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PaintThe paint on a building is like the clothes that we wear—it serves many purposes. It protects against the elements. It can highlight interesting features and hide flaws. It provides a way to express an owner’s individuality or connection to a broader community. When deciding whether and how to paint an older building it is important to keep all these aspects in mind, so that you get a paint job that both looks good and protects the building. A good paint job is not merely cosmetic; it provides a layer of protection from sun, wind, and moisture. If the paint fails, then the underlying building surfaces are exposed to conditions which they were not designed to withstand. Ultimately, this can lead to wood rot, metal corrosion, and even structural failure in the house Paint can cover the flaws in a building, but it can’t make them disappear. If the flaws are caused by structural problems, it is best to address them first. Repair before painting—if paint is peeling, blistering, etc., take the time to figure out why and solve this problem (leaky roof, poor drainage, bad gutters, moisture from inside the house, etc.). If wood is rotting or decaying, find the source of the problem and then repair, consolidate, or replace the damaged area. Once this is done, a good paint job will last much longer. In planning a do-it-yourself paint job or hiring a painting contractor, be sure to take any necessary repairs, removal of peeling or failing paint, cleaning, priming, and other surface preparation into account. A quick or cheap paint job can make the house look better for a while, but it will just have to be redone sooner, and any deferred repairs can prove to be even more costly. Just as it is with clothing, fashions in paint color have changed over the years. When choosing what color or colors to paint a house, you should weigh several factors. First, look at the house as a whole. What is it made of, and what parts will be painted? Particularly with a stone or brick house, you already have a major existing color to work with. A color that looks great on the sample card at the paint store may look terrible next to the brick color of your house. Next, look at the surroundings of the house. Are there landscape features that your house should harmonize with? What about the colors of nearby houses—will the colors you choose clash with the neighbors? This is an especially important consideration for twins and rowhouses, which were usually given uniform, or at least complementary, paint schemes. Finally, think about what colors are appropriate to the architectural style and building date of your house. Many paint companies now have historical collections that can guide you toward color combinations that work well with historic architectural styles. There are also a variety of useful books and web sites that can give color advice. A historic preservation specialist can even perform a paint analysis to determine what the original colors were. With proper preparation and care, a quality paint job can last for many years. Not only will it make your home attractive, but it will also help to preserve its historic character for generations to come.
If you have questions, suggestions for topics we might address, or know of materials that have been helpful to you, please let us know. You can call the Resource Center at 215 247-0417 or e-mail us. |
For further reading Preservation
Brief 10: Exterior Paint Problems on Historic Woodwork Paint
Quality Institute CHHS Resource Center Contractors page |
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Hill Historical Society - 8708 Germantown Ave. - Philadelphia PA
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