Comparing Gerald Kelsoe Contracting and Precision Paint Experts
Concrete block and stucco are everywhere in North Central Florida. Here's how to compare two bids for coating masonry walls, from crack repair to the final film.
Gerald Kelsoe Contracting alternative for stucco and block homes
Gerald Kelsoe Contracting is among the businesses some North Central Florida property owners compare with Precision Paint Experts. We don't make claims about other companies, and this page doesn't try to. It's a focused guide to comparing a stucco painting bid, since masonry walls behave differently from wood or fiber-cement siding.
Stucco over block is common on homes built across Alachua and Marion counties. It's durable, but it isn't waterproof on its own. It breathes, it cracks as buildings settle and temperatures swing, and it can wick moisture from the ground at the base of the wall. The coating system and repair approach decide how well your walls handle all that.
Ask each bidder to mark the cracks that concern them on a sketch or photo. That simple step makes two proposals far easier to compare and gives you a record of conditions before work starts.
Sorting out the cracks
Not every crack is the same, and a bid should say how each type will be treated. Hairline cracks are often bridged by the coating itself. Wider or moving cracks may need to be opened, filled with a flexible patching material and textured to blend. Stair-step cracks along block joints, or cracks that keep growing, may point to structural movement that a painter shouldn't simply cover — ask whether the bidder would recommend another professional look first.
Matching texture is the other half of stucco crack repair. A smooth patch on a sand-finish wall will show through paint. Ask how each company blends repairs.
Coating choices on masonry
An elastomeric coating goes on much thicker than standard paint and can flex with the wall. It also costs more and changes the surface's appearance slightly, so compare like with like when one bid uses it and another doesn't.
- Masonry primer or conditioner on chalky, porous or new patched areas
- Elastomeric coating that stretches over hairline cracks
- High-quality acrylic where a thinner film is preferred
- Film thickness and number of coats specified in writing
- Treatment of the wall base where moisture and soil splash collect
How Precision Paint Experts coats masonry
We use elastomeric coatings on stucco and itemize crack repairs, primers and coats separately on our free written estimates. That makes it easy to see what you're getting and compare it with another proposal. Walkthroughs are typically arranged within 48 hours, and the quote usually arrives about one business day later.
Precision Paint Experts is licensed and insured in Florida, has over 15 years of painting experience and works as one local crew based in Newberry. We send a certificate of insurance before the first workday. Exterior work comes with a written workmanship warranty of up to 10 years along with the manufacturer's warranty. Explore stucco repair and painting, concrete and masonry painting, or our company.
“Your estimate is free, written and itemized. The prep is on paper, the products are named, the warranty terms are spelled out — and the crew that walks your project is the crew that paints it.”
The Precision Paint Experts standard · Newberry, FL
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does my stucco look chalky when I rub it?
Old paint breaks down in UV and leaves a powdery layer. That chalk should be washed off and the surface conditioned so new coatings bond well.
Is elastomeric coating waterproof?
It's highly water-resistant and bridges small cracks, but it isn't a fix for leaks coming from roofs, windows or grading. Those need to be addressed separately.
Can painted stucco be returned to an unpainted look?
Not easily. Once stucco is painted, it generally stays painted. Choose colors and coatings with that in mind.
How should I check a contractor before a masonry job?
Look up their Florida license through DBPR's online tool, request an insurance certificate, and compare repair methods in writing. Our estimate request takes a minute.
Quality Workmanship Backed by a Written Warranty
Every project gets a written workmanship warranty — up to 10 years on exterior projects — on top of the manufacturer's product warranty for the coatings we use. The terms are spelled out on your estimate before work starts, so you know exactly what is covered and for how long.
Helpful Next Steps
Ready to Get Started?
Tell us about your project and get a free, written, itemized estimate — usually back within one business day of the walkthrough.