Salt Lake Valley houses are mostly brick, stucco and wood, with aluminum siding on many mid-century homes and fiber cement on newer ones. Vinyl siding is here but is less common than in the East. Each wall type needs its own prep and paint.
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.
Is painting brick a bad idea, and does it trap moisture?
It can be. Ordinary paint on brick can trap moisture inside the wall. When that moisture freezes, the face of the brick can flake off, and our winters bring many freeze and thaw cycles.
Old, soft brick is at most risk. Salt Lake City's historic preservation guidance says unpainted historic masonry should stay unpainted for this reason. Newer, hard-fired brick in good repair handles paint much better, as long as a breathable masonry product is used and the mortar is sound first.
Should I paint my brick or leave it natural?
Leave it natural if the brick is in good shape and you can live with the color. Unpainted brick needs almost no upkeep. Once you paint your brick, you have a surface to repaint for good. HomeGuide lists acrylic paint on brick as lasting 3 to 5 years.
If you want a change, limewash or a mineral-based coating lets the wall breathe. HomeGuide lists limewash at 5 to 7 years and mineral-based coatings at 20 years or more. Brick that was already painted years ago can be repainted. Nationally, painting brick costs $1.50 to $4.50 per square foot.
Can you paint stucco, and what paint sticks to it?
Yes, you can paint stucco, and it takes paint well. Use a 100% acrylic masonry paint, or an elastomeric coating where there are many fine cracks. Both stretch a little and let moisture out.
Stucco is the usual wall on valley homes built since the 1990s. Wash it gently, since high pressure damages the finish. New stucco must cure before painting. Nationally, painting stucco costs $1.00 to $5.50 per square foot, and elastomeric coating adds $900 to $2,000 on a 2,000 square foot house over acrylic.
Do hairline cracks in stucco need fixing first?
Yes. Hairline cracks in stucco should be filled or bridged before painting, or water gets in and the crack shows through the new paint.
Very fine cracks are bridged by a brush-grade elastomeric patch or the coating itself. Wider cracks are opened, filled with a flexible masonry sealant and textured to match. Cracks that keep growing, or that follow a stair-step line, should be looked at for movement before any paint.
How often does stucco need painting?
Stucco needs painting every 5 to 7 years by the national published figure. A well-prepped job in a good acrylic can go longer.
Here the south and west walls fade first, and sprinklers leave white mineral marks on the bottom few feet. Turning the sprinkler heads away from the house does a lot for the life of the paint.
What paint is best on wood siding, and will paint fix dry cracked wood?
A top-grade 100% acrylic over primer is best on wood siding. Paint protects sound wood. It will not fix dry, cracked wood by itself.
Our sun and dry air pull moisture out of wood, and boards check and split along the grain. Small checks are sanded, primed and caulked or filled before paint. Boards that are split through, cupped or soft are replaced. Bare wood that has gone grey must be sanded to bright wood first. Nationally, painting wood siding costs $1.50 to $5.00 per square foot and lasts 3 to 7 years.
Can you paint aluminum siding?
Yes. Aluminum siding repaints very well. The old finish turns chalky in the sun, and once that chalk is washed off and bare metal is primed, acrylic paint bonds tightly.
Dents stay visible, so a lower sheen is kinder. Nationally it costs $1 to $4 per square foot to paint aluminum siding, and the published lifespan of the paint is 5 to 10 years.
Can you paint vinyl siding?
Yes, you can paint vinyl siding that is clean and in sound condition. It needs a paint labeled as safe for vinyl, which is an acrylic made to flex as the panels move with heat and cold.
Vinyl is less common on Salt Lake homes than brick, stucco or aluminum, but it is on many additions, dormers and townhomes. Nationally it costs $1 to $3 per square foot to paint.
Can vinyl siding be painted a darker color, or will it warp?
Only with care. A much darker color makes vinyl absorb more heat, and it can warp or buckle. That risk is real in the strong sun at this altitude.
Stay with a color no darker than the original, or use a paint line made in vinyl-safe darker colors that reflect heat. South and west walls matter most.
Does painting vinyl siding void the warranty?
It can. Some siding makers say that painting voids or limits the warranty, and some allow it with approved colors. We cannot tell you what your warranty says.
Find the brand and read the warranty, or call the maker, before you paint. On siding old enough that the warranty has run out, it no longer matters.
How much to paint a cedar shingle house?
No national figure is published for cedar shingles alone. HomeGuide gives wood siding as $1.50 to $5.00 per square foot, and shingles sit toward the slower end of that kind of work because of their texture and many edges.
Cedar shingle and shake walls are not common in the valley, but they appear on gables, canyon homes and some custom houses in Holladay and Olympus Cove. Cedar usually does better with stain than with paint. We price it after seeing the wall.
Can fiber cement siding be painted?
Yes. Fiber cement holds paint longer than wood. The published lifespan for paint on it is 10 to 15 years. It is common in Daybreak and other newer neighborhoods.
The weak points are the joints and cut ends, which need caulk and paint kept up. Wash, re-caulk and use a good acrylic.
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.