Painting a Triple-Decker or Two-Family in Somerville, MA

A triple-decker is three full stories, often with an attic level above. Reaching the top safely takes long extension ladders or staging, and the narrow side yards mean ladders have to be set carefully, sometimes on a neighbor's side of the property line.

Talking to neighbors before the job starts helps a lot. Let them know which days the crew will be near their house, that ladders may need to be set on their side for a short time, and that their plants or cars will be protected.

Because of the height and the moving of ladders, triple-decker exteriors take longer than their footprint suggests. A quote based only on square footage will usually miss that.

Most triple-deckers have stacked porches on the front, the back or both. Each level has floors, railings, balusters, columns, ceilings and stairs, and each of those takes time. Porch floors and stair treads also take the most weather and foot traffic, so they fail first.

Rotted porch parts should be repaired or replaced before painting. Railings in particular should be checked for safety, not just appearance. A good estimate lists porch work separately, so owners can see what each level costs.

For porch floors, use a floor enamel made for foot traffic. For ceilings, many owners like the classic light blue, but any light, washable finish works.

Some Somerville houses still have their original wood clapboards, and many were covered with aluminum or vinyl siding decades ago. When the body is wood, the full prep applies: scraping loose paint, sanding edges, priming bare wood and two finish coats.

When the body is aluminum or vinyl, the painting work often focuses on wood trim, windows, doors and porches. Aluminum siding can also be painted after cleaning and priming, which can give a tired house a new look without replacing the siding.

Most Somerville triple-deckers were built in the late 1800s and early 1900s, so lead paint is very likely in the older layers on trim, windows and porches. Contractors who disturb those surfaces must follow lead-safe practices with containment and careful cleanup, which is especially important when houses are this close together.

Owners who rent units should also know that Massachusetts has its own lead law for homes where young children live. Lead-safe painting is not the same as deleading, which is a separate process done by licensed professionals.

Many triple-deckers are condos with three owners, or one owner with two rental units. For condos, the association usually decides the colors and hires the contractor, and the cost is split by the condo documents. Agreeing on colors and budget first saves a lot of back and forth.

Whoever is in charge, tell everyone in the building when the crew will be working near their porch and windows, when windows should stay closed, and when porches or stairs will be wet. A simple schedule taped by the front door works well.

Street parking in Somerville is tight and many streets have resident permit parking. Plan where the work vehicle will park and where materials will be staged. If the job needs to use the sidewalk or street for a lift or a dumpster, check with the city about what is required before the job starts.

Somerville streets are colorful, and owners often enjoy picking something with personality: deep blues, greens, grays, warm reds and even bright accent colors on doors and porch details. On a tall house, a body color slightly darker than you think you want often looks best from the street and hides dirt better.

Test the color on a large board and look at it from across the street, not just up close.

Interior painting in Somerville units usually means plaster walls with hairline cracks, original trim, radiators and smaller rooms. Prep includes filling cracks, priming patches and protecting floors and radiators. For rental units, the best time to paint is between tenants.

If the full house is too much for one season, many owners split the work: porches and the worst sides first, then the rest the following year. Keeping a record of the colors and products used makes it easy to match later.

Somerville is right next to Arlington, where most of our jobs are. Sergio runs every job himself and gives free, written estimates that list the body, trim, each porch level and any repairs, so owners can plan clearly.