Tips & Considerations for Painting Richmond Area Historical Homes

Like any other city with significant history, Richmond, VA has tons of beautiful, historic homes. Unlike modern homes, these residences can require special care and attention, especially when it comes to painting their exteriors. At CertaPro Painters® of NW Richmond & Midlothian, VA, we understand the unique challenges and considerations involved in painting historic properties, so here are some of our essential tips for giving historic homes a new look without sacrificing their unique architecture and charm.

Understand the Home’s Historical Significance

Before starting a painting project, we believe it’s crucial to understand the historical significance of your home. Research the structure’s architectural style, original color schemes, and any historical guidelines that may apply. With this knowledge, you can more easily choose colors and techniques that compliments your home’s past.

Choose the Right Paint

Historic homes often have different needs compared to modern houses, so it’s important to select high-quality paints that are compatible with older building materials. Consider using paints that allow wood to breath, such as latex or specialized historic paints. Using these kinds of products can help guard against moisture build up, wood rot, and other common issues that spring up with older homes.

Learn How To Prepare the Surface for Painting

Properly preparing the exterior surface for painting helps make your paint job last for years to come, especially when it comes to historic homes. Here’s our short preparation checklist:

1. Thoroughly Clean: Remove dirt, mildew, and any flaking paint. At CertaPro Painters® of NW Richmond & Midlothian, VA, we power wash exterior surfaces before applying any primers or paint
2. Repair the Siding: Fix up any damaged wood or masonry. This allows paint to adhere better as well as create a better looking finish.
3. Prime the Painting Surface: Use high-quality primer that is suitable for your building’s materials. This makes paint adhere better and last longer.

Preserve Architectural Details

Historic homes often feature intricate architectural details that can require special attention. When painting, we suggest using smaller brushes and specialized tools to reach tight spots and highlight these special features.

Tackling a historic home painting project can be very complex. That’s why we suggest leaving the project to experienced professional painters like those at CertaPro Painters® of NW Richmond & Midlothian, VA. Schedule your free estimate today to have a professional painter come out to your historic residence and evaluate your project.