PORTLAND, OR · OWNER-OPERATED
Exterior Painting in Portland, OR
A Portland exterior repaint lives or dies on prep and timing. Oxbow Painting is owner-operated, so the person scraping, sanding, and caulking your siding is the same person who answers your call and signs the warranty. We paint homes across Portland and the west-side suburbs with products rated for Pacific Northwest weather, and we back the work for five years in writing.
What an Oxbow exterior repaint includes
Every exterior job starts with a full pressure wash to strip dirt, chalk, mildew, and the loose film that keeps new paint from bonding. From there we hand-scrape failing paint, sand the edges smooth so there are no telegraphing ridges, and spot-prime bare wood before it ever sees a topcoat.
We caulk every gap that should be sealed: window and door casings, trim joints, and siding seams that let Portland rain find its way behind the boards. We replace or repair minor rotted trim, fascia, and soffit where we find it, and we flag larger carpentry before we quote so there are no surprise change orders mid-project.
The finish is two full coats of premium exterior paint on the body, plus all trim, soffits, fascia, gutters by request, and doors. When we pack out, we walk the entire house with you and handle touch-ups on the spot.
Built for Portland weather
The Willamette Valley gives painters a real window roughly from late spring through early fall, with shoulder seasons that can go either way. We schedule exterior work around the forecast and around dew points, not just the calendar, because paint applied onto damp siding or below its minimum cure temperature will fail early no matter how good the product is.
On north-facing and tree-shaded walls where moss and algae take hold, we treat and clean the surface first so the new coating starts on sound substrate. That attention to the wet, shaded side of the house is the difference between a finish that lasts five-plus years and one that looks tired in two.
What it costs: From $3,500
A typical 1,800 square foot single-story exterior runs around $4,800 fully prepped with two coats. Smaller homes and partial repaints start near $3,500. Larger two and three story homes, heavy repairs, or extensive trim add to the total. You get a written, line-itemed estimate before any work begins.
The Oxbow process
Free on-site estimate
We walk the whole exterior with you, note repairs, and send a written, line-itemed proposal within a few days.
Wash and prep
Pressure wash, scrape, sand, caulk, prime bare spots, and make minor wood repairs. This is where most of the labor goes.
Two-coat application
Body, trim, soffits, fascia, and doors get two full coats applied in the right weather window.
Walkthrough and warranty
We inspect the job together, handle touch-ups, and hand over your 5-year written warranty.
Products we use
- Sherwin-Williams Emerald and Duration for body and trim
- Stain-blocking and bonding primers on bare or problem surfaces
- Premium exterior caulk and patching compounds rated for movement
- Lead-safe containment materials for pre-1978 homes
Who it is for
- Owners of older Portland craftsmans, bungalows, and foursquares that need real prep, not a quick recoat
- Homeowners whose last paint job is chalking, peeling, or failing on the weather sides
- Anyone preparing a home for sale who wants curb appeal that holds up through escrow and beyond
- Pre-1978 homes that require EPA RRP lead-safe practices
Recent work
Get your exterior painting estimate
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to paint a house exterior in Portland?
Most Portland exteriors run from $3,500 for smaller single-story homes to $8,000 or more for large two and three story houses. A typical 1,800 square foot home lands around $4,800 fully prepped with two coats. The biggest variables are square footage, story count, the amount of repair and prep needed, and how much trim detail the house has.
When is the best time to paint a house exterior in the Pacific Northwest?
Late spring through early fall is the reliable window in Portland. We schedule around the forecast and dew point rather than the calendar, because paint applied to damp siding or below its cure temperature fails early. We can often book shoulder-season slots when the weather cooperates.
How long does an exterior repaint last?
A properly prepped exterior with two coats of premium paint should look good for well beyond five years, which is why we warranty our work for five years in writing. Prep and product quality matter far more than the number of coats alone.
Do you handle homes built before 1978?
Yes. Oxbow is EPA RRP certified, so we follow lead-safe work practices on pre-1978 homes, including containment, careful surface prep, and cleanup that protects your family and our crew.
Do you repair rotted wood before painting?
Yes. We repair or replace minor rotted trim, fascia, and soffit as part of prep, and we flag any larger carpentry in the written estimate before work starts so there are no surprises.