What Lafayette houses usually need
A typical Lafayette exterior is a 1950s–60s ranch or split-level with wood lap or board-and-batten siding, painted many times. The job is mostly prep: scraping failed layers back to sound paint, fixing rot, and priming bare wood.
- Lead-safe practices. With a 1960 median, assume the paint contains lead unless testing shows otherwise. The painting firm must be EPA-certified. What that involves.
- Dry rot at sills, fascia and siding bottoms. Older wood plus winter rain means soft spots. Repair options.
- Hillside access. Downhill walls can be a full story taller than the street side, which means longer ladders or staging.
- Oaks overhead. Shade keeps north walls damp; mildew needs to be cleaned and treated before paint.
Moraga
Moraga's homes are newer on average (1972 median), with more townhomes and planned developments. That often means an association controls exterior colors, so check before choosing paint. The same lead-safe rules apply to anything built before 1978.
Cost
Published Bay Area contractor pricing puts a 1,500–2,500 sq ft repaint at $5,500–$9,000+ and a 2,500–3,500 sq ft two-story at $8,500–$13,000+. Older Lafayette homes with heavy scraping and repairs tend toward the upper end of their band. See the cost guide.
Related: exterior painting · choosing a painter
Questions homeowners ask
Do I need a permit to paint my house in Lafayette?
Painting is finish work. Lafayette handles zoning and contracts its building inspection to Contra Costa County; if a project grows into replacing siding or structural repairs, check with the city's building permit page first.
Why do Lafayette homes need so much prep?
Many are 60-plus years old with wood siding and trim, multiple old paint layers (often including lead), and decades of sun on the south and west sides. Scraping, rot repair and lead-safe containment are a bigger share of the job than on a newer stucco house.
Sources
- U.S. Census Bureau: ACS 2020–2024 5-year estimates, median year structure built (B25035) federal data
- U.S. EPA: Renovation, Repair and Painting Program for contractors federal
- City of Lafayette: building permits city
- Barbour Painting (Concord): Bay Area painting prices contractor pricing
Contractor price pages are published pricing from individual painting companies, not quotes. Your price can land below or above these ranges.