Lexington House Painting, From Mid-Century Moderns to Colonials

Mid-century modern houses are built with vertical wood siding, wide fascia boards, exposed beams and walls of glass. Water tends to collect along flat roof edges and at the bottom of vertical boards, so that is where paint and stain fail first. Prep focuses on those edges: scraping, sanding, priming bare wood and keeping the crisp lines that define the style.

Inside, these homes often have wood paneling, open living areas and tall walls. Many owners keep some wood natural and paint the rest, so careful masking and clean cut lines matter more than usual.

Lexington has several local historic districts, including areas around Lexington Center and Battle Green. Exterior changes in those districts may need review, so check with the Lexington Historic Districts Commission before choosing new exterior colors. Interior painting is not affected.

Older Colonials and Capes in Lexington often have many layers of paint on trim and window sashes. Homes built before 1978 may contain lead paint in those layers, which calls for lead-safe prep. Ask about it at your walkthrough.

Lexington has plenty of mature trees, which keep some sides of a house shaded and damp. That leads to mildew and slow-drying siding. A power wash before painting removes mildew and dirt so the new coat can bond, and clean gutters keep water from running down the walls.

Exterior painting here usually runs from about May to October. Freeze-thaw winters are hard on trim and sills, so spring is a good time to book a walkthrough and look at what the winter did.

On many Lexington homes, the first things to look tired are not the walls. Garage doors facing the street fade and peel. Deck stairs and railings weather in the sun and snow. Front doors and entry trim get touched every day. These smaller areas can be painted on their own when the rest of the siding is still in good shape, which is often a smart way to stretch time between full exterior jobs.

For split-levels and ranches with mixed materials, we look at each surface separately: wood trim, siding, garage doors and metal railings each need their own prep. We scrape and sand loose paint, prime bare wood and caulk open joints so water stays out.

Inside, Lexington owners often ask for painted kitchen cabinets, built-ins and trim. We spray-finish cabinets and built-ins after masking counters, floors and walls, for a smooth, even surface.