Exterior painting covers more than rolling on a new color. A proper job means washing and scraping the siding, sanding rough spots, spot-priming bare wood or filler, caulking gaps around trim and windows, and often addressing minor rot repair before any paint goes on. In a coastal town like New London, salt air and humidity off the Thames River and Long Island Sound put extra strain on exterior coatings, so surface prep and product choice matter more than they would inland. A rushed paint-over-dirt job might look fine for a season and then peel within a year or two.
What to look for in a contractor
Ask how they handle prep work specifically: do they pressure wash, hand-scrape, or both, and what's their plan for any peeling or bare wood they find. Get clarity on the paint brand and line they're quoting (contractor-grade vs. premium exterior formulas hold up very differently in salt air), and whether the estimate includes caulking and minor carpentry. A written estimate that breaks out labor, materials, and prep steps is a good sign. Also check that they carry liability insurance, since exterior work involves ladders, scaffolding, and your home's siding.
We've evaluated all 7 exterior painting businesses serving New London on factors like responsiveness, consistency of past work, and how clearly they scope a job before starting. See the full breakdown and rankings in our best painters in New London guide. Our scoring approach, including how we weigh reviews, experience, and other signals, is explained on the methodology page.