Paint it when the thing underneath is sound, and replace it when it is not. Paint is a coating. It protects and it changes color, but it does not make weak wood strong or loose stucco tight. This page goes through the common cases.
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 flat and the layout works for you. Replace them if the boxes are swollen from water, the shelves sag or you want a different layout.
By the national figures, painting costs $2,000 to $6,500 and full replacement costs $4,500 to $15,000. In South Florida, check the sink cabinet and the toe kicks first. Particleboard that has taken on water will not hold paint or screws.
Is it cheaper to paint or replace old siding or stucco?
It is cheaper to paint than to replace siding, by a wide margin. For vinyl, HomeGuide publishes $1,500 to $5,000 to paint against $4,800 to $11,100 to replace. For aluminum it is $1,500 to $7,000 to paint against $6,300 to $20,100 to replace.
No such comparison is published for stucco, which is what most Miami houses have. Stucco is rarely replaced whole. It is repaired where it is cracked or loose and then painted. HomeGuide lists stucco repair at $8 to $50 per square foot.
My wood siding is faded, cracked or 30 years old. Paint or replace?
Faded wood siding that is still hard can be painted. Boards that are split through, cupped or soft should be replaced first. Age alone does not decide it.
Wood siding is uncommon in Miami, but it exists on older frame houses in Coconut Grove, Little Havana and near downtown Homestead. Some is old Dade County pine, which is dense and worth keeping. Press a screwdriver into the worst boards. If it sinks in, that board needs to go. No published figure compares painting and replacing wood siding.
My siding has some rot. Do I paint it or replace it first?
Replace or repair the rot first. Paint over rot traps moisture and the rot keeps spreading under the new film.
In our climate rot shows up low on walls, at the ends of boards and wherever water runs off a roof without a gutter. Once the bad sections are cut out and new wood is primed on all sides, the whole wall can be painted.
My trim is soft or rotting. Fill and paint, or new trim?
Small soft spots in trim can be dug out, hardened and filled. Trim that is rotted through or along its length should be replaced.
Fascia boards are the usual problem in Miami-Dade. They sit under the roof edge and catch the runoff. Long rotted runs are better replaced with new primed wood or a rot-proof board than patched every year.
Can a painter patch dry rot with epoxy, or do I need a carpenter?
A painter can patch small areas of rot with a two-part epoxy filler once the soft wood is removed and the rest is dry. Larger or structural repairs need a carpenter.
As a rule of thumb, epoxy suits a spot you could cover with your hand on a piece that carries no load. A rotted post, a door frame or a long fascia run is carpentry. Ask us and we will tell you which one you have.
My deck boards are gray and splintering. Stain or replace?
Gray boards can be cleaned and stained. Splintering boards that are cracked through, cupped or soft at the screws should be replaced.
Gray is only sun damage on the surface. A wash and a light sanding bring back sound wood. Splinters across a whole deck mean the surface fibers have broken down, and stain will not glue them back. Often the answer is to replace the worst boards and stain the whole deck to match.
My aluminum siding or old paint is chalky. Paint it or cover it?
Paint it. Chalky aluminum siding takes paint well once the chalk is washed off and the bare spots are primed. Covering it with new siding costs far more.
Chalk is the powder left when sun breaks down old paint. You see it in Miami on aluminum awnings, shutters and panels, and on nearly every sun-facing stucco wall. Rub your hand on the wall. If it comes away white, the wall needs a hard wash and usually a masonry sealer before paint. HomeGuide puts aluminum siding painting at $1 to $4 per square foot.
Is a 20-year-old deck worth painting or staining?
A 20-year-old deck is worth staining if the frame is solid and most boards are sound. It is not worth it if the joists, posts or ledger are rotted, because then the deck is not safe at any color.
Check the structure from below before spending on the surface. In South Florida, also check the fasteners. Salt air eats plain steel screws and hangers.
A free estimate with a written quote is the only way to get a real price for your job. Call or text (786) 745-7109.