Boston is a city of wood and brick. Most houses outside the downtown rowhouse districts are wood-frame with clapboard or cedar shingles, and many triple-deckers were covered with aluminum or vinyl siding later. Stucco is less common here, found mostly on Tudor and colonial homes in Brookline, Newton, Belmont and West Roxbury. Each surface takes paint differently.
Price ranges on this page are national figures published by HomeGuide for 2026. They are not our quotes. Boston labor rates, the age of the building and the amount of prep move the number up or down. Last checked October 2026.
What paint is best on wood siding, and will paint fix dry cracked wood?
The best paint for wood siding is a 100% acrylic latex over a primer on any bare wood. Paint will not fix dry, cracked wood. It protects sound wood. Small surface checks can be primed and filled by the paint film. Boards that are split through or cupped are replaced. Wood that has weathered grey is sanded back to fresh wood first, or the new paint peels.
Old Boston clapboard often has many layers of paint. Where the layers are thick and cracked like alligator skin, new paint on top will not last, and those areas need heavier removal under lead-safe rules.
How much does it cost to paint a cedar shingle house?
HomeGuide has no separate table for a cedar shingle house. Its figure for wood siding is $1.50 to $5.00 per square foot, and its general exterior table gives $2,600 to $8,500 for a 2,000 square foot home with 1,700 square feet of paintable wall. Shingles are rough and soak up more product than clapboard, so they take more material and time. Many shingle houses here are stained, not painted, and stain can only be changed to paint, not easily back.
Can you paint vinyl siding?
Yes, you can paint vinyl siding if it is in good condition. It is washed well and painted with an acrylic paint made to bond to vinyl. HomeGuide gives a paint life of 5 to 10 years on vinyl. Cracked, brittle or loose panels should be replaced, not painted.
Can vinyl siding be painted a darker color, or will it warp?
Vinyl siding can warp if it is painted a much darker color with ordinary paint. Dark colors absorb heat, and vinyl buckles when it gets too hot. Paint makers sell vinyl-safe colors that are made to reflect heat, and some darker shades are available in those lines. The safe rule is to stay with the same shade or lighter, or use a color listed as vinyl-safe.
Does painting vinyl siding void the warranty?
It can. Many vinyl siding warranties exclude damage after the siding has been painted, and some are void if it is painted at all. The rule is in the manufacturer's warranty document, so read it before deciding. On siding that is 20 or 30 years old, the warranty may no longer be a factor.
Can you paint aluminum siding?
Yes. Aluminum siding takes paint well when it is prepared properly. The chalky powder is washed off completely, bare metal spots are primed and an acrylic paint is applied. HomeGuide gives a paint life of 5 to 10 years. Paint will not hide dents. A lot of triple-deckers and two-families in Somerville, Everett, Malden and Dorchester still have aluminum siding that can be renewed this way.
Is painting brick a bad idea, and does it trap moisture?
Painting brick can be a bad idea on old buildings, because ordinary paint can trap moisture in the wall. Old Boston brick is soft and set in lime mortar, and it needs to dry to the outside. When moisture is held behind a paint film and then freezes, the paint peels and the brick face can break away. If brick is to be coated, a breathable mineral paint or limewash is the safer choice. HomeGuide gives acrylic latex on brick a life of 3 to 5 years and mineral-based paint 20 years or more.
Should I paint my brick or leave it natural?
Leave it natural if the brick is in good shape. Unpainted brick needs almost no upkeep, and once you paint your brick you have to keep painting it. Removing paint later is costly and hard on the brick. In several Boston historic districts, painting unpainted masonry is not allowed. Brick that is already painted can be repainted. Mismatched or heavily patched brick is the case where a coating makes sense.
Can you paint stucco, and what paint sticks to it?
Yes, you can paint stucco. A quality acrylic masonry paint sticks to it well, and elastomeric paint is used where there are many fine cracks. Stucco must be clean, dry and repaired first, and new stucco has to cure before any coating. HomeGuide notes elastomeric paint costs $900 to $2,000 more than acrylic on a 2,000 square foot house. Stucco is not common in Boston, so we look closely at each house and what is already on it.
Do hairline cracks in stucco need fixing first?
Yes. Hairline cracks in stucco should be filled before painting, because they let water in, and water that freezes in a crack widens it. Fine cracks are bridged with a flexible patch or an elastomeric coat. Wider cracks are opened, filled and textured to match. Cracks that keep growing point to movement or water behind the wall and need a mason.
How often does stucco need painting?
How often stucco needs painting is every 5 to 7 years, by HomeGuide's national figure. In a freeze and thaw climate, the condition of the cracks matters more than the calendar. Check the walls each spring, seal new cracks and repaint when the surface chalks or stains.
A free estimate with a written quote is the only way to get a real price for your job. Call or text (617) 553-6484.