Do you work on homes with wood rot, failing trim, or areas that need repair before painting?

Yes. A lot of the older homes we paint need more than a standard repaint. We handle scraped and peeling siding, soft or rotted trim, exposed wood, and failed caulking before painting starts. If something needs repair, we'll tell you during the estimate.

Do you paint Victorian, Tudor, Craftsman, and other historic home styles?

Yes. Each style has its own detailing and color conventions, and we take that into account, whether it's a Victorian's intricate trim, a Craftsman bungalow's woodwork, or a Tudor's distinct color patterns.

Can you help if my house has difficult access or tall exterior areas?

Yes, we can handle multi-story exteriors and homes with tricky access. We'll walk the property during your estimate and let you know upfront if anything about the access changes the scope or approach.

Do you follow lead-safe practices on older homes?

Yes. Homes built before 1978 may have lead-based paint in older layers, and we follow lead-safe work practices when we're working on them, including proper containment and cleanup.

Can you quote the whole exterior, even with unique architectural features?

Yes. We look at the entire exterior during your estimate, including any unusual architectural details, so the quote reflects what your specific home actually needs rather than a generic estimate.

Historic Home Painters in Minneapolis

We understand old houses. Careful prep, lead-safe practices, and respect for what makes your home original.

Call (612) 688-3059

Painting Historic Homes in Minneapolis and St. Paul

Older homes need more than a standard repaint. Original wood siding, plaster, layered old paint systems, and architectural details that don't exist in newer construction all call for a different approach. We work on Craftsman bungalows, foursquares, Victorians, and Tudors throughout Minneapolis and St. Paul, including neighborhoods like Uptown, Linden Hills, and the areas around the Chain of Lakes.

Call (612) 688-3059

Why Older Homes Need a Different Approach

A lot of the older homes we see in this market need real prep work before painting even starts. Layered old paint, soft or rotted trim, exposed original wood, and failed caulking are common on homes built decades ago, and painting over these issues without addressing them first just means the new paint fails faster.

Original wood siding needs different prep than modern siding materials
Multiple layers of old paint require careful scraping and priming, not just a quick sand
Architectural details like intricate trim, cornices, and multi-color schemes take more time to do right

How We Approach Different Materials

Historic homes are rarely a single material. A single exterior might combine original wood siding, brick, and stucco, and each one takes a different technique to paint correctly.

Wood siding — needs thorough scraping of old, failing paint layers and a stain-blocking primer to prevent old tannins or stains from bleeding through the new topcoat
Brick and masonry — typically left unpainted if original, but painted masonry needs breathable, masonry-specific coatings rather than standard exterior paint
Stucco — needs a flexible, crack-resistant coating (see our Stucco Painting page for more detail)

We apply paint in thin, even coats rather than one heavy pass. That builds a more durable finish and helps preserve the fine detail in original trim and molding instead of filling it in with too much product.

Lead-Safe Practices for Older Homes

Many homes built before 1978 have lead-based paint somewhere in the layers underneath. Disturbing that paint without the right precautions creates a real health hazard, especially for kids and pregnant women. We follow lead-safe work practices on every older home we paint, including proper containment and cleanup.

We are an EPA Lead-Safe Certified Firm.

Call (612) 688-3059

Our Process for Historic Exteriors

1Step 1 — Inspection

Why it matters: Every historic home has a different history of repairs, materials, and wear. We start by actually looking at what we're working with before quoting the job.

What to expect: A full walk-around of the exterior, identification of areas needing repair versus areas that just need painting, honest information about what your home actually needs.

2Step 2 — Repair and Carpentry

Why it matters: Rotted trim, soft wood, and failing caulking need to be fixed before paint goes on, not painted over.

What to expect: Wood rot and trim repair as needed, caulking of gaps and seams, repair work discussed with you before it happens.

3Step 3 — Prep and Priming

Why it matters: This is where most of the real work happens on an older home. Multiple layers of old paint and original materials both need careful handling.

What to expect: Scraping of failing paint, lead-safe containment practices where applicable, primer matched to the specific material being painted.

4Step 4 — Paint Application

Why it matters: Thin, even coats protect the fine detail in original trim and molding instead of filling it in.

What to expect: Careful masking of non-painted surfaces, layered application in thin, even coats, attention to detail work like multi-color trim schemes.

5Step 5 — Cleanup and Final Walkthrough

Why it matters: Your landscaping and property should look better at the end of the job, not worse.

What to expect: Daily site cleanup, landscaping protected throughout the project, a walkthrough with you before we call the job complete.

Historic Exterior Painting: Common Questions

Service Area

Minneapolis, St. Louis Park, Edina, Richfield, Columbia Heights, Saint Anthony, Crystal, New Hope, Fridley, Brooklyn Center

Ready to Restore Your Home's Exterior?

Get a free estimate and find out what your historic home actually needs, from a crew that takes the details seriously.

Call (612) 688-3059

By calling, you'll be connected with our licensed, insured local painting contractor.