Stucco is the wall San Bernardino is built of, so this page starts there. Wood siding comes next, on older bungalows and some ranch houses. Brick, vinyl and aluminum are much less common here, but we answer the questions about them truthfully for the homes that have them.
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 walls move the number up or down. Last checked October 2026.
Can you paint stucco, and what paint sticks to it?
Yes, you can paint stucco, and it holds paint well. The paint that sticks to it best is a 100 percent acrylic exterior paint, in a flat or low sheen. Acrylic grips the rough surface, flexes a little and lets moisture vapor out of the wall. Elastomeric coatings are thicker and bridge fine cracks, but they cost more and must go on a sound, dry wall.
Prep is washing off dust and chalk, repairing cracks and priming bare patches. New stucco patches must cure before paint. On rough stucco, spraying and then back-rolling works the paint into the texture.
Do hairline cracks in stucco need fixing first?
Yes, though hairline cracks are easy to deal with. Nearly every stucco house here has some, from shrinkage, settling and small earthquakes. The finest ones are filled by a good primer and two coats of paint, or by an elastomeric coating. Slightly wider cracks are filled with a flexible sealant or patching compound made for stucco, then textured to blend in.
Cracks wider than about a credit card's thickness, cracks that keep growing, or bulging stucco point to movement or water behind the wall. Those need a stucco repair before paint.
How often does stucco need painting?
Paint on stucco lasts 5 to 7 years by the published national figure. How often your stucco needs it depends on sun and color. Dark and bright colors on south and west walls fade soonest. Light earth tones on a shaded side can go much longer. Chalking, fading and open cracks are the signs to watch.
What paint is best on wood siding, and will paint fix dry cracked wood?
The best paint for wood siding is an acrylic exterior paint over a primer on any bare wood. Paint will not fix dry, cracked wood by itself. It protects wood that has been repaired. Dry siding should be scraped, sanded, primed with a penetrating or bonding primer, and have its cracks and joints filled before the finish coats.
Wood that has gone gray and fuzzy from years without paint needs that weathered layer sanded off first, or the new paint will let go with it. By the national figures, paint on wood siding lasts 3 to 7 years and painting it costs $1.50 to $5.00 per square foot.
How much to paint a cedar shingle house?
No separate figure is published for a cedar shingle house. The national figure for painting wood siding is $1.50 to $5.00 per square foot, and shingles are at the slow end of that work because of all the edges and gaps. Cedar shingle walls are rare in San Bernardino. They show up on a few Craftsman homes here and in Redlands and Riverside. Many owners stain shingles instead of painting them. We price shingle work after seeing it.
Can you paint vinyl siding?
Yes, you can paint vinyl siding if it is clean, sound and coated with an acrylic paint made to stick to vinyl. Vinyl siding is uncommon in Southern California, so we see it rarely, mostly on additions and manufactured homes. By the national figures, painting it costs $1 to $3 per square foot and the paint lasts 5 to 10 years.
Can vinyl siding be painted a darker color, or will it warp?
It can warp if the wrong paint is used. Dark colors absorb more heat, and vinyl softens and buckles when it gets too hot. That risk is higher here than in most places, with summer highs in the upper 90s. The safe choices are a color no darker than the original, or a paint from a vinyl-safe color line made to reflect heat.
Does painting vinyl siding void the warranty?
It can. Some vinyl siding makers state that painting voids or limits the warranty, and others allow it with conditions. Read your siding warranty or call the maker before painting. If the siding is old and the warranty has run out anyway, this no longer matters.
Can you paint aluminum siding?
Yes. Aluminum siding takes paint well when it is prepared properly. The old finish turns to a chalky powder that must be washed off completely. Bare metal spots are primed, and then the siding gets acrylic exterior paint. By the national figures, it costs $1 to $4 per square foot and the paint lasts 5 to 10 years. Locally it is found mostly on mobile homes and a few postwar houses.
Is painting brick a bad idea, and does it trap moisture?
Painting brick is not always a bad idea, but it is a one-way decision. Brick is porous and moves moisture through itself. A heavy, non-breathing paint film can trap that moisture, and the paint then blisters or the brick face flakes. That risk is lower in our dry climate than in wet or freezing ones, but sprinklers and planters against a wall can still cause it.
In San Bernardino, brick is mostly a trim material: chimneys, fireplaces, planters and a band along the front of a ranch house. If it is painted, use a masonry primer and a breathable acrylic or mineral paint. By the national figures, painting brick costs $1.50 to $4.50 per square foot.
Should I paint my brick or leave it natural?
Leave it natural if the brick is in good shape and you like it. Unpainted brick needs almost no upkeep, and paint is very hard to remove later. Paint your brick if it is stained, mismatched from repairs or already painted. Limewash and brick stain are middle paths that change the color and still let the brick breathe. HomeGuide lists limewash at $1.50 to $5.00 per square foot and brick staining at $1 to $4.
A free estimate with a written quote is the only way to get a real price for your job. Call or text (909) 487-2695.