New Ideas, Old Fashion Service
We were hired to do the first repaint of this Hardie Board house since it was built. The owners wanted a fresh colour scheme with more impact. They choose a deep blue for the siding and a soft, warm yellow for the accent in the gables. The trim work was repainted in the same bright white.
We did a complete repaint of this house exterior which included the Hardie Board siding, trim work and doors. The owners liked the earthy tones that the house was originally painted with so they had us repaint with similar colours. The brown shades work well with the brick on the front of the house.
The only change we made was bumping up the trim work and door colour to a slightly darker brown so that it gave it more contrast with the body of the house.
Take a look at this exterior transformation! An extensive amount of scraping, sanding and priming was required to get the cedar siding looking good again. Unfortunately it was left far too long in between paint jobs. The new dark green colour looks fantastic, it’s completely changed the look of the house.
Painting your home’s exterior isn’t just about appearance — it’s an essential part of house maintenance. Exterior paint acts as a protective barrier against the elements, shielding your home from moisture, UV rays, and temperature fluctuations.
Here in Nanaimo on Vancouver Island, our homes endure west coast conditions, including harsh UV exposure, salty ocean air, driving rain, and winter storms — all of which wear down paint over time. Ignoring exterior maintenance can lead to costly repairs later.
There’s no one-size-fits-all answer to how often a home needs repainting — it depends on your climate, paint quality, and surface materials. On average, most homes in British Columbia need a repaint every 8 to 12 years, but many factors can affect that timeline.
Delaying even a couple of years beyond the ideal repainting window often leads to more prep work, higher costs, and potential damage. A simple rule of thumb: if your paint looks dull, faded, or shows early signs of wear, schedule a professional inspection or repaint before damage sets in.
Regular exterior painting maintains your home’s beauty, preserves siding integrity, and protects your investment for years to come.
Several key factors determine how long exterior paint lasts:
Homes here in Nanaimo on Vancouver Island face fluctuating temperatures, heavy rainfall, winter storms, and salty ocean air. Siding and trim on the south and west-facing sides of homes tend to degrade faster and north-facing sides are prone to mildew. Proximity to the ocean can also accelerate wear, often requiring earlier maintenance due to salt exposure and humidity.
High humidity and frequent temperature changes cause wood to expand and contract, putting stress on paint films and caulking. Over time, this movement creates cracks that allow water to penetrate, leading to rot, mildew, and peeling paint.
Because of these local conditions, homes in Nanaimo and other West Coast communities need regular inspections, maintenance, and touch-ups to prevent small issues from turning into costly repairs. It’s essential to use premium exterior paints that can stand up to our coastal climate and to hire experienced local painters familiar with applying paints in our Vancouver Island weather patterns.
Don’t wait too late in the season to book your exterior painting — Nanaimo’s painting season is short, typically running from May through September.
Each exterior material weathers differently:
A common sign of aging paint is chalking – a powdery residue caused by sun, moisture and oxidation. Test by wiping a dark cloth on the surface; a light film indicates chalking but don’t get confused with dirt or dust. Severe chalking signals the paint is near the end of its life. Manufacturer warranties don’t cover this chalking, it is not a product failure. Regular cleaning can help slow this process and keep your home’s finish looking fresh for longer.
Watch for these indicators:
Staying on top of maintenance prolongs paint life and prevents moisture damage, rot, and higher repair costs.
Even high-quality paint won’t perform as intended if applied incorrectly.
Painting in extreme temperatures, high humidity, or direct hot sun can lead to peeling, blistering, or poor adhesion. Skipping preparation steps — cleaning, scraping, sanding, or priming — prevents proper bonding.
Exterior paint needs the right conditions to cure and protect your home effectively. Hiring professional painters who understand these variables ensures long-lasting results and helps you avoid costly repainting far sooner than expected.
Delaying repainting doesn’t save money. Once siding and trim deteriorate, damage accelerates.
Replacing damaged fascia boards or trim, especially in upper storeys, can be far more expensive than a timely paint job. Regular repainting keeps your home protected and prevents costly repairs down the road.
