Service
Painting & Stucco in Pasadena & the San Gabriel Valley
Exterior and interior painting and stucco repair, where the prep and finding the water source decide how long the coat lasts.
The short answer
On exterior work across the San Gabriel Valley, the prep decides how long the paint lasts, not the paint. Washing, scraping, caulking, fixing failed stucco, and priming bare spots is the real job. A crew that skips it is selling you two good years. We wash, repair, caulk, prime, then lay two finish coats.
The detailsWhat decides whether it lasts.
Read the stucco cracks before you patch them
There are two kinds of stucco cracks, and they get treated very differently. Hairline cosmetic cracks just need an elastomeric patch and a fresh coat. Cracks that keep coming back are a symptom, usually movement in the structure or water getting into the wood framing behind the stucco. If we paint over the second kind, it opens right back up and the damage keeps spreading where you cannot see it. So we find out which one you have first.
Dark streaks and bubbling mean water, not paint
Dark streaks under windows, paint that bubbles, and spots that sound hollow when you tap them all point to water getting behind the wall. Fresh paint hides it for a season, then it comes back worse because the wood behind is still wet. The common mistake is painting over a water problem instead of finding it. On the walk we trace the source, fix it, let it dry, and only then patch and coat. That order is the whole game.
Sun and sheen decide how the color holds up
Color on stucco in full valley sun is a practical choice, not just a look. Dark colors fade faster and hold more heat, so a wall that faces the afternoon sun ages quicker than a shaded one. Inside, the sheen has to suit the room, flatter on ceilings, something washable in kitchens and baths. Any repair or new drywall gets primed first so it does not flash, that dull patch where the sheen goes uneven. We prime bare spots so the finish reads the same across the whole wall.
By cityPainting & Stucco near you.
We also cover Sierra Madre, Monrovia, Alhambra, Temple City, La Crescenta, Bradbury. Call for those areas.
QuestionsPainting & Stucco, answered.
Why does our exterior paint keep peeling after a few years?
Almost always because the prep was rushed. If a crew paints over dirty, chalky, or damp stucco without washing, scraping, and priming the bare spots, the new coat has nothing solid to grip. It looks fine at first, then lets go. Good prep is slow and boring, and it is what makes paint last.
Do we have to fix stucco cracks before painting?
The hairline ones, yes, an elastomeric patch and coat handles them. But if a crack keeps returning, painting over it wastes your money. That kind means movement or water behind the wall, and we find and fix the cause first. Otherwise the crack reopens and the trouble spreads out of sight.
My house is from the 1960s. Does the age change anything?
It can. Homes built before 1978 may have lead paint, which changes how we prep, contain the dust, and dispose of the scrapings. It is a safety step, not an upsell. We check for it before we start disturbing old coats, and we handle the containment properly so nobody in the house is breathing it.
ReviewsWhat clients say.
Hired Mike and his crew to redo our entire backyard and driveway. Removal of the asphalt and existing landscaping, running water lines and electrical, artificial grass, plant borders, a paver driveway, raised the patio gazebo, added a paver patio, landscaped borders, irrigation and outdoor lighting.
Teri CraftLocal Guide · 33 reviewsFrom start to finish the job was handled with the utmost professionalism and attention to detail. What stood out most was their communication. Mr. Ward kept me informed every step of the way.
Angela Adams5 reviewsMKW Homes just painted our home. We are very satisfied with the work. During the process everything was clean and organized.
Jake Baloian3 reviewsMike and his crew were great. They did a wonderful job on the stucco patching and painting, and we were very pleased with the results.
Jen B1 reviewHired Mike and his crew to redo our entire backyard and driveway. Removal of the asphalt and existing landscaping, running water lines and electrical, artificial grass, plant borders, a paver driveway, raised the patio gazebo, added a paver patio, landscaped borders, irrigation and outdoor lighting.
Teri CraftLocal Guide · 33 reviewsFrom start to finish the job was handled with the utmost professionalism and attention to detail. What stood out most was their communication. Mr. Ward kept me informed every step of the way.
Angela Adams5 reviewsMKW Homes just painted our home. We are very satisfied with the work. During the process everything was clean and organized.
Jake Baloian3 reviewsMike and his crew were great. They did a wonderful job on the stucco patching and painting, and we were very pleased with the results.
Jen B1 review