Dublin Exterior Painting: When’s the Best Time?
When to book, month by month, and the weather rules for each day.
Exterior house painting · Dublin & Wicklow
Exterior House Painting in Dublin & Wicklow
Rain, wind and salt air are hard on a house. We clean, repair and prime every surface before a breathable masonry or exterior wood finish goes on, so the paint keeps the weather out instead of trapping it in.
- Quoted after we see the house
- Render, pebble dash, brick and timber
- Windows, paths and plants protected
Exterior painting at a glance
- What we paint
- Render, smooth masonry, pebble dash, brick and stone, plus windows, doors, fascias, soffits and bargeboards.
- How it starts
- A fungicidal wash, then repairs to cracked render, flaking paint and rotten timber before anything is primed.
- Paints we use
- Breathable trade masonry and exterior wood ranges from Dulux, Fleetwood, Colourtrend, Farrow & Ball and Little Greene, chosen surface by surface.
- When
- Late spring to early autumn gives the longest dry spells. We judge each day by the walls as well as the forecast.
- Where
- Dublin, Wicklow, Bray, Greystones, Kilcoole, Celbridge and nearby areas.
- Your quote
- Written after a site visit, listing the preparation, products, coats and access.
Why preparation comes first
Why exterior paint fails on Irish houses
Irish walls are wet for much of the year. Water gets in through hairline cracks in render, open joints around windows and paint that has lost its grip. Once it is behind the paint film it pushes the coating off from inside, and in winter it freezes and opens the cracks wider.
Most of what looks like paint failure is preparation failure: green algae painted over instead of killed, chalky render coated without a stabiliser, or a plastic-like paint on an old solid wall that needs to breathe. A new coat on top of any of those starts failing on the day it goes on.
That is why most of the time on our exterior jobs goes into the surface, not the colour, and why two quotes for the same house can be so far apart. Our weather-proofing guide goes into the detail.
Surfaces
What our exterior house painting covers
Every surface on the outside of a house needs its own preparation and its own paint. These are the ones we paint most, and what each one needs before the colour goes on.
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Render and smooth masonry
Washed down, cracks raked out and filled, chalky patches stabilised, then two coats of breathable masonry paint. Our masonry paint guide compares the products.
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Pebble dash and roughcast
The texture hides cracks and holds algae. It takes far more paint than smooth render, worked into every hollow so there are no gaps for water to get behind.
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Brick, stone and period walls
Older solid walls need to breathe, so they get mineral or silicone paints that let moisture out rather than a coating that seals it in. See how we approach a period façade.
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Windows and frames
Sanded back to sound wood, rot cut out and repaired, bare timber primed and joints sealed before a flexible exterior finish goes on. More in our guide to exterior wood paint.
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Front and back doors
Taken back to a sound, keyed surface, filled and primed where bare, then finished in a hard-wearing exterior gloss or satin in the colour you choose.
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Fascias, soffits and bargeboards
Usually the most weathered timber on the house and the hardest to reach. Cleaned, keyed and painted from ladders, a tower or scaffolding, depending on the height.
How a job runs
Our exterior painting process
A lasting finish is mostly preparation. This is the order every exterior job runs in.
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Survey and quote
We walk round the house with you, check the render, timber and old paint, and agree colours, access and a start date. The written quote lists each step below.
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Protect
Windows, doors, paths, plants and garden features are covered or masked before any washing or scraping starts.
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Deep clean
Moss, algae and dirt come off with an eco-friendly fungicidal wash, given time to work, so the new paint bonds to the wall and not to what is growing on it.
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Repair
Loose and flaking paint is scraped back, cracks are raked out and filled, chalky areas are stabilised and rotten timber is cut out and repaired.
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Prime
Bare and repaired areas get a primer matched to the topcoat, so the system works as one. Our exterior primer guide explains why that matters.
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Two finish coats
Breathable masonry paint on the walls and a flexible exterior finish on the woodwork, applied only on days dry and warm enough for it to cure.
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Walkthrough
We take up the coverings, clear the site and walk round the finished house with you before we call the job done.
