$600 DIY Spanish Revival Exterior Paint Makeover (4-Day Transformation)

Looking for a budget-friendly way to boost curb appeal? This Spanish Revival DIY exterior paint makeover cost just $600 and completely transformed the look of my sister & BIL's California ranch–style home in just 4 days. If you’ve ever wondered how to paint a stucco house or refresh your home’s exterior without breaking the bank, here’s exactly how we did it.

📌 Pin this project for later if you’re planning your own exterior glow-up!

Project Snapshot

House style: California ranch / Spanish revival

Total time: 4 days (1 prep, 2 paint, 1 touch-ups)

Old color: Green-brown, sun-bleached

New color: The perfect creamy white (Bermuda Sand by Valspar, mixed in Glidden Essentials)

Total cost: ~ $600

Part 1 – Prep Like Your Paint Job Depends on It (it does)

Step 1: Clear the Decks

• Unscrew and stash doorbells, security cameras, or hardware that would block your paint sprayer.

• For anything that’s hard to remove, just tape it later.

• Power-wash the entire house exterior. (We used the HART power washer - perfect for blasting away dirt and dust!)

💡 Tip: A clean surface = better adhesion and a longer-lasting finish.

Step 2: Scrape, Tape & Dropcloth

Scraping: Knock off any loose, chipping, or peeling paint. If you’re a perfectionist, you can sand too—but I left most as-is, and it’s barely noticeable once painted.

Taping: Pre-taped plastic drop cloths are chef’s kiss for doors, windows, and gas meters. We grabbed this stuff that comes with a built-in blade and dispenser for easy handling.

Ground protection: Paper dropcloth worked best for me. They move with you = less waste and hassle.

🚪 Leave high-traffic doors un-taped until the very last minute so you can still get in and out without tearing your prep work.

Step 3: Fill Every Crack & Crevice

• Hairline gaps: Fill with exterior caulk (we used DAP Dynaflex).

• Big boy gaps: Bondo all the way - super durable for outdoor use. (Wear a mask - it's potent stuff!)

• Rotten trim: My brother Ian surgically removed the bad wood, installed fresh boards, then we patched everything Bondo + caulk. You’d never know the difference.

  

  

  
  

Step 4: The Color-Matching Hack

We tested three creamy-white swatches from Valspar in different light. The winner? Bermuda Sand - a warm white that highlights the terracotta roof without drifting into Tuscan yellow.

💡 Budget tip: Instead of buying Valspar directly, we had Home Depot color-match Bermuda Sand into Glidden Essentials. It was more affordable and 99% accurate. Just bring the paint card - they’ll handle the rest.

Part 2 – Spray Days: The Fast Track to a Flawless Finish

Step 1: Conquer the Sprayer Fear

I’d only used smaller HVLP sprayers before, so this full-size Wagner Control Pro 130 was intimidating at first. But honestly—it’s the easiest sprayer I’ve ever used. Just point and shoot.

Pro tips:

• If you see “tails” in your spray (see middle photo above), thin the paint slightly.

• Painting multiple days? Keep the nozzle dipped in water overnight and pour ½ cup of water over the paint in the reservoir. This keeps everything wet and clog-free.

Step 2: Spray Smart, Not Hard

• Order of attack: Keep a helper nearby to refill the paint reservoir—it gets old fast.

• Keep it wet: Pull tape before the paint fully sets for cleaner lines.

• Touch-up strategy: Overspray slightly on windows, then hand-brush the edge for razor-sharp frames.

  

  

Step 3: Touch-Up Time

We hand-painted many of the eaves instead of spraying overhead. It took an extra day, but at least we weren’t showered in sprayer mist the whole time. Sometimes comfort > speed!

Step 4: How Much Paint Do You Really Need?

Here’s where stucco throws a curveball. For our ~1,000 sq ft house, we used 15 gallons—about 3x more than I expected.

Why? Stucco is extremely absorbent and requires spraying from multiple angles for full coverage. By contrast, the wood siding in the front stretched much farther per gallon.

💡 Lesson: If you’re painting stucco, budget extra paint from the start.

The Big Reveal ✨

Before: Dull green-brown, dated trim, no style cohesion.
After: Bright, creamy stucco that highlights Spanish Revival details and terracotta roof—an instant curb appeal upgrade.

Before

After

Budget Breakdown

Up Next

A garage door faux-wood makeover is coming soon (think cedar grain with zero planks). Subscribe so you don’t miss it!

💡 Got questions about painting stucco, using a sprayer, or Spanish Revival paint colors? Drop them in the comments - I’m happy to share everything I learned.

📌 Don’t forget to save this $600 DIY exterior makeover to Pinterest for your next project!

Key Takeaways

• Prep is everything. Don’t skimp—it’s 70% of the job.

• Spraying stucco saves time. Yes, it’s more masking, but coverage is so much better.

• Do it scared. I was nervous, but the transformation was worth it.
  
  

Got questions? Drop them below—happy to share every win, fail, and lesson learned!