Read the surface before picking a product
Moisture behind the siding, chalking, failed caulk lines, and sun exposure are what actually dictate preparation and coating choice.
What a full scope includes
- Existing conditions and likely cause
- Preparation and protection
- Materials, compatibility, and installation details
- Permits, testing, cleanup, and restoration
- Exclusions, warranty terms, and change-order process
Durham context
Durham's climate and canopy make this a preparation problem rather than a product one. Humid summers and dense mature tree cover keep siding damp long after rain, so the recurring failure on north-facing and shaded elevations is mildew rather than fading -- and coating over it seals the problem under the new film instead of solving it. The housing stock then decides how involved the preparation becomes. The nineteenth-century districts and the early streetcar neighborhoods carry old wood substrates with many coating layers, and in housing of that age those layers may be lead-bearing, which governs how surfaces are allowed to be prepared. Postwar ranches raise a different question, since painting previously unpainted masonry is close to irreversible and traps moisture in an assembly built to dry outward. Rolling lots contribute splash-back at grade, where siding fails first.