How Long Should Exterior Paint Last in Portland?
Portland's climate is harder on exterior paint than most homeowners realize. Here's what determines how long a paint job lasts — and the one thing that matters more than the brand.
Read MoreFree written estimate + 10% off your first interior or exterior project · Claim My 10% Off →
Portland, OR · Residential & Commercial Painting
Summit Painting Co. has painted Portland homes for 20 years, backed by a written 5-year warranty on exterior work.
A 30–45 minute walk-through with Craig or a senior estimator, then a written line-item quote within 48 hours. Free, no obligation, and we never send a salesperson — or call you twice.
1,500+
Projects Completed
20 Years
Painting Portland
5-Year
Written Exterior Warranty
48 Hours
From Walk-Through to Quote
What We Do
Portland’s climate demands more than a quick coat. We prep properly, use premium materials, and back exterior work with a written 5-year warranty.
Prep is everything. We power-wash, scrape, prime bare wood, caulk gaps, and apply two coats of premium exterior paint. 5-year warranty on all exterior work.
From a single accent wall to a full-house repaint, we protect your floors and furniture, patch nail holes and small imperfections, and leave the space immaculate.
New cabinets cost $15,000+. Refinishing gives you a like-new finish for a fraction of that. We use a sprayed conversion varnish that's harder than brush-applied paint.
Portland's rain and UV are hard on deck wood. We clean, sand, apply penetrating stain, and — if needed — repair damaged boards before staining.
Our Work
A selection of exterior, interior, cabinet, and deck projects across Portland and the metro area.
Service Area
Serving Portland and surrounding communities in the Greater Metro.
Before & after from real projects
Ballpark in 5 Seconds
$1,200 – $2,400
Typical Portland range — includes prep, labor, and two coats of premium Sherwin-Williams paint
Get My Free Estimate →$2,400 – $4,200
Typical Portland range — includes prep, labor, and two coats of premium Sherwin-Williams paint
Get My Free Estimate →$4,200 – $6,500
Typical Portland range — includes prep, labor, and two coats of premium Sherwin-Williams paint
Get My Free Estimate →$3,500 – $9,500
Typical Portland range — includes prep, labor, and two coats of premium Sherwin-Williams paint
Get My Free Estimate →Pick a project size to see a typical range. Your exact number comes from a free 30–45 minute walk-through, in writing, within 48 hours.
Transparent Pricing
Ranges below are typical Portland projects. Your written line-item quote lands within 48 hours of the walk-through, and the number we quote is the number you pay.
Single Room
$650–1,200
Full Interior
$4,200–6,500
Exterior
Starting at $3,500
Our Team
Owner, 20 Years
Craig started Summit Painting after managing crews for a large commercial contractor. He wanted to build something where every project got his personal oversight. He still walks every job before final payment.
Senior Painter
Paulo has been with Summit for 14 years and handles most of our exterior and cabinet work. He's the reason we can offer a 5-year warranty — his prep work is exceptional.
Color Consultant
Lisa consults with homeowners on color selection for interiors and exteriors. She keeps a library of swatch samples in the office and does complimentary in-home color consultations for all projects over $2,500.
What Customers Say
“Summit painted our 1920s craftsman in Sellwood — full exterior including the trim. Craig came out twice before the job to talk through color options with Lisa. The prep work was thorough: they scraped, primed, caulked every gap I didn't even know was there. Two years later the paint still looks fresh. Worth every dollar.”
“We had our kitchen cabinets refinished from oak natural to a soft sage green. The finish is genuinely better than my neighbor's new cabinets. Paulo used a conversion varnish sprayed in a controlled environment — zero brush marks, hard as glass. The whole kitchen feels new for about $2,800 instead of $22,000.”
“Our deck was in rough shape — peeling, a few boards with early rot. Summit repaired the boards, cleaned and sanded everything, and applied a semi-transparent penetrating stain. It's been 18 months and the stain is holding beautifully despite Portland's winters. They know what products actually work here.”
Common Questions
Most Portland single-family homes (1,200–2,400 sq ft) take 3–5 days from start to final walkthrough. This includes prep (washing, scraping, priming) which typically takes 1–2 days before any paint goes on. Larger homes or those with heavy prep needs take longer. We provide a written project timeline with every estimate.
We use Sherwin-Williams Emerald and Duration for exterior work — both are excellent performers in Portland's wet climate. For interior work, we use SW Emerald or ProClassic depending on the application. We don't use big-box house brands. If a customer has a specific product preference, we're happy to discuss it.
For exterior: pressure washing, hand scraping loose paint, sanding rough areas, priming bare wood, caulking around windows/doors/trim/gaps, and masking. For interior: moving and covering furniture, patching nail holes and small drywall imperfections, sanding transitions, and taping. Prep is what separates a paint job that lasts from one that fails in two years.
Yes, with proper prep. Previously painted cabinets need to be cleaned, lightly sanded, and primed before refinishing. Previously stained cabinets require more aggressive prep — sometimes stripping or a shellac-based primer to prevent bleed-through. We assess every set of cabinets before quoting to make sure the prep is accounted for in the price.
Blog
Painting tips, color guides, and pro advice from the Summit crew
Portland's climate is harder on exterior paint than most homeowners realize. Here's what determines how long a paint job lasts — and the one thing that matters more than the brand.
Read MoreIs it worth refinishing your cabinets or should you just replace them? The answer depends on the cabinet box condition, not the doors. Here's how to evaluate yours.
Read MorePortland gets 37 inches of rain per year. Film-forming deck paints peel in these conditions — always, eventually, usually within 3 years. Here's what actually works.
Read MoreBook the walk-through and you’ll have a written, line-item quote in hand within 48 hours — with the prep steps spelled out so you can compare bids honestly.
Free and no obligation. Walk-throughs run Monday–Saturday, including 7:00 am slots before work. Quotes are honored for 60 days.