Value House Painting

Where the neighborhood sits

Stone Oak is in its second or third repaint cycle

Most of Stone Oak went up between 1990 and 2009. In ZIP 78258 roughly 43 percent of the housing dates to the 2000s and another 22 percent to the 1990s, and 78260 is newer still. That puts the bulk of the neighborhood somewhere around 20 to 35 years old, which is the point where a house is on its second or third repaint and whatever the last painter did, or skipped, starts showing through.

We bid Stone Oak work by reading what is already on the wall, not by assuming a clean surface.

Two story stucco home with a tile roof under mature live oaks, a long front walk and dappled light

What we look at

What a Stone Oak repaint actually involves

Six things decide the scope on a Stone Oak house, and every one of them is settled in writing before a color is picked.

Two story home with tan siding, black shutters, brick and a double garage door under a clear sky

Your Stucco Is Real Cement, Not a Synthetic Panel

The Stone Oak Master Plan deed restrictions require the main residence to be at least 75 percent masonry or masonry veneer, configured as a 3/4 wraparound, and they define masonry as stucco, brick or rock. Synthetic or prefabricated masonry veneers and panels are prohibited outright. So the stucco on a Stone Oak house is traditional cement stucco, not EIFS and not a synthetic cladding system. That changes how a crack is cut out and patched and which coating belongs on the wall. A painter who treats it like a synthetic system gives you a finish that fails early.

Front elevation of a house after repainting, with recoated siding, trim and entry door

The Masonry Rule Only Binds the Ground Floor

That 75 percent masonry minimum applies to the lower floor. On a two story Stone Oak home the upper floor is very often siding, trim and gable ends, and that is the high, sun beaten, wind exposed surface that drives most of the repaint scope and most of the access. The wraparound also requires full masonry across the front wall and each adjacent side wall at ground level, which means the rear elevation carries a disproportionate share of the paintable area. We measure the back and the upstairs, because that is where the job really is.

Clay Over Limestone, and Why the Stucco Cracks

The USDA soil survey maps much of this area as Eckrant very cobbly clay on 5 to 15 percent slopes, roughly a foot of expansive smectitic clay sitting on solid limestone. Foundations here bear on a mix of rock and clay, so movement is differential rather than even. Cement stucco is rigid and unforgiving, so that movement surfaces as hairline to structural cracking at window and door corners and along the line between floors. A Stone Oak stucco repaint is a crack repair job before it is a coating job. Anyone who quotes it as just paint has not looked properly.

Which Committee Covers Your Street

It depends on your subdivision. The POA states that Arrowhead residents submit exterior projects to the Stone Oak POA committee, and every other neighborhood goes through its own HOA. There are roughly 35 constituent neighborhood associations across Stone Oak, run by at least a dozen different management companies, so the form, the meeting calendar and the reviewer are not the same from one street to the next. We will work to whichever committee covers yours.

Wash Water on the Recharge Zone

Stone Oak sits on the Edwards Aquifer recharge zone. Pressure washing runoff and wash water are a genuine consideration here rather than an afterthought, so we contain and dispose of wash water and paint waste properly instead of letting it run into the nearest drain or drainage swale.

Color, Sheen and Product Details for Your Submittal

We are not your HOA and we do not file for you, but the hold up on most submittals is the paperwork, not the committee. When Michael walks your house he gives you the manufacturer, product line, sheen and color codes in writing, along with the elevations and surfaces each one goes on, which is what almost every form asks for. You file, and we schedule once the approval is in hand.

Tell us what you are thinking about painting and Michael will come out, walk it with you and put a detailed bid in writing. No charge, no pressure. Every project carries a 2 year written warranty and $1,000,000 in liability coverage.

Book My Free Walk Through Call (210) 445-1060

Before the crew arrives

You need approval before you paint, and silence is a denial

The Stone Oak POA is explicit. If you wish to renovate, paint, or build an extension you must complete the General Submittal Form and send it to the Architectural Review Committee for review and approval, including any material details such as paint color and stone sample. The POA recommends submitting no less than three weeks before you schedule the project. The ARC meets the first and third Tuesday of each month, submittals are due by noon the Friday prior, and there is no fee.

Here is the part most homeowners get wrong. Under a POA board resolution adopted 21 January 2009 and recorded as Bexar Document No. 20090013915, if the committee fails to approve or disapprove a submittal within thirty days, the submittal in its entirety is deemed disapproved, and the committee has no obligation to give anyone notice of that deemed disapproval. No answer does not mean go ahead. It means no.

Get My Free Estimate Call (210) 445-1060

Why Stone Oak homeowners call us

A scope that separates the repair from the coating

Michael Hernandez owns this company, and he is the one who comes out to walk your house with you. You get a written scope that separates the stucco crack repair and the carpentry from the coating, the product and color details your committee will ask for, and crews that are inspected while they work.

Every project carries a 2 year written transferable warranty of quality and $1,000,000 in liability insurance. Locally owned small business, based in 78216.

Get My Free Estimate More about Michael and the crew
2 Year Written Warranty
Of quality, and it transfers to the next owner.
$1,000,000 Coverage
Liability insurance carried on every project.
Painting Since 2003
A locally owned San Antonio small business.
4.8 Stars on Google
Plus 100+ recommendations on Nextdoor.

