Exterior paint costs in San Jose

Here's a simple way to think about houses in San Jose: the typical one is older than the federal lead-paint line. Half the homes in the metro were built in 1976 or earlier. EPA's rule for paid renovation and painting covers homes built before 1978, so more than half the homes here fall under it. The 1960s and '70s alone produced more than a third of the housing standing today.

For you, that rule means any painter you hire to scrape, sand or otherwise disturb old paint has to be certified and has to work lead-safe. Expect plastic on the ground, careful cleanup and more time on prep than a newer house would need.

The weather gives you a long runway. Highs at the city's station range from the high 50s in winter to about 82°F in July, and the four months from June through September add up to well under half an inch. Mild, dry months are the norm, not a lucky break.

So in San Jose, timing is rarely the hard part. The prep is. On a 1960s ranch, containing chips and dust around the windows, eaves and trim takes real time, and it belongs in the plan from the first day.