Home Painting in the Twin Cities: A Local Homeowner Guide

Painting a home in the Twin Cities comes down to three things: the season, the age of the house and the prep. Here is how Cody plans interior and exterior painting for homeowners in Shoreview, St. Paul, Minneapolis and the surrounding suburbs, with photos from real local jobs.

Exterior Painting Works on a Minnesota Calendar

Exterior paint needs the surface and air to stay warm enough through drying, and the label on the can sets the minimum temperature. In Minnesota that usually means planning exterior work for late spring through early fall, and watching overnight lows in the shoulder months. Siding should be dry before paint goes on, so a rainy week can push the schedule.

On this White Bear Lake home, the surfaces were pressure-washed and prepped before the finish coats went on. Washing first removes dirt and chalky residue so the new paint bonds to the siding instead of the grime. See exterior painting and pressure washing for how that prep fits together.

Interior Painting Can Happen Year-Round

Interior painting is not tied to the weather, which makes winter a practical time to refresh bedrooms, hallways and living spaces. Plan for furniture to be moved toward the center of the room, and for walls to be patched and sanded before any paint goes on.

In this Shoreview bay window nook, the work came down to clean cut lines around the window frames and trim. Details like that take time, and they are what make a room look finished. Learn more about interior painting, or use the paint calculator to estimate how much paint a room needs.

Older Twin Cities Homes Need Extra Care

Many homes in St. Paul, Minneapolis, Roseville and Maplewood were built before 1978, when lead paint was still in use. If your home is that age, assume older layers may contain lead until tested, and make sure the work follows lead-safe practices. Read more on lead-safe painting.

On this Maplewood craftsman, the stone accents were masked off for clean lines between the stone and the painted trim. Older homes often mix materials like this, so masking and careful edging matter.

Small Spaces Show Every Detail

Hallways and stairwells have lots of doors, trim and angled ceilings, so they show every uneven edge.

This Roseville hallway included the walls, angled ceilings, doors and trim, painted in a calming teal with white shelving.

A Simple Planning Checklist

• Decide whether the job is interior, exterior or both, and when you want it done.
• Walk the house and note cracks, peeling paint and water stains.
• Ask whether the home was built before 1978.
• Pick colors early. Cody uses Sherwin-Williams most often, plus Benjamin Moore and Hirshfield's.
• Book a free on-site estimate so the price is based on your actual walls and siding.

Get a Free Estimate

Advanced Painting Services is owner-operated and never subcontracted. Cody estimates every project, is on site for the work, and completes the final walkthrough. See the communities we serve, including Shoreview, White Bear Lake, Maplewood and Roseville, then book a free estimate or call or text Cody at (763) 290-2786.