Paint protects sound material. It does not repair material that has failed. The quick test is to push a screwdriver into the wood or look closely at the surface: if it is solid, paint or stain will add years, and if it is soft, crumbling or loose, it has to be repaired or replaced first.
Price ranges on this page are national figures published by HomeGuide for 2026. They are not our quotes. Local labor, paint prices and the condition of your own surfaces move the number up or down. Last checked October 2026.
Should I paint or replace my kitchen cabinets?
Paint them if the boxes are solid and you like the layout. Replace them if the boxes are water damaged, the shelves sag, or you want a different layout.
By the national figures, painting costs $2,000 to $6,500 and full replacement costs $4,500 to $15,000. See our cabinet painting questions page for oak, laminate and thermofoil.
Is it cheaper to paint or replace old siding?
Painting is cheaper when the siding is sound. HomeGuide compares the two for vinyl: painting $1,500 to $5,000 against replacing $4,800 to $11,100. For aluminum it gives painting $1,500 to $7,000 against replacing $6,300 to $20,100.
No such comparison is published for wood, stucco or brick. For those, the question is condition, not price. Paint over failed siding is money spent twice.
My wood siding is faded, cracked and 30 years old. Paint or replace?
Paint it if the boards are still hard. Faded and finely cracked wood siding is normal after decades of Utah sun, and it can be washed, scraped, primed and painted.
Replace boards that are cupped, split through or soft. Hardboard siding from the 1970s and 1980s, common in the valley, is a special case: once the bottom edges have swelled and gone fuzzy, those boards do not recover. A mix is usual. We replace the bad boards and paint the whole wall.
My wood siding has some rot. Do I paint it or replace it first?
Deal with the rot first. Paint over rot traps moisture and the damage keeps spreading under the new coat.
Find out why it rotted too. Here the cause is usually a sprinkler hitting the wall, snow piled against the house, a leaking gutter or bare end grain. Small spots can be cut out and filled. Larger areas get new boards, primed on all sides before they go up.
My trim is soft and rotting. Fill and paint, or new trim?
Fill it if the soft part is small and the rest of the piece is solid. Replace the piece if the rot runs along its length or goes deep.
Window sills, the bottom of door frames, fascia ends and garage door trim are where we find it most. These spots hold snow melt and get the hardest sun. New trim should be primed on every face and cut end before it is fitted.
Can a painter patch dry rot with epoxy or do I need a carpenter?
A painter can patch small areas with a two-part epoxy wood filler after digging out the soft wood and treating what is left with a hardener. That is a lasting repair for a sill corner or a small section of trim.
You need a carpenter when the rot is structural: a porch post, a beam, framing behind the siding or a whole window frame. Tell us what you have seen and we will say which it is when we visit.
My deck boards are grey and splintering. Stain or replace?
Stain them if they are grey but solid. Replace the ones that splinter badly, cup or feel soft. Grey is only the sun-damaged surface and washes or sands off.
Decks dry out fast in our climate, and boards that were never sealed crack along the grain. Check the frame as well. If the joists and posts are sound, a few new boards plus stain is good value. If the frame is failing, new stain is wasted. HomeGuide lists deck repairs at $100 to $750.
My aluminum siding is chalky. Paint it or cover it?
Paint it. Chalky aluminum siding is one of the better surfaces to repaint. The chalk is the old factory finish breaking down in the sun, and it washes off.
Once it is clean and any bare metal is primed, acrylic paint bonds well and lasts. Many 1960s and 1970s homes in West Valley City, Taylorsville and Bountiful have it. Covering it with new siding costs far more and is only worth it if the panels are badly dented.
Is a 20-year-old deck worth painting or staining?
A 20-year-old deck is worth staining if the structure passes a check: firm posts, solid joists, tight railings and no soft boards. Age alone does not decide it.
On an old deck a solid-color stain hides weathering and gives the most protection. If more than a few boards and any part of the frame need replacing, get a price for rebuilding before you spend on finish.
A free estimate with a written quote is the only way to get a real price for your job. Call or text (801) 618-4881.