A Homeowner Guide to House Painting in Arlington, MA

A large share of Arlington homes were built in the early and middle 1900s. That usually means wood clapboards or shingles with many layers of paint, original window trim and porches with detail. These houses reward careful prep: scraping loose paint, sanding edges, repairing sills and priming bare wood.

It also means many are pre-1978 homes, where lead-safe work practices apply when painted surfaces are disturbed. That should be part of any estimate you get.

East Arlington and the neighborhoods near Mass Ave have plenty of two-family homes. They are tall, often with two stacked porches, so access and porch work are a big part of the job. If you own one with a neighbor or rent one unit, it helps to agree on colors and timing before getting quotes.

Arlington has local historic districts overseen by the Arlington Historic District Commission. If your home is in one, check with the commission before exterior work, since some changes need review. It is a quick call that can save a delay later.

Arlington has a lot of mature trees. Shade is nice in summer but keeps some walls damp longer, which encourages mildew and slows drying. Houses near Spy Pond or on low, shaded lots often show it on the north side first. Washing and good primer help paint last on those walls.

Exterior work in Arlington usually runs from late spring into fall. Streets in some neighborhoods are narrow and parking is tight, so plan where the work truck and ladders will go, and give your neighbors a heads up. Interior work can be done all winter.

Many Arlington homes have open front porches, and those take a beating from snow, salt and foot traffic. Porch floors and stair treads usually need attention before the rest of the house. They should be cleaned, sanded where the old finish has failed, repaired where boards are soft and finished with a floor enamel made for traffic. Railings should be checked for loose or rotted parts, which is a safety issue as much as a looks issue.

The front door is the easiest place to add personality. A deep red, navy, black or a bright accent color can change the look of the whole house for very little cost, and it pairs well with a classic body color.

Inside, Arlington homes from the early 1900s often have plaster walls, wide trim, built-ins and old doors. Plaster takes paint beautifully, but hairline cracks need to be opened, filled and primed so they do not come back through the new paint. Old trim with oil-based paint needs to be cleaned, scuffed and primed with a bonding primer before a modern paint will hold.

Many homeowners also remove old wallpaper while they are at it. Doing it right means taking off all the adhesive and priming the wall before painting, otherwise the new paint can crack.

A good estimate lists each surface, the prep for each one, any carpentry, the product line and the number of coats. On older homes it should also say how lead-safe work will be handled. Comparing two or three written estimates line by line is the easiest way to see the real difference between painters, which is usually prep, not paint.

Arlington streets lean toward classic New England palettes: whites and creams, soft and deep grays, navy, sage and deep greens, and warm tans, usually with white trim and a contrasting door. Two-family homes look best with a body color that is not too light, since tall walls show dirt quickly.

Before you commit, paint large samples on two or three walls of the house and look at them in morning and late afternoon light. Colors change a lot between the store chip and a full wall in the sun. If your neighbors share a driveway or a wall line with you, it is a nice touch to let them know what is coming.

Hiring someone who already works in town means they know the housing stock, the common problems and how to schedule around the weather. Sergio runs every SDP Painting job himself, and most of our jobs are right here in Arlington. Free estimates, written and clear.