What our customers say
5.0
Read all reviews on Google (opens in a new tab)Reviews appear as written on our Google Business Profile. The ones about this kind of work come first.
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I can not reccomend Radu and Sergei highly enough. They are efficient, professional, polite and have amazing attention to detail. Nothing is a problem! They have done inside and outside of our home to perfection, and we would not use any other painter…. Thanks again to you both, Siobhan and Jeff
Siobhán Kieran Google review, August 2026 -
S&R Paint did an incredible job on our home, and the overall quality is outstanding. The finish has held up wonderfully against the humid Irish weather with zero issues over time! Communication was seamless throughout, and you can truly see how much craftsmanship matters to the team. We’ll definitely be reaching out to them again for our next project. Highly recommend!
Alexandr Osinschii Google review, August 2026 -
Seirghei and Radu just finished painting the exterior of our home, it was in an awful state after 8 years of various work and delays. We’re delighted with the service, they were reasonably priced, flexible on timing and did an excellent job. We’re genuinely delighted with the result. Highly recommend and will be in touch when we need to paint the interior or for the next time the outside needs to be done.
Lauren Conlyn Google review, May 2026 -
The guys did an amazing job. The quality of their workmanship was fantastic and both were gentlemen to deal with. I would recommend highly.
David Van den Bergh Google review, August 2026
Before the paint
Exterior problems we fix before we paint
What you can see from the street is usually a sign of something underneath. This is what each one means and what we do about it.
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Peeling and flaking paint
- What you see
- Paint lifting in sheets, often under windowsills and near the ground.
- What we do
- We find where the water is getting in and deal with that first, then scrape back to a firm edge, feather it smooth and prime the bare areas.
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Green algae and black mould
- What you see
- Streaks on north-facing walls, under gutters and behind downpipes.
- What we do
- Killed with a fungicidal wash and rinsed off. Painted over, it grows back through the new coat.
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Chalky walls
- What you see
- The paint rubs off on your hand as a white powder.
- What we do
- Brushed down and sealed with a stabilising solution, so the new coat has something firm to grip.
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Cracked or blown render
- What you see
- Hairline cracks, or patches that sound hollow when you tap them.
- What we do
- Hairline cracks are raked out and filled with a flexible exterior filler. Larger damage is a repair before it is a paint job, and the quote says so.
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Rotten sills and frames
- What you see
- Soft timber, open joints, paint that won’t stay on.
- What we do
- Rot cut out and repaired, joints sealed, bare wood primed, then a finish that flexes as the timber moves.
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Faded, patchy colour
- What you see
- South-facing walls a shade lighter than the rest of the house.
- What we do
- Two full coats from a range chosen for how well it resists UV and holds its colour, so the whole house wears evenly.
Our work
Recent exterior painting jobs
Photos from our own jobs, not stock images.
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Render and window surrounds on a detached dormer house -
Smooth render on a hillside bungalow -
Rear of a three-storey terrace, in progress -
The same terrace in sage green -
Smooth render, fascias and soffits -
Before and after: a bungalow exterior
Meet the founders
Who does the work
Serghei and Radu founded S&R Paint, and they still do the work themselves. They come out to look at the house, help you choose colours and paint it, from the preparation to the walkthrough at the end.
- Serghei Co-founder
- Radu Co-founder
7 of our latest 10 Google reviews mention them by name.
Serghei & Radu recently painted our entire home. The quality and finish of their workmanship is exceptional. They are two of the nicest and most accommodating professionals we have had the pleasure of working with. 100% recommend for anyone looking for domestic or commercial work to be completed.
Timing
Planning your exterior painting
Exterior work runs on the weather as much as the calendar. Three things decide when your job can start and how it goes.
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The season
Late spring to early autumn gives the longest drying windows. If you want a summer start, get quotes in late winter or early spring. More on the best time to paint a house exterior.
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The day itself
Paint goes onto a dry surface, above the minimum temperature on the tin and clear of the dew point, with no rain due before it has set. We judge each day by the walls, not only the forecast.
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What we agree first
The start date and the scope: which surfaces, what preparation, which products and colours. If the weather moves the start, we tell you.
