Ann Arbor's painted houses are mostly wood. Clapboard and cedar shingles cover the older streets. Aluminum siding went onto many mid-century homes, vinyl and fiber cement cover the newer subdivisions, and brick and some stucco show up on Tudor and colonial houses from the 1920s and 1930s. Each takes paint differently.
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 or siding move the number up or down. Last checked October 2026.
What paint is best on wood siding, and will paint fix dry cracked wood?
The best paint for wood siding is an acrylic latex over a primer on any bare wood. Paint will not fix dry, cracked wood. It seals small checks, but split boards keep moving and open the paint film again.
Dry gray wood has to be sanded back to sound fibers and primed. Boards that are split through are replaced. Wood siding costs $1.50 to $5.00 per square foot to paint nationally.
How much to paint a cedar shingle house?
No separate figure is published for a cedar shingle house. It falls under wood siding at $1.50 to $5.00 per square foot, and shingles sit toward the slow end because of the many edges and gaps.
Cedar can be painted or stained. It also bleeds tannin, a brown stain that comes through light paint unless a stain-blocking primer goes on first.
Can you paint aluminum siding?
Yes. Aluminum siding takes paint well. The chalky old finish is washed off, any bare metal is primed and two coats of acrylic paint go on. Nationally it costs $1 to $4 per square foot, or $1,500 to $7,000 for an average house, and the paint is listed as lasting 5 to 10 years.
Can you paint vinyl siding?
Yes, you can paint vinyl siding if it is in sound condition. It is cleaned well and coated with an acrylic paint made to bond to vinyl. Nationally it costs $1 to $3 per square foot, or $1,500 to $5,000 for an average house.
Can vinyl siding be painted a darker color, or will it warp?
Vinyl can warp if it is painted much darker with ordinary paint. Dark colors soak up heat and the panels buckle in summer sun. Stay close to the original shade or lighter, or use a paint line made in vinyl-safe colors for going darker.
Does painting vinyl siding void the warranty?
It can. Some vinyl siding makers state that painting ends the warranty. Read your warranty or call the maker before you paint siding that is still covered. On older siding with no cover left, this no longer matters.
Is painting brick a bad idea, and does it trap moisture?
It can be. Brick takes in and gives off moisture, and a tight paint film can trap that moisture in the wall. In a freeze and thaw climate like Michigan's, trapped water can pop the face off soft old brick.
Paint is also close to permanent on brick and needs upkeep from then on. HomeGuide lists acrylic latex on brick as lasting 3 to 5 years and mineral-based paint 20 years or more.
Should I paint my brick or leave it natural?
Leave it natural if the brick is sound and has never been painted. If you still want to paint your brick, fix the mortar and any water problems first and use a breathable masonry or mineral paint. Limewash is a softer option that lets the wall breathe.
Brick that is already painted can be repainted without much worry. In Ann Arbor's historic districts, the city's design guidelines list painting previously unpainted masonry as not appropriate. Nationally, painting brick costs $1.50 to $4.50 per square foot.
Can you paint stucco, and what paint sticks to it?
Yes, stucco can be painted. Acrylic masonry paint is the usual choice, and elastomeric paint is a thicker coating that bridges fine cracks. Stucco is not a common wall here, but it is found on Tudor and Craftsman houses from the 1920s. Nationally it costs $1.00 to $5.50 per square foot to paint.
Do hairline cracks in stucco need fixing first?
Yes. Hairline cracks are filled with a flexible masonry patch or caulk before painting. Left open, they let water in, and in winter that water freezes and widens the crack. Larger cracks or loose, hollow-sounding areas need a stucco repair first.
How often does stucco need painting?
Painted stucco is listed as lasting 5 to 7 years by HomeGuide. So how often stucco needs paint comes to roughly once every several years, sooner on walls that face the weather.
What about fiber cement siding?
Fiber cement holds paint longest of the common sidings. HomeGuide lists paint on cement fiberboard at 10 to 15 years. It is common on newer homes in the townships around Ann Arbor and repaints easily with acrylic paint.
A free estimate with a written quote is the only way to get a real price for your job. Call or text (734) 399-4198.