In their words

What our clients say

These customers are in nearby San Antonio neighborhoods, not Stone Oak.

They did excellent work for a fair price and got it done quickly. This is by far the best contracting experience I have had in years.
Allison R., Castle Hills Forest
I could not believe how fair the price was and the timeliness of the job. I have already referred you to a good friend.
Brad H., Encino Rio
We just used Michael Hernandez with Value House Painting. His crew is great and pays attention to details!
Katie B., Hidden Forest

What we do here

Painting services for Stone Oak homes

Most Stone Oak work starts with exterior painting, because stucco, upper floor siding, trim and gable ends are what the weather and the deed restrictions both point at. We also do interior painting, cabinet painting and refinishing, popcorn ceiling removal and commercial painting. Everything we do is listed on the Value House Painting home page, and you can ask for a free estimate whenever you are ready.

The review layer changes fast around here. Over in Encino Park you also send the color in before you paint outside, while in Castle Hills code section 8-48(b) exempts single family houses from committee referral altogether.

Side elevation of a house after repainting, with siding, trim and downspout recoated

Exterior Repaints and Stucco

Cement stucco crack repair, upper floor siding, trim, gable ends, fascia and doors. We scope the rear elevation and the second floor honestly, because that is where most of a Stone Oak exterior actually lives.

See the prep that makes it last
Teal coffered ceiling with white beams, a dark ceiling fan with orange blades and a wooden bookcase

Interior, Cabinets and Ceilings

Full interior repaints, kitchen and bathroom cabinets refinished, popcorn texture removed, drywall repaired and the texture matched so the patch disappears under the new paint.

See what happens before the color
Bedroom mid project with the bed and dresser under drop cloths, grey walls and a white six panel door

Repairs Before Paint

Stucco repair, wood rot and siding replacement, wallpaper removal, crown molding and trim, deck and fence sealing. The repair list is agreed in writing before anybody opens a can.

Get the repairs written into the bid

Straight answers

Stone Oak painting questions homeowners ask

Do I need ARC approval to repaint my house in Stone Oak?

Yes. The Stone Oak POA requires you to complete a General Submittal Form and send it to the Architectural Review Committee for review and approval before you paint, including material details such as the paint color. The POA recommends submitting no less than three weeks before you schedule the project. The ARC meets the first and third Tuesday of each month, submittals are due by noon the Friday prior, and there is no fee.

What happens if the committee does not respond to my submittal?

It is treated as a refusal. Under a POA board resolution adopted 21 January 2009 and recorded as Bexar Document No. 20090013915, if the committee fails to approve or disapprove a submittal within thirty days, the submittal in its entirety is deemed disapproved, and the committee is not required to give anyone notice of that. The resolution was adopted specifically to reverse the older approval by default rule. So do not read silence as permission. File early, keep a copy, and follow up.

Is my Stone Oak stucco real cement stucco or synthetic?

On a home built under the Stone Oak Master Plan restrictions it is real cement stucco. Those restrictions define masonry as stucco, brick or rock and prohibit synthetic or prefabricated masonry veneers and panels. It matters, because traditional cement stucco is prepped, patched and coated differently from EIFS or a synthetic panel system. Michael will confirm what is actually on your walls when he walks the house.

How long does an exterior repaint take in Stone Oak?

It depends on the size of the house, how much stucco crack repair and carpentry has to happen first, and the weather. Then add the approval window on top of that. Because the committee meets twice a month and a submittal can be deemed disapproved after thirty days of silence, most homeowners should start the paperwork several weeks before they want the crew on site. Michael will give you a schedule in writing with your bid.

Why does my stucco keep cracking in the same places?

Because of what is under the house. Soils here are largely Eckrant very cobbly clay, roughly a foot of expansive clay over solid limestone, so foundations bear on a mix of rock and clay and move unevenly. Rigid cement stucco shows that as repeat cracking at window and door corners and along the line between floors. Filling a crack with paint hides it for a season. It has to be opened up, repaired and rebuilt properly, then coated.

Who paints houses in Stone Oak, San Antonio?

Value House Painting, owned by Michael Hernandez, has painted San Antonio homes and businesses since 2003. We are a locally owned small business based in 78216, carry $1,000,000 in liability insurance on every project, and back the work with a 2 year written transferable warranty of quality. Call (210) 445-1060 or email michael@valuehousepainting.com for a free estimate.

Value you can count on

Get a free Stone Oak painting estimate

Tell us what you are thinking about painting and Michael will come out, walk it with you and put a detailed bid in writing. No charge, no obligation.

Get My Stone Oak Estimate Call (210) 445-1060
  • 4.8 Rated on Google
  • 2 yearWritten warranty
  • Since 2003Locally owned
Living room with a tray ceiling, a white mantel with a black granite surround, arched plantation shutters, a brown leather sectional and a hardwood floor
Single story stucco home with a limestone arched entry, a dark wood front door, arched windows and landscaped beds

Free written bid

Call (210) 445-1060 Free Estimate