Specialty guide

Painting a Historic Home in Houston

Older houses need slower prep, and pre-1978 homes bring rules that apply whoever does the work.

Painting a period home is mostly a preparation job. The finish is the easy part; everything that determines how long it lasts happens before it.

Lead paint and pre-1978 homes

Houses built before 1978 may contain lead-based paint. Federal rules govern how contractors disturb painted surfaces in those homes, including containment and cleanup requirements. This applies regardless of who does the work, and it is worth confirming with any contractor that they follow it before sanding or scraping begins.

Ask before anyone starts sanding. Dry-scraping or power-sanding old paint without containment spreads dust through the house and the yard.

Original wood windows and trim

Older millwork is usually worth saving and is rarely square after eighty years. It needs hand sanding, careful filling, re-glazing where putty has failed, and brushing rather than spraying to keep the profiles crisp. It is slower work, and a quote that treats it like modern trim has not accounted for it.

Historic districts

Houston has designated historic districts, and exterior alterations in them can require review. Requirements vary by district and change over time, so confirm current rules with the City of Houston before committing to an exterior scheme rather than relying on what a neighbour did a few years ago. We are happy to work to whatever the district requires.

What we do differently on an older home

Probe for soft wood at sills, sashes and fascia before quoting, because rot is usually worse than it looks
Repair or splice original timber where it can be saved rather than replacing wholesale
Hand-brush detailed millwork so profiles stay sharp
Prime bare wood the same day it is exposed so it does not take on moisture

See our historic home painting service and what drives exterior cost.

Common questions

Do you work on pre-1978 homes?

Yes. Those homes may contain lead paint, and the containment and cleanup requirements are part of the job rather than an optional extra.

Will I need approval to repaint in a historic district?

It depends on the district and on what you are changing. Requirements vary, so confirm the current position with the City of Houston before you commit to a scheme.

Can original wood windows be saved?

Usually. Most old sashes are repairable, and repairing them is generally cheaper and more sympathetic than replacement.

Keep reading

Own an older Houston home?

We will walk it with you, probe the timber properly, and tell you what actually needs doing.

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