Exterior painting covers the full envelope of a home: siding, trim, fascia and soffits, shutters, doors, and often decks, railings, and masonry foundations. In New London's coastal climate, a proper job starts well before a brush touches the wall. That means pressure washing to strip salt residue and mildew, scraping and sanding failing paint, spot-priming bare wood, caulking gaps around trim and windows, and replacing any rotted boards before finish coats go on. Skipping prep is the most common reason a paint job looks fine for one season and peels the next.
What to look for in an exterior painter
Ask each contractor what surface prep is included, not just the price per gallon. A crew that scrapes to bare wood on failing areas and spot-primes will cost more up front but last longer than one that paints over chalky or peeling surfaces. Also confirm they use exterior-grade paint rated for coastal moisture and UV exposure, since Long Island Sound's salt air and humidity break down cheaper coatings faster than inland areas. Get a written scope that lists which surfaces are included (trim, gutters, doors, decks), how many coats, and whether rotted wood repair is priced separately. Liability insurance and a real local address matter too: exterior work involves ladders, scaffolding, and multi-day jobs on your property.
How we rank the 10 painters here
Our scoring weighs verified customer feedback, how consistently a business responds and follows through, and signals of real local experience with New London's housing stock, from older wood-frame homes downtown to shingle-style houses near the water. We don't rank on advertising spend or who paid for placement. For the full breakdown of businesses and scores, see the ranked guide to New London's best painters. If you want the details on how we calculate rankings across every category, read our methodology.