Exterior Painting · Pasadena, CA
Exterior House Painting in Pasadena
Exterior painting in Pasadena costs $3.50 to $7 per painted square foot, or $4,000 to $8,500 for a Craftsman bungalow and $7,000 to $13,000 for a two-story home. On Pasadena's older housing stock the prep — scraping, stucco patching, caulking and priming — is what determines whether the finish lasts three years or ten.
What a real Pasadena exterior quote includes
- Power washing to remove chalking, dirt and loose material
- Scraping and sanding failed paint back to a sound edge
- On pre-1978 homes, lead-safe containment and HEPA cleanup by an EPA RRP–certified contractor
- Stucco crack repair and texture matching, wood repair where needed
- Caulking at joints, trim, windows and penetrations
- Primer on all bare and repaired substrate
- Two finish coats of premium exterior acrylic
- Written workmanship warranty on completion
If a competing bid does not list these separately, the gap between the two prices is almost always prep — not paint.
Exterior cost by home type
| Home type | Exterior repaint |
|---|---|
| Craftsman bungalow, 1,000–1,500 sq ft | $4,000–$8,500 |
| Spanish or stucco single-story, 1,500–2,000 sq ft | $5,000–$9,500 |
| Two-story, 2,000–3,000 sq ft | $7,000–$13,000 |
| Large or hillside home, 3,000+ sq ft | $15,000–$25,000+ |
Full Pasadena painting cost breakdown →
What federal lead-safe rules mean for a pre-1978 Pasadena home
Most of Pasadena's single-family housing predates 1978, which places exterior repaints under the EPA's Renovation, Repair and Painting (RRP) rule. The rule calls for ground containment, controlled scraping and HEPA cleanup rather than open sanding into the yard, performed by a certified contractor. That adds hours, and it belongs on the quote as its own line item.
Ask every bidder for their EPA RRP certification before work starts. A bid that is thousands cheaper and silent on lead handling is not the same scope of work — and on a house built in 1915, that difference lands in your soil and your window wells.
Historic districts: color is your choice
Paint colors and stains are exempt from Certificate of Appropriateness review in Pasadena's landmark and historic districts outside the Central District. A contributing home in Bungalow Heaven, Garfield Heights or Madison Heights can be repainted in the color you want without design review. What triggers review is physical alteration — replacing siding, windows or architectural details — which needs a Certificate of Appropriateness before a permit is issued. If prep uncovers rotted siding or a failed window sash, we flag it before the work proceeds. HOA palettes, where they exist, are separate from city rules.
How often Pasadena homes need repainting
Stucco in this climate typically holds seven to ten years; wood siding on an older bungalow is closer to five to seven, and south and west elevations always go first. Chalking that comes off on your hand, hairline cracking, and fascia that has started to check are the signals it is due. More on stucco repaint intervals →
Timeline
A single-story exterior typically runs three to five working days including prep. Two stories run five to eight. Heavy scraping or carpentry on a century-old home adds time, and we scope it into the quote instead of raising it mid-project.
Answers
Exterior Painting in Pasadena — FAQ
How much does exterior painting cost in Pasadena?
How often should a Pasadena house be repainted?
Do pre-1978 Pasadena homes need lead-safe painting?
Do I need approval to repaint in a Pasadena historic district?
How long does an exterior repaint take?
Do you repair stucco cracks before painting?
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