Pricing
What affects the cost of exterior painting
Every exterior quote is built from the same four things. We price after seeing the house, because they are the parts a photo or a floor area can’t show.
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The condition of the surface
Sound paint needs a wash and a key. Flaking, chalky or blown paint has to be scraped back, stabilised and filled first. Cracked render, rotten timber and failed sealant around windows are repairs before they are painting, and they are usually the biggest difference between two quotes.
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Access
A bungalow can be painted from ladders. A two- or three-storey house, a gable over a conservatory or a terrace with no side access may need a tower or scaffolding, which changes both the cost and the number of days. We agree the access with you before we start.
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Preparation
Cleaning off moss and algae, the fungicidal wash, filling, sanding and priming take more of the time than the painting on most Irish houses. A quote with less preparation in it is lower because less work is being done.
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Coats and products
A big colour change can need an extra coat. Pebble dash and roughcast take more paint and time than smooth render, and windows, doors, fascias and soffits each need their own system. The quote names the products and the number of coats.
Book a visit and you get a written quote that sets out each of these, so you can compare it with others like for like.
How much does it cost to paint the outside of a house in Ireland?
It depends on the size of the house, the state of the walls and timber, how we reach the high parts and how many coats the colour needs, so we don’t publish a price. We look at the house and give you a written quote that lists the preparation, products and access. See what affects the cost.
What is the best time of year to paint a house exterior in Ireland?
Late spring to early autumn, when the days are longer and walls dry out between showers. On any given day the surface has to be dry, the temperature above the minimum on the tin and no rain due before the paint sets. Our guide to the best time to paint a house exterior covers it month by month.
Can you paint the outside of a house in winter?
Sometimes, but the windows are short. Masonry paints need the air and the wall above a minimum temperature, usually somewhere around 5 to 10°C depending on the product, and they need to be touch-dry before dew or rain arrives. That is why most exterior work is booked between spring and autumn.
Can pebble dash be painted?
Yes. It needs a thorough wash and a fungicidal treatment because the texture holds algae, loose patches repaired, and a stabiliser if it is chalky. It takes much more paint than smooth render, worked into the texture so no gaps are left, and a breathable masonry paint so moisture can still escape.
Why does exterior paint peel, and how do you avoid it?
Peeling usually comes from poor preparation, water getting in behind the paint, or a paint that can’t flex. We deal with the water first, scrape back to sound paint, prime bare areas, and use breathable, flexible paints that move with the house through temperature changes.
Do you need scaffolding to paint my house?
Not always. A bungalow can usually be painted from ladders. Two- and three-storey houses, high gables or walls over a conservatory may need a tower or scaffolding. We agree the access with you before the job starts, and it is written into the quote.
Is exterior painting a messy process?
We treat your property with respect. Windows, paths and garden features are masked and protected before any paint is opened, and the site is cleared at the end of the job.
How do I know which colours will work?
We offer colour consultations: we help you choose a palette for the walls, windows and door that suits the house and complements the street.
Read more
Exterior painting guides
Planning the work yourself first? These cover the products and the timing in more depth.
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10 Best Exterior House Paints for Irish Weather
The exterior paints we rate for Irish weather, surface by surface.
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Best Masonry Paint for Render and Pebble Dash in Ireland
Masonry paints for render and pebble dash compared.
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Best Exterior Wood Paint for Irish Homes
Paints and stains for windows, doors, fascias and cladding.
Our other painting services
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Whole-house painting
Inside and out in one planned job, with one team and one schedule.
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Interior painting
Walls, ceilings, woodwork and kitchen units, prepared properly and painted cleanly.
Get a free exterior painting quote
Tell us a little about the house and we’ll arrange a time to look at it. Your written quote sets out the preparation, products, coats and access, so you can compare it like for like.
- Free and no obligation
- Quoted after a site visit
- We reply within 24 hours
Rather talk it through? Call 085 747 4730
Request your free quote
Painters Across Dublin & Wicklow
S&R Paint works across Dublin, Wicklow and the surrounding counties. Pick your area to read more and get a free, no-obligation quote.