Don’t assume new homes are fully protected. We see new construction houses that are clearly in need of another coat of paint. Many builders apply just one thin coat of low-quality paint leaving surfaces vulnerable to premature fading and wear, especially on fascia boards and trim work. Even two coats of builder-grade paint may fail to protect your home long-term. A professional repaint within the first few years ensures lasting protection and curb appeal.
A well-maintained home with a high-quality paint job shows that it’s been cared for. Quality paint increases curb appeal and can improve the resale value of your home. Realtors often request painting estimates as negotiation strategy, and buyers may be discouraged if a home appears neglected. Paint is a cost-effective way to make your home move-in ready.
Even without the need to repaint, changing your exterior colour can refresh your home and boost curb appeal. A new scheme is a cost-effective alternative to remodeling, highlighting architectural features and softening less attractive areas. Inspiration from other homes can guide your choices for a cohesive, appealing look.
Painting an exterior is a daunting task for homeowners. Painting professionals understand paint coatings and apply them with the proper techniques to ensure a high-quality finish that protects your home from the elements, and saves you time and effort. They also understand how to work safely and efficiently, especially on multi-storey homes or hard-to-reach areas.
Key benefits:
Paint sheen refers to how much light reflects off a painted surface — essentially its the level of shine or lack of it. The higher the sheen, the more reflective and glossy the surface appears.
Choosing the right paint sheen is important not only from a design perspective, it plays a role in the durability and ease of cleaning. Depending on the sheen level it can also hide or highlight surface imperfections.
Sheen levels can vary between manufacturers. One brand’s eggshell might look closer to another’s satin. There are no industry rules that have to be adhered to. To make it more confusing some brands use alternate names like low luster or velvet. Ask your painter or paint store for guidance on how each brand defines its sheens.
Most paint sheens are available for interior or exterior use. Here are some of the options in order of the paint starting with no sheen and ending with the highest sheen paint called gloss.
A true flat paint has no visible sheen and therefore no reflection. It’s great at concealing surface imperfections. Painters will often seek out a “dead flat” paint for ceiling application to avoid any reflection from lights. Some brand’s paint that is labeled “flat” is not a true flat and has a minimal amount of sheen to it. Flat sheen paints are forgiving when it comes to touch-ups. They can easily mark, are not very washable and tend to hold onto stains.
Matte paints have a touch of sheen and a velvety finish favoured by interior decorators. It can help to conceal imperfections on less than perfect walls.
Advances in paint technology have allowed washable matte paints into the market, but they still won’t hold up as well as comparable quality eggshell sheen paint.
Eggshell or low lustre is a step up in sheen from matte, but lower than satin or pearl. From straight viewing there’s not much difference visually between matte and eggshell, but from even a slight angle you can see the higher reflection of an eggshell surface.
Eggshell sheen is the go-to for interior walls, it offers the best balance between appearance and practicality for cleaning. There are some very durable eggshell sheen paints on the market today.
Satin or pearl finishes are ideal for trim, doors and mouldings. They highlight architectural details with a soft glow, providing contrast next to matte or eggshell walls. Not the best option for walls, it will highlight a lot of imperfections, but are easier to clean.
Semi-gloss has a fair bit of reflection, good resistance to dirt and scuff marks and is easy to clean. Imperfections will be strongly highlighted. It’s diminished in popularity for trim work and doors in favour of lower, but still durable finishes like satin and pearl.
High gloss is extremely reflective. It’s used for statement piece furniture and occasionally cabinets and doors where a mirror like finish is desired. Surfaces must be flawlessly prepared or every imperfection will show. The paint needs to be sprayed or every brush mark and roller pass will be noticeable.
Interior sheen choices ultimately come down to a blend of personal preference and room use.
Lower sheen options are available for walls today thanks to modern technology that has created washable formulas like Benjamin Moore Ulti-matte and Aura Bath & Spa.
This room features eggshell walls paired with semi-gloss trim. The soft wall finish contrasts beautifully with the higher sheen on the trim, highlighting details and adding depth through reflected light.
