Older homes often have a warmth and coziness that is hard to replicate in modern homes. They are also filled with treasured details such as built-in shelving and original wood floors.
Every home is old and needs to be maintained, updated, or refreshed every few years. Painting is a great way to bring life back into an old house while maintaining its integrity. However, painting an older home can present its own challenges. These include small things like trim and corners, as well as large tasks such as replacing damaged walls and repairing them.
These tips can help you make older home painting projects easier, whether you are just moving and feel overwhelmed by the task of tackling old paint jobs that haven’t been touched for decades. For our top old house painting tips, read on.
How to prepare for painting an elderly home
Find out the extent of your prep work.
While you may be excited to choose a color and watch your room come to life, we recommend that you always prepare first. Preparing a home that is older will require a different approach than one for a newer house.
Consider any areas that may need to be cleaned up or primed before you paint. Ceiling painting is a crucial stage of the process. Older popcorn ceilings may need to be removed, smoothed, primed, and painted. Some ceilings may not have been cleaned in years. This could cause problems with adhesion.
You should inspect areas that appear to have suffered water damage or other damage. Before painting, both exterior and interior areas must be repaired. This step can be a surprise in an old home, so be prepared. Reputable painting companies will ensure that all repairs, especially where water, mildew, or rot, are completed before you begin painting.
Think about trim and doors. You may want to re-paint or stain areas that are damaged. These are important parts of older homes that contribute to their unique character. Preparing trim, woodwork, and doors for years to come is essential. Older homes might have several layers of paint. Decide if you are okay with cratering, cracking, and various levels of paint underneath the final product. You can scrape off any paint that is left behind, creating an alligator skin effect. The picture below shows an extreme example.
You can also have exterior paint removed to the bare wood and primed so that surfaces appear nearly new and smooth. This can be a time-consuming, labor-intensive, and costly process. Your budget should guide your decision.
Use the right paint and tools for old homes.
Many older homes have different surfaces than modern homes. Older homes often have exposed brick, plaster walls, wood paneling, and exterior architectural blocks. It is crucial to use the correct paint and tools on these surfaces, as well as the right paint tools for the room, in order to prolong the life of your project.
High gloss paints, for example, will bring out imperfections in older walls. The job can be made more difficult by using the wrong paint and poor preparation on bricks and ornamental trim.
For any exterior or interior painting job, the right paint and tools will be crucial. This is especially true for older homes. When painting non-drywalled surfaces, consult a professional. This will save you both time and money over the long term.
Consider color choices
We may be biased, but we believe that old homes should be treated with respect when choosing exterior and interior paint colors. However, this does not mean that you should stick to avocado green for your vintage bathroom. We believe older homes retain their charm and character better when they are decorated with colors that reflect the era of the house.
Classics are a great choice for an old house. An old home that is crisp and white looks great and does not look boring. It can even make beautiful trim work more noticeable. Classic accent colors are also a great way to highlight detail work on gables, porches, and eaves. An old house can be made more stately with the right charcoal grey. An old bathroom can be given a new lease of life by changing the avocado green to a modern shade.
Bolder colors can be used in older homes, but you don’t have to. We recommend choosing colors that complement the home’s age and feel and that highlight the home’s strengths.
For older homes, hire a professional painter.
To achieve the best painting results for older homes, a professional is required. Professional painters and painting companies not only understand the challenges of painting in older homes, but they also understand how to problem solve when they are–inevitably–surprised by something they just haven’t seen before.
Old homes require special preparation. Poor exterior preparation will result in having to re-paint the house sooner, sometimes literally within 1-2 years. This will be far more expensive and time-consuming than if it was done correctly. A professional paint company might spend more time prepping a surface for painting than the project itself. This time can make a huge difference in the cost of your project, which could mean hundreds of dollars and hours.
Professional painters know the right paints, tools, and equipment to use for older homes. Many companies also have color experts that can help you select colors so your home keeps its original charm.
