The Caretaker plan
The plan is billed once a year. The three steps happen once every three summers, so the yearly bill isn't spread evenly over the work.
For a house you want watched, not worked on yet.
The three steps, once every third summer.
For a house in sight of salt water.
Look-overFor a house you want watched, not worked on yet. | The three-step planCaretakerThe three steps, once every third summer. | ShorelineFor a house in sight of salt water. | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring look-over and photo report | Every spring | Every spring | Every spring |
| Soft wash and rinse | Not offered | Every third summer | Every third summer |
| Scrape, caulk and spot-prime | Not offered | Every third summer | Every third summer |
| Touch-up paint, trim and sills | Not offered | Every third summer | Every third summer |
| Fresh-water rinse of the salt side | Not offered | Not offered | Every summer |
| Porch posts and rails spot-primed | Not offered | Not offered | Every third summer |
A plan is a service agreement, not insurance. It is billed once a year, in spring, and renews one year at a time. To cancel, call or text before your renewal date; we send a reminder 30 days ahead. Visits already made aren't refunded. Storm damage, rotted boards and a full repaint are not part of a plan; we quote them in writing before any work.
The cycle
The Caretaker plan, year by year. The look-over every spring decides whether the next step moves up or waits.
Wash, scrape, caulk and spot-prime. Touch-up paint on the spots, and a full coat on the trim and sills.
A spring look-over and a report. Small things we find are quoted; nothing is done without your word.
Another look-over. The report says if the next round should come early, on time or a year later.
The three steps again, starting from what the reports have been tracking.
Three ways to look after paint
| Wait until it peels | Repaint on a calendar | The Caretaker plan | |
|---|---|---|---|
| When the work happens | Wait until it peelsWhen paint is already coming off | Repaint on a calendarEvery so many years, whether the siding needs it or not | The Caretaker planSmall jobs on a three-summer rhythm, set by each spring's report |
| What the wood sees | Wait until it peelsWater gets in first, then you notice | Repaint on a calendarWell covered, on a long cycle | The Caretaker planBare spots are primed before water reaches them |
| What you learn | Wait until it peelsWhat you see from the lawn | Repaint on a calendarWhat the painter says at the estimate | The Caretaker planA photo report every spring |
| What it asks of you | Wait until it peelsNothing, until it's a big job | Repaint on a calendarA big job on a date | The Caretaker planA yearly bill and a phone call |
| What it doesn't do | Wait until it peelsIt doesn't stop the damage | Repaint on a calendarIt doesn't catch what wears early | The Caretaker planIt doesn't replace a repaint the house needs |
Questions
Three years is where we start. Salt, sun and snow wear a house unevenly, so the spring look-over decides your date. The written report sets it, not the calendar, and some houses want a visit sooner or can wait a year.
Every plan includes a spring look-over and a written report with photos. The Caretaker and Shoreline plans add the wash, spot-prime and touch-up on the schedule in the plan. A full repaint, rotted boards, roof or gutter work and damage from a storm are not included. We quote them separately, in writing, before any work starts.
No. We ask for one walk-through by phone or on site, then work from a written scope. You get photos by text when each step is done, and we arrange access with you for the days you're away.
Call or text before your renewal date. We send a reminder 30 days ahead. A plan renews one year at a time and is billed once a year, in spring. Visits already made aren't refunded. The terms are in your written plan agreement.
We ask for the color name from the last job if you have it. If you don't, we take a sample from a spot the weather hasn't reached and have it matched. Touch-up is on the places that wore, then a full coat on the trim that did.
Plan visits are scheduled from November. Tell us the town and the year the house was built.