Record what you're seeing
Note the location, timing, any weather pattern, and prior repairs. A few photos and simple measurements help right away.
Read the local context
The useful preparation here is diagnostic rather than decorative. Walk the elevations and note where the existing coating is failing, because on a shaded Durham lot the north and tree-covered sides tell a completely different story from the sunny ones, and they need different preparation rather than the same second coat. Establish the age of the house and what is underneath the current finish, which in the older districts can include layers that change how the surface may legally be prepared. And check what the siding sits on near grade, where failures usually start.
Ask what will be hidden
Moisture behind the siding, chalking, failed caulk lines, and sun exposure are what actually dictate preparation and coating choice. The scope in writing should cover prep and verification steps that vanish once work wraps.
Compare scopes in full
Look for protection, access, materials, permits, testing, cleanup, restoration, exclusions, warranty, and change-order rules.
What official local sources add
This is the trade where local historic designation most often reaches an ordinary maintenance decision: on a designated property, changes visible from the street can be reviewable, and that can extend to material and finish on trim, porches and siding. Flood guidance has nothing to say about paint. What decides longevity is the North Carolina climate acting on preparation — humid summers and dense tree canopy keep siding damp long after rain, so recurring mildew on shaded elevations is the problem to solve rather than the color.
Reviewed in 2026, flood zone, historic designation, and permit requirements should still be confirmed with Durham County for the specific parcel.