Paint protects sound material. It does not repair material that has failed. That is the short rule behind every answer on this page. Providence has a lot of old wood, and most of it is worth keeping when it is solid.
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.
Should I paint or replace my kitchen cabinets?
Paint them if the boxes are solid, the doors are sound and you like the layout. Replace them if the boxes are water damaged, the shelves sag, the doors are falling apart or you want a different layout. National figures put painting at $2,000 to $6,500 and full replacement at $4,500 to $15,000.
Is it cheaper to paint or replace old siding?
It is cheaper to paint old siding than to replace it, as long as the siding is sound. HomeGuide publishes the comparison for two types. Vinyl: $1,500 to $5,000 to paint against $4,800 to $11,100 to replace. Aluminum: $1,500 to $7,000 to paint against $6,300 to $20,100 to replace. It publishes no such comparison for wood, so that is priced after a walkthrough.
My wood siding is faded, cracked or 30 years old. Paint or replace?
Paint it, in most cases. Faded and weathered wood siding with fine surface cracks is normal for its age and takes paint well after scraping, sanding and priming. Old-growth clapboard on Providence houses is often better wood than anything sold today. Replace only the boards that are split through, cupped badly or soft.
My wood siding has some rot. Paint it or replace it first?
Replace or repair the rot first, then paint. Paint over rot traps water and the damage keeps spreading under the new coat. Usually only some boards are affected: the lowest courses near the ground, boards under leaking gutters and those around windows. Those pieces are cut out and replaced, primed on all sides, and the wall is then painted as one.
Rotting or soft trim: fill and paint, or new trim?
Small soft spots in trim can be dug out, hardened and filled. Trim that is soft through most of its depth should be replaced. Window sills, the bottoms of corner boards, porch post bases and the ends of fascia boards are the usual places. On historic houses, repair keeps the original profiles, which are hard to match with stock lumber.
Can a painter patch dry rot with epoxy or do I need a carpenter?
A painter can patch small areas of dry rot with epoxy wood filler when the wood around it is solid. The soft wood is removed, the area is treated with a consolidant and the epoxy is shaped and sanded. You need a carpenter when the damage is structural or large: a porch post, a long sill, a beam or whole lengths of trim. We tell you which it is when we see it.
My deck boards are grey and splintering. Stain or replace?
Grey boards can be cleaned and stained. Splintering, cracked or soft boards should be replaced first. Grey is only sun damage on the surface, and washing and light sanding bring back sound wood. Push a screwdriver into a few boards and check the joists underneath. If the frame is solid, replacing the worst boards and staining the rest is usually worth it.
My aluminum siding is chalky. Paint it or cover it?
Paint it. Chalky aluminum siding is very common on mid-century houses around Providence, and it repaints well. The chalk is the old factory finish breaking down. It must be washed off fully, or new paint will stick to the powder and not the metal. Bare spots get a suitable primer. Dents stay visible, so siding that is badly dented or loose is a case for replacement.
Is a 20-year-old deck worth painting or staining?
A 20-year-old deck is worth staining if the frame is sound and most boards are solid. On an old deck a solid stain hides weathering and mismatched new boards better than a clear one. If the joists, posts or ledger are soft, do not spend money on a finish. Fix the structure first or plan a new deck.
A free on-site estimate with a written quote is the only way to get a real price for your job. Call or text (401) 414-4566.