'll let you know and ask you to look everything over. If something isn't right, tell us within a couple of days and we'll make it right. If we don't hear from you, we'll send the invoice.

Changes to the job. If you ask for work beyond the original estimate, or we uncover something hidden once we start, we'll talk it through and agree on any change before we carry on.

What to Expect with Exterior Painting.

At Sonshine Girls Painting, we believe a lasting exterior paint job starts with proper preparation, thoughtful product selection, and clear expectations. Our goal is to prepare the surfaces so the paint can bond well, protect your home, and provide strong curb appeal.

Every home is different, especially on exteriors. Our preparation is based on the condition of the surfaces we are painting and the scope listed in your estimate, not a one-size-fits-all checklist.

What Exterior Prep Includes

Unless otherwise noted in your estimate, standard exterior preparation may include:

Preparation is based on the specific surfaces being painted. For example, on a trim-only project, we may spot clean the trim rather than power wash the entire house. This helps avoid unnecessary water exposure or accidental marking of surfaces that are not part of the painting scope.

Power Washing, Spot Cleaning, and Organic Growth

When power washing is included, it is done to prepare the areas being painted. It is not intended to be a full house wash or window-cleaning service.

Where organic growth is present, we treat it with appropriate cleaners before painting. This is important because mildew, algae, and other growth can continue underneath the new paint if it is not properly addressed first.

Scraping, Sanding, and Surface Texture

Loose, peeling, or failing paint will be scraped where present. We may also wire brush areas where appropriate.

Standard exterior prep includes minor hand-sanding only. This is not the same as power sanding, full paint removal, or restoration-level surface preparation. On most exterior projects, hand-sanding is limited and may only be needed in small areas.

When old paint has peeled or been scraped away, the remaining paint and the exposed surface often sit at different elevations. This is commonly known in the painting industry as “scabbing.” It is normal on many exterior repaints, especially older homes.

Curb Appeal Standard

Our exterior painting is completed with curb appeal in mind. The goal is for the home to look clean, fresh, consistent, and professionally finished from a normal viewing distance.

Exterior repainting does not always create a brand-new factory finish, especially on older siding, weathered trim, previously peeling areas, rough wood, stucco, textured surfaces, or surfaces with past coating buildup.

If a client wants a higher level of surface restoration, such as extensive sanding, paint-edge leveling, wood repair, or specialty preparation, that work would need to be quoted separately.

Our Approach to Caulking and Filling

We are careful and selective with exterior caulking and filling.

When Alison started painting over 30 years ago, it was common practice to caulk far more areas on an exterior. Over time, products, building knowledge, and best practices have changed, and we have changed with them.

We do not caulk every crack, gap, or joint by default. Exterior materials expand, contract, and move with moisture and temperature changes. Caulking areas that should be allowed to move, drain, or breathe can trap moisture and create problems later.

We caulk or fill where it is appropriate, but we do not do it simply because it looks thorough on a checklist. Our goal is always to protect the long-term health of your home.

Priming

Bare wood, exposed areas, repaired areas, or surfaces that require additional adhesion support will be spot-primed before painting.

Some modern exterior paints have self-priming properties, but we still assess the surface and prime where needed. The goal is proper adhesion, coverage, and long-term performance.

Paint, Colour, and Sheen

Paint colour, product choice, and sheen all affect the final appearance and performance of an exterior paint job.

We generally do not recommend higher sheen finishes on the main exterior body of a house. Higher sheen reflect more light and can make surface texture, previous paint buildup, scabbing, dents, rough wood, uneven siding, or older repairs more noticeable.

For exterior doors, we typically use Sherwin Williams Pro Industrial Waterbased Alkyd Urethane. It provides a durable finish suitable for doors and trim, while still offering the benefits of a water-based product.

For doors, we usually recommend eggshell rather than semi-gloss. Higher sheen finishes can age less gracefully outdoors as sunlight and weather wear on the surface. In many cases, an eggshell finish gives a cleaner, more current look and helps the door stay looking better longer.

Some colours require additional coats for full coverage. This is especially common with bright colours, deep colours, major colour changes, whites over dark colours, dark colours over light surfaces, reds, yellows, oranges, and some greens or blues.

Most exterior projects are quoted for two coats of paint on the surfaces listed in your estimate. If additional coats are required beyond the quoted scope, they may be added at an additional charge.

Spraying, Brushing, and Rolling

Spraying is one method of applying paint. What matters is the process behind it.

On suitable surfaces, we may spray because it allows for an even and efficient application. Where required, the first sprayed coat is backrolled while the paint is still wet. This helps press the coating into the surface rather than allowing it to sit only on top.

The second coat may be sprayed and will bond properly to the first coat. We do not necessarily backroll the second coat unless the surface or product requires it.

Skipping the backrolling step on the first coat, where required, can shorten the lifespan of an exterior paint job. It is a detail we take seriously.

Protection and Cleanup

We take care to protect areas that are not being painted. This may include masking, tape, plastic, drop sheets, and careful setup around windows, doors, fixtures, decks, landscaping, and surrounding surfaces.

Please move furniture, planters, barbecues, décor, hoses, tools, and other belongings away from the house before we begin. This helps us work safely and protects your belongings.

Work areas will be kept tidy throughout the project, with cleanup completed at the end of the job.

Safety and Insurance

Sonshine Girls Painting is covered by WorkSafeBC and carries liability insurance.

We work with safety in mind for our crew, your home, and the surrounding property.

Please Note

Exterior painting is not a repair or restoration service unless those items are specifically included in your estimate.

Carpentry, rot repair, major filling, extensive sanding, power sanding, full paint removal, specialty coatings, deck or handrail refinishing, and other restoration work may require a separate quote or may be billed hourly if agreed upon in advance.

Our goal is to provide clear expectations, thoughtful preparation, and a durable, beautiful finish.