Exterior painting of siding and trim lasts 5-10 years per cycle and costs $1.50-$4.00 per square foot of paintable wall area, including prep, priming, and trim work. Wood siding needs the shortest cycle (5-8 years) while fiber cement holds paint 10-15 years. Surface prep quality, paint grade, and sun/moisture exposure drive most of the life variation.
Last verified 2026-07-06
Typical useful life
5–10 years
2026 replacement cost
$1.50–$4
per sq ft, national range
Typical HOA quantity
20,000 sq ft of painted surface
Quantify paintable wall area from elevation drawings and add trim separately if bid that way ($1-$6 per linear foot). Phase large communities by building group so the annual reserve draw is level and crews stay efficient — repainting a third of the community every 2-3 years on a 7-9 year cycle is common. Boards routinely underestimate prep: scraping, caulking, and spot-priming weathered wood can add 30-50% versus a well-maintained surface.
Wash siding annually and re-caulk joints and window perimeters every 5-7 years to keep water out of the substrate. Touch up peeling or checked areas immediately — bare wood deteriorates fast and multiplies prep costs at the next full repaint. Trim vegetation back so siding can dry after rain.
Humid Southeast climates and freeze-thaw northern climates push repaints toward 5-7 years, and West Coast and Northeast labor rates run 20-40% above national averages.
National 2026 ranges · verify with local bids.
Typical small HOA: 20,000 sq ft of painted surface
Set-aside = replacement cost ÷ useful life (5–10 years). A new installation funds toward the long end; an aging one needs catch-up funding — run the full calculator for that.
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Retrieved and verified 2026-07-06. National planning ranges — local bids govern. Informational only; not engineering, legal, or financial advice, and not a substitute for a professional reserve study. Report a data issue.
Add it to the free calculator with typical life and cost pre-filled, then see what your community should contribute each year.
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