7 Things to Know About Painting a Historic Home

Historic homes are a big part of the community in Southern Rhode Island. This is due to the longtime history of the area and the efforts of its citizens to preserve these homes. However, sometimes these homes do need to be updated and a fresh coat of paint could be the answer. In this post, we are going to discuss the top things to be aware of when working on these types of homes. The CertaPro team of Southern Rhode Island has vast experience with historic homes and can help with any size project!

1. Check for Lead Paint – if the home was built before 1978 you’ll want to first check for lead based paint. Typically, these homes will either have been repainted before and LBP removed or still have some intact. When removing this paint, it’s important to use extra precaution or go with a provider who is EPA lead-based paint certified.
2. Wash the Surface – As with any project, prepping the surface is important. The first prep step is to wash any dirt and debris off. For historic homes this should be done with care as some of the surfaces may be fragile underneath. They might also need repairs and so it’s crucial to not over wash and saturate with water.
3. Remove Old Paint – Like we mentioned above, if the home has lead-based paint it will need to be removed before painting over it. Most of the time these homes may have several layers of all types of paint. It will be best to remove all the old layers and leave a fresh surface for new paint to adhere to.
4. Make Any Repairs – after the old paint is removed, you’ll need to make any repairs to the underlying surface. This is mostly to seal and make it an even surface for the best paint outcome. This goes for both interior and exterior paint projects.
5. Prime the Surface – You will want to go for a quality primer especially meant for older wood or siding. If the walls are plaster there are primers for these as well. It’s imperative to pick the right primer for your project.
6. Prep the Surrounding Area – Most of the time historic homes have accents like staircases, mantels, chimneys, etc. that need to be covered before painting. Also, if you are preserving original flooring, you’ll want to make sure everything is covered.
7. Pick the Right Paint – With all projects it’s very important to make the right paint selection for your surface. For historic homes, especially near coastal areas, you’ll want a paint that is durable meant for these types of exteriors. For interiors, you’ll want a paint that can seal and provide some protection.

The team at CertaPro of Southern Rhode Island knows how to paint any type of historic home and is EPA Lead Certified. This additional training makes them well equipped to help with any age home. If you have any questions about this post or want a free estimate of your home painting project, reach out to your local CertaPro team at 401-921-2260

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