This all white interior has matte paint on the walls, a subtle distinction is made between the two surfaces by using satin sheen on the baseboards and trim. The satin sheen also provides the trim with extra durability.
A flat wall sheen combined with pearl sheen on trim and doors creates a refined, low-reflection look that complements the modern and and minimalist decor of this home’s interior.
In this ranch-style home, eggshell walls are paired with pearl sheen trim to achieve durability without the high reflection of semi-gloss. It gives the home a balanced, soft finish that highlights the trim without drawing too much attention.
When choosing the sheen for exterior painting it is important to think about the practical considerations and not just the aesthetics.
All things being equal, higher sheen paints have properties that are more favourable for exterior surfaces. If you desire the look of a lower sheen paint there are options available, but make sure it’s a premium paint that is specifically formulated for durability, dirt and stain resistance. Regardless of sheen you want an exterior paint with UV protectants and mildew and mold resistance.
For this home, the decorator chose a flat sheen paint for the siding to achieve a soft, non-reflective look that shows the paint colour more accurately, similar to how it appears on a swatch. A premium flat paint was used, but regardless it will be more prone to scuffs and dirt retention than a comparable quality paint in a higher sheen. Looking down the siding you can see there is no visible reflection.
This home is painted in a dark blue satin sheen. The benefit of this high-quality satin sheen paint is the excellent dirt and stain resistance, making it ideal for durability and cleaning. The trade-off is that its reflection emphasizes surface texture of the James Hardie siding which some homeowners may prefer to avoid.
The brown siding on this home has a noticeably glossy reflection, even when viewed straight on. This shows how paint sheen levels differ between manufacturers. Although labeled as satin, this product has a higher sheen closer to semi-gloss, creating a slightly “plastic” appearance.
This modular home features James Hardie board siding painted in a satin sheen and wood trim finished with a flatter stain. The satin paint adds a subtle touch of sheen and durability, while the low-sheen trim provides a natural, softer contrast. Note that satin finishes can vary by brand—in this case, the satin paint has a lower sheen than typical, offering a more understated look.
Exterior doors are often painted in a satin sheen to create a bold, durable finish that stands out against lower-sheen siding. A high-quality satin paint provides excellent scuff resistance, easy cleaning, and long-lasting protection—perfect for frequently used doors exposed to the elements.
The Hardie board siding and trim of this house were painted with a flat sheen paint. The builder specified flat sheen to avoid unwanted glare that could detract from the home’s architectural details.
Many homeowners prefer a low-sheen or stained finish on textured materials like cedar shingles. Higher-sheen paints can highlight uneven textures, which some find unappealing. A flat stain gives a natural, subdued look that enhances the wood’s character while minimizing glare and visual distraction.
This modern-style farmhouse exterior is painted entirely white in a satin sheen paint. It’s a large house and if it was a dark colour the satin sheen could be overwhelmingly glossy. The satin sheen is not as noticeable in a light colour or on the vertical board-and-batten siding compared to horizontal siding. It’s a good sheen choice to repel dirt and moisture, which will help keep this white exterior looking bright and crisp.
Sheen influences how we see paint colours. Higher sheen paints reflect more light, making colours appear more saturated. Flat or matte finishes show colour truer to a paint chip swatch because there’s no reflection to distort it. However, at any given time the lighting conditions and angle of viewing can distort how we see a colour.
Using different sheens on walls and trim can create subtle contrast and highlight architectural details—even when the same colour is used.
The same colour has been used throughout the room below in matte sheen for the walls and satin sheen for the trim work. Take note of the reflection on the door trim and how it influences the appearance of the colour.
Dark colours require a lot more tint and pigment which alters the paint formulation and increases the sheen. The sheen also appears more noticeable on darker colours because light reflections stand out against the deeper tones.
This is why deep colours are often painted in flat or matte finishes as was done for the dark chocolate wall in this bedroom, to retain a softer look with less reflection.
This vibrant purple bedroom below was painted with a matte sheen paint. In a higher sheen paint it may have looked garish with too much reflection.
