House Painters in Boston for Brownstones, Triple-Deckers and Victorians

The triple-decker is the classic Boston building, and its weak point is almost always the porches. Stacked front and back porches take rain, snow and sun on every surface, so railings, balusters, floors and ceilings peel long before the siding does. We scrape loose paint, sand edges, spot-prime bare wood and use porch and floor coatings on walking surfaces so they are not slippery or soft.

Because these are occupied buildings, we plan the work floor by floor so each unit keeps a usable entrance. Landlords who own several buildings often ask us to paint interiors between tenants as well, and we can schedule that around move-out and move-in dates.

In the brownstone and row house neighborhoods most of our work happens inside: high plaster walls, tall windows, crown molding, paneled doors and built-in cabinets. Old plaster often has hairline cracks and patches from decades of repairs, so prep is where the finished result is decided. We fill, sand and prime before any finish coat goes on.

These neighborhoods include historic districts where exterior changes such as door colors, window trim or storefront details may need approval. Before any exterior work in Beacon Hill, Back Bay or the South End, check with the Boston Landmarks Commission or your neighborhood architectural commission, and we will plan the job around what they allow.

Freeze-thaw cycles push moisture into wood and then pop the paint film off from behind. Nor'easters drive rain sideways into trim joints and window sills. Summer humidity slows drying and can trap moisture if a coat goes on too early in the morning. The practical exterior season in Boston usually runs from about May to October, and good dry days book up fast.

Many Boston homes were built long before 1978, which means older layers may contain lead paint. Those surfaces need lead-safe prep practices, so ask about it during your estimate if your home is older.

Outside the brick neighborhoods, a lot of Boston is wood. Charlestown has rows of clapboard homes on narrow streets near Monument Square, where there is little room for ladders and none for a dumpster. East Boston has triple-deckers and two-families from Jeffries Point to Orient Heights, many facing the harbor wind. Roslindale and parts of Jamaica Plain have Victorians and Colonials with porches, bay windows and layered trim.

On these homes we check every elevation, because the side that faces the weather is usually in much worse shape than the street side. Common repairs before painting include loose trim, split clapboards and failed caulk around windows. We point out what we find during the free estimate so you can decide what to include. Gutter cleaning is often worth adding, since overflowing gutters are one of the main reasons paint fails on the lower half of a wall.