We first worked on this St. Simons Island home in 2024, and this year’s project came in two phases: exterior repairs in July, then interior work in September that included removing wallpaper and painting stained trim in two bedrooms and an office. The owners were out of town for much of it, so a neighbor held the key and we scheduled around their return.
Project at a glance
- Location: St. Simons Island, GA
- Project type: Residential, exterior repairs and interior repaint for a returning client
- Phase 1 (July 2026): Stone chimney cleaned and sealed; band board and T-111 siding repaired beside the garage
- Phase 2 (September 2026): Two bedrooms and an office: wallpaper removed, ceilings, walls, stained doors, windows and trim painted
- Stone sealer: Three coats of Prosoco Siloxane natural stone sealer
- Siding repair: RedGard liquid flashing on the cut siding edge, new 2×10 band board with Z flashing, two coats of 100% acrylic latex matched to the existing brown
- Interior products: Flat white ceiling paint; primer/sealer and two coats of washable matte on walls; bonding primer and two coats of acrylic semi-gloss enamel on trim
- Completed: September 2026
Why the homeowners called
We first worked on this house in 2024. In May 2026, a leak at the stone chimney had come back, and the owners wanted it dealt with before they put money into the rooms inside. They asked about the stone sealer we had recommended in 2024, plus repairs and painting in two bedrooms and an office.
Phase 1: Sealing the stone chimney and repairing the siding
The owners approved the exterior work first and told us to schedule it at our convenience, since they would be out of town for a few months. A neighbor kept a key for us, and the crew started in July.
- Washed the stone chimney with a chlorine solution to remove mildew
- Applied three coats of Prosoco Siloxane natural stone sealer
- Cut off the bottom 9½ inches of the band board and T-111 plywood siding to the left of the garage
- Sealed the cut bottom edge of the siding with RedGard liquid flashing
- Installed a new 2×10 band board with Z flashing above it
- Primed the repairs, filled nail holes, caulked cracks and applied two coats of 100% acrylic latex
The owners had left a can of their brown exterior paint in the house, so we used it to match the color on the repair. Siding and trim repairs like this are part of our exterior wood repair work.
Phase 2: Removing wallpaper and painting stained trim
The owners wanted the interior done while they were back in town after Labor Day, so we started it on September 14. The work covered two bedrooms and an office:
- Ceilings: prepped as needed and painted flat white
- Walls: removed the existing wallpaper and the curtain rail trim, repaired the walls, sanded them smooth, then applied one coat of primer/sealer and two coats of washable matte
- Stained doors, windows, door and window trim, baseboards and one new window: cleaned off dirt and stains, sanded, caulked cracks, applied a bonding primer and two coats of acrylic semi-gloss enamel
- Floors, furniture and fixtures were covered against drips and sanding dust, and each room was cleaned when painting was done
Stained wood is too slick for paint to grip on its own. Cleaning it, sanding it and using a bonding primer gives the enamel something to hold onto, which is what keeps painted trim from peeling at the edges later.
Taking wallpaper down almost always means repairing the wall underneath, and the primer/sealer coat seals those repairs before the finish coats go on. Learn more about our wallpaper removal work.
The result
The chimney stone is sealed, the siding beside the garage has a new band board and flashing, and the two bedrooms and office have smooth painted walls where the wallpaper used to be, fresh white ceilings, and painted trim and doors in place of the old stain.
More projects nearby: whole-house interior repaint on St. Simons Island.
Questions about a project like this
Can you paint over stained wood trim?
Yes. On this house we cleaned the stained doors, windows and trim, sanded them, applied a bonding primer and finished with two coats of acrylic semi-gloss enamel.
Do I need to be home while you work?
No. These owners were out of town during the exterior phase. A neighbor held the key, and our office kept them updated on scheduling by phone.
Can a project be split into phases?
Yes. This project was done in two phases about two months apart: exterior repairs in July and interior painting in September, timed for when the owners were back in town.
Planning a similar project on St. Simons Island?
If you have stained trim you want painted, wallpaper you are ready to take down, or repairs to finish before you paint, we can walk through it and give you a written estimate at no charge. Learn more about interior painting on St. Simons Island and our interior house painting services, or see more of our work across St. Simons Island.
Every project is backed by our 3-Year Coastal Warranty. Creating delighted customers since 1986.