These paint sheen guidelines provide a general overview, but there are exceptions where paint quality affects performance regardless of sheen. It’s easy to assume higher sheen always means better durability and easier cleaning, but that’s not always true. A premium-grade matte paint formulated for washability and durability can outperform a low-quality eggshell.
Some paints have additives that improve their scuff resistance, adhesion, flow and leveling and mold and mildew protection. Always research and choose the right paint type and sheen for your specific surface, conditions and desired finish.
When paint is first applied, the sheen is at its highest and may appear glossier than expected. Acrylic and latex paints continue curing for two to four weeks, dulling slightly as solvents and other components evaporate. Once fully cured, the paint reaches its true, final sheen level.
Over time, all paints experience a gradual loss of sheen—it’s an inevitable part of their lifespan. After a few years, finishes appear duller and flatter due to UV exposure breaking down finish on exteriors and interior rooms with intense sunlight. Exposure to weather, pollutants and abrasion from cleaning all accelerate the process causing the paint film to wear down.
Sheen loss can be reduced by using high-quality paint that resists UV damage and surface wear. Lower-grade products dull more quickly, especially outdoors. Proper surface prep, correct film thickness, and skilled application all help maintain a paint’s original luster longer.
As paint dulls, touch-ups can appear shinier than surrounding areas. During the curing phase, they may blend better, but once paint has fully cured, touch-ups rarely match. Repainting a full wall or section from corner to corner gives a uniform finish.
Most paints need two full coats to achieve even colour and sheen. A single coat can leave thin or uneven coverage, reducing durability and gloss. For example if you’ve chosen satin or eggshell for its washable finish, you may not be getting the full potential of the paint with a one coat application.
We’re a local Nanaimo painting company with over 20 years of experience. As a husband-and-wife team, we take pride in providing personal service and exceptional craftsmanship.
Contact Parnell Painting today by email or phone to schedule a free, no-obligation estimate. We’ll help you bring fresh colour and lasting beauty to your home.
A small change made a big impact to exterior of this cape cod style house. It lacked a sense of cohesiveness. The fascia boards were brown and the front door, window boxes and shutters were blue. We needed to find a way to bring this attractive house up to its full potential. When we looked at the house from a distance it was clear that the roof was the dominant colour that couldn’t be ignored. We picked a dark charcoal paint colour called Iron Ore to use on the fascia boards, the front door, window boxes and the overhead garage doors. It was the perfect compliment to roof shingles and worked well with the brick work next to the front door. The house went from being a wallflower on the street to a classy, eye catching property.
We love the stylish blue-gray colour of this house. It’s one of Benjamin Moore’s historic colours called Templeton Gray. The owner contemplated a change, but opted to have us repaint it in the same colour. Why change what looks great! It had been years since the faded siding looked like the colour it was supposed to be. So the owner still felt like they got a new colour regardless. The trim may be coming across as white in the photos, but it’s actually a light gray that works as a nice compliment to the body colour.
This house looks refreshed after some much needed T.L.C was performed. The trim paint was flaking, peeling and faded. It was scraped and sanded down to a sound surface and then a primer was applied to any bare wood. Scroll down to check out the before and after of the front door!
After a thorough cleaning, some sanding and applying a specialized primer we applied two coats of high quality exterior acrylic paint and the door looks brand new again!
The owners wanted to add contrast to the all white exterior of their home. The roof, gutters, downspouts and soffits were already black so it made sense to paint the trim work and front entry door to match. The classic black and white colour combination has added sophistication and curb appeal.
White walls are definitely not for everyone. After purchasing this house the owners lived with the white walls for a while, but they found it too stark. We were hired to repaint the main level of the home with a soft greige colour from Benjamin Moore colour called Gray Mist. As you can see in the before and after photos the Gray Mist colour is still quite light. The change is not dramatic, but the new wall colour gives the home a feeling of warmth. A splash of colour was added with a dark blue accent wall in the office and a dark chocolate wall in the primary bedroom.
