Exterior Painting in San Francisco & Marin
Your exterior paint does more than change how your home looks from the street. It protects siding, trim, stucco, decks, and exposed wood from Bay Area sun, fog, wind, and moisture. McCarthy Painting brings 55+ years of local experience to careful prep, durable coatings, clean job sites, and exterior finishes built to last.
Exterior Painting Problems Usually Start Before the Paint Goes On
Most exterior paint failures come from skipped prep, hidden repairs, or the wrong coating for the surface and exposure. The job has to account for Marin and San Francisco weather, not just the color you choose.
Peeling or Fading Paint
Sun exposure, fog, salt air, and moisture can break down tired coatings and leave siding, trim, and doors looking older than they should.
Dry Rot Found Too Late
Soft trim, damaged siding, and failing wood can stay hidden until a repaint begins. Catching it early keeps the repair from becoming much more expensive.
Stucco Cracks and Water Intrusion
Small cracks can let moisture in and cause bigger finish problems. Stucco needs the right prep, patching, primer, and coating system.
Repaints That Fail From Poor Prep
Scraping, sanding, washing, caulking, priming, and masking are the parts homeowners may not see, but they are what determine how long the finish lasts.
Curb Appeal Before Selling or Hosting
Whether you are getting ready to list, welcome guests, or simply enjoy coming home again, the exterior needs to look clean, cared for, and finished.
Why Homeowners Trust McCarthy Painting With Exterior Work
Exterior Prep Comes First
We wash, scrape, sand, caulk, patch, prime, and protect before finish coats go on, because prep is what keeps exterior paint from failing early.
Weather-Aware Scheduling
Fog, sun, rain, wind, and temperature swings affect exterior painting. We plan the sequence around real Bay Area job-site conditions.
Dry Rot and Wood Repair
When damaged wood shows up, we can identify the issue, explain the repair path, and handle many wood repairs before coating the surface.
Stucco, Siding, Trim, and Decks
One experienced team can handle the exterior surfaces that shape the home, from stucco and shingles to railings, doors, fascia, and decks.
Clear Daily Communication
You get practical updates about access, prep, repair discoveries, weather delays, paint days, cleanup, and what to expect before the crew returns.
Verified Local Reputation
McCarthy Painting has 95+ reviews, a 4.8-star rating, and decades of repeat residential clients across Marin and San Francisco.
Independently Recognized for Quality and Service
Yelp Top 10, Marin County Painters
Recognized among top-rated local painting contractors serving Marin County homeowners.
Expertise.com Top 15 Marin County Painters
Included in an independent review of painting companies serving Marin and nearby Bay Area communities.
Pacific Sun Best of Marin Award
A local reputation built through consistent workmanship, clean service, and long-term client relationships.
Exterior Painting Services Built for Bay Area Homes
Full Exterior Repaints
Refresh and protect siding, trim, doors, shutters, fascia, railings, and other exterior surfaces with thorough prep and a durable finish.
- Whole-home exterior painting
- Scraping, sanding, caulking, and priming
- Clean masking, job-site protection, and daily cleanup
Dry Rot & Wood Repair
Exterior painting is often when hidden wood damage becomes obvious. We identify damaged areas and handle many repairs before the finish coats go on.
- Trim, fascia, siding, and shingle repairs
- Repair recommendations before repainting
- Priming and coating repaired surfaces properly
Elastomeric & Weatherproof Coatings
For stucco, exposed walls, and moisture-prone areas, the right coating system helps seal small cracks and protect against changing weather.
- Stucco crack prep and coating guidance
- Elastomeric and waterproofing options
- Product recommendations for exposure and surface type
Exterior Painting Projects Across Marin
Real Reviews From Exterior Painting Clients
Don’t take our word for it. Here’s what Marin and San Francisco homeowners say about exterior painting, repair, prep, cleanup, and communication.
"A BIG shout out for excellent work quality and overall great experience on the exterior painting of our home."
It was a pleasure working with the McCarthy team to get the exterior of our house painted. From Robbie whose estimate was right on to Mariah who answered my many questions and made scheduling a breeze, to our painters Gino and Carlos who were always on time, quiet, did a great job painting and excellent clean up.
Gricelda and Miguel just finished painting the exterior of our house. I cannot imagine a better job or more delightful people to be around. They were very careful of the plants around the house. Greg, the owner, planned everything perfectly which made the business end of it very easy.
The McCarthy teams that we used for our decks were wonderful. This was a bear of a project given the amount of decking we have and all of it was done so well by both the carpentry team and the finishing team.
I had my house painted by McCarthy. Robbie did the estimate, and Cristian and Gabriel did the work. Robbie was the only one that tested the existing paint for lead. Cristian went beyond all of expectations and also did a number of carpentry repairs that turned out great.
We would highly recommend McCarthy Painting! Greg was so communicative during our 6 wk exterior project. Nelson and Moises were especially great at replacing or repairing damaged wood and shingles during the week of prep work. It was a one stop shop!
Moises and Abner from McCarthy Painting did a fantastic job painting our house in July. Attention to detail, carefulness with our property, friendliness, and good communication helped make this project a really good experience for us.
McCarthy is a really great team to work with all around. Greg gave me different ideas as we talked through the job, outlining options, costs and trade offs. The quality is top level — they really spent time on every detail. My home has been transformed.
Exterior Painting Across Marin and San Francisco
McCarthy Painting serves homeowners throughout Marin County, San Francisco, and nearby Bay Area communities.
- Mill Valley
- Tiburon
- Belvedere
- Sausalito
- San Rafael
- San Anselmo
- Fairfax
- Larkspur
- Corte Madera
- Kentfield
- Ross
- Novato
- Woodacre
- San Francisco
Common Questions About Exterior Painting
How often should a home exterior be repainted in Marin or San Francisco?
Many homes need repainting about every 7 to 12 years, but exposure, siding condition, prep quality, coating choice, and coastal moisture can shift that timeline. A sunny wall, foggy hillside, or salt-air location may need attention sooner.
How do you identify and handle dry rot?
During prep, we look for soft wood, failed trim, damaged siding, open joints, and areas where moisture may be getting in. When we find damage, we explain what needs repair before paint goes on so the new finish is protecting sound material.
How does weather affect exterior painting schedules?
Exterior painting depends on dry surfaces, workable temperatures, and safe conditions. Fog, rain, wind, direct sun, and overnight moisture can affect washing, prep, primer, paint application, and drying time, so we plan around the actual site conditions.
What is different about painting stucco versus wood siding?
Stucco often needs crack prep, patching, masonry-compatible primers, and coatings that can handle movement and moisture. Wood siding and trim need scraping, sanding, caulking, spot priming, and attention to exposed end grain, joints, and repairs.
Do you use elastomeric or weatherproof coatings?
Yes, where they make sense. Elastomeric and waterproofing products can be useful on certain stucco and exposed surfaces, but the right choice depends on the surface, existing coating, moisture conditions, and long-term maintenance goals.
Can you help improve curb appeal before selling or hosting?
Yes. McCarthy Painting can help prioritize the exterior areas that make the biggest visual difference, from siding and trim to doors, railings, decks, and visible touch-up areas.
Are estimates free?
Yes. Use the form below or call (415) 383-2640 to request a free exterior painting estimate.
Ready to Protect and Refresh Your Home’s Exterior?
Tell us a little about your exterior painting project. We will help you think through prep, repairs, coating options, weather timing, and the finish your home needs for long-term curb appeal.
- Exterior repaints, siding, stucco, trim, doors, railings, decks, and repair prep
- Serving Marin County, San Francisco, and the Bay Area
- 55+ years of local painting experience
Request a Free Estimate
Latest Posts
Lead Paint: Why Older Homes Can Poison You
Lead paint in older homes is a toxic paint used before 1978 that can release harmful lead dust or chips, posing serious health risks especially to children and pregnant women. Do you live in a house that was built before 1978? If you said yes, then it might not be...
5 Types of Paint Finishes
Paint finishes describe the level of sheen in paint, from high gloss to flat, affecting durability, cleanability, and how much surface imperfections show and maintenance over time. When it comes to choosing paint for a structure, it’s not enough to choose a particular...
What Factors Affect a Painting Job Estimate?
A painting estimate depends on surface size, prep work, paint quality, coats, surface condition, height or access, and labor. These factors together shape the final price. I’ve been painting houses since 1990 and every painting job always starts with an estimate. Now...