A lot of homes in Northeast Philadelphia and lower Bucks County are 50 to 70 years old. They are solid, well-built houses. But older walls, trim and doors have a history, and that history shows up when you paint. The secret to a paint job that looks great and lasts is not the paint. It is the prep.
Here is what good prep looks like on an older home, and what you should expect from any painter you hire.
Older walls have layers
A home built in the 1950s or 1960s may have been painted 10 or 15 times. Some of those coats were oil-based, some were latex, and some were put on over dirt or gloss without sanding. When you add a new coat on top, it can only stick as well as the layers under it.
That is why a good painter checks the surface first. Signs of trouble include:
- Peeling or flaking around windows, doors and bathrooms
- Cracks in plaster walls and ceilings, especially near corners and door frames
- Nail pops where drywall screws or nails have pushed out
- Glossy trim that new paint will not grip without sanding
- Stains from old water leaks, smoke or markers that bleed through
Plaster vs. drywall
Many older homes in the area have plaster walls, at least in some rooms. Plaster is hard and durable, but it cracks as a house settles. Small hairline cracks can be filled and sanded. Larger cracks may need tape and a few coats of compound so they do not come back.
Drywall is easier to patch, but older drywall may have seams that show through the paint. We fix those during prep so the finished wall looks smooth from every angle.
Oil vs. latex on trim
Many older homes have oil-based paint on the trim and doors. If you put latex directly over glossy oil paint, it can peel off in sheets. The fix is simple but important: clean the surface, scuff sand it, and use a bonding primer before the finish coat. This is one of the most common shortcuts we see other painters skip, and it is the reason trim peels a year later.
Learn more about our trