Cost to replace a exterior repaint (per side / quadrant) in a short-term rental

$800–$3000 typical range. 8-year lifespan under STR conditions.

What you actually pay to repaint one side of the exterior

Honest range per side / quadrant: $800-3,000. Materials alone (paint + primer): $150-400. Labor: $600-2,500 depending on prep, height, and access. Full exterior (4 sides): $3,500-12,000.

A single side of a typical 1,800 sq ft 2-story home: $1,200-1,800. A small bungalow side: $800-1,200. A 3-story Victorian side with detail trim: $2,500-3,000+.

Why exterior repaint is multi-day, multi-trade

Exterior paint is not a 1-day DIY project, even for a single side. The realistic timeline:

• Day 1: Power wash + dry
• Day 2: Scrape failed paint, prime bare spots, caulk seams
• Day 3: First coat (full side)
• Day 4: Second coat + trim detail

That’s 4 days of dry weather minimum. Most homeowners attempting DIY get rain-interrupted on day 2 or 3 and ruin the prep work.

For STR, exterior repaint is pro-only. The cost of mis-applied exterior paint (peels in 2 yr) far exceeds the labor savings of DIY.

Power washing is the critical step

90% of exterior paint failures trace to inadequate prep. Dirty/mildewed surface = paint doesn’t bond = peels in 18-24 months.

The minimum prep:

• Pressure wash with mildewcide solution
• 48-hour dry
• Scrape any peeling paint to bare surface
• Spot-prime bare wood with oil-based primer
• Caulk all open seams (windows, trim, siding joints)

Contractors who skip the dry time or mildewcide are setting up a callback in year 2. Get this in writing before signing.

Paint quality matters more outside than inside

Exterior paint failures show up dramatically — peeling, fading, chalking. The price delta between mid and premium paint is dwarfed by the labor cost of a re-do.

Skip: Behr exterior, Glidden exterior, store-brand “exterior” paint. 4-6 yr life in moderate climates.

Default: Sherwin-Williams SuperPaint ($55-65/gal). 10-year life in moderate climates. The mid-grade pro default.

Premium: Sherwin-Williams Duration ($75-95/gal) or Benjamin Moore Aura Exterior ($80-100/gal). 15-25 yr life. Always specify in STR — the labor cost is the constraint, not the paint cost.

A 1,800 sq ft home uses 15-20 gallons. Premium-tier delta over mid: $300-500 over the whole job. Worth it to extend repaint cycle 5+ yr.

What to actually buy / spec

Paint: Sherwin-Williams Duration in a satin or low-gloss exterior finish. Color: match existing or shift to a neutral that hides wear (mid-tone grays, soft greiges, deep colonials).

Primer: Zinsser Cover Stain oil-based for bare wood. Don’t let the contractor primer-skip on bare spots.

Caulk: Sherwin-Williams Sherma 35-yr siliconized acrylic. $8-12/tube. 4-8 tubes per side.

Trim color contrast: white trim against a body color photographs as “well-maintained.” Match-color trim photographs as “neglected.” For STR, always have crisp trim.

Climate considerations

• Humid coastal (FL, GA, SC): mildew-resistant paint mandatory. Add 10% to paint cost.
• Sun-intense (AZ, NV, NM): UV-resistant paint mandatory. Premium-tier only.
• Freeze-thaw (CO, MN, MI): elastomeric paint at problem spots (stucco). $80-110/gal.
• Wet (PNW): mold-inhibitor additive. Standard premium paints handle it.

Permit + HOA requirements

• Some HOAs require pre-approval of paint colors. Allow 2-4 weeks for HOA submission.
• Historic districts (Charleston, Savannah, much of New England) require formal historic-paint-color approval. 4-8 week timeline + $50-200 fees.
• Commercial-permit jurisdictions: scaffolding over 30 ft requires permit.

Lifespan math

Signs it’s time

• Visible fade on the south-facing side
• Chalking (white powder when you rub the surface)
• Hairline cracks in the paint film
• Peeling at any seam or trim
• Mildew that returns after washing
• Paint is 8+ yr old in harsh climates

Related tools

• Maintenance schedule generator
• Damage cost lookup
• Interior repaint

FAQ

Last verified 2026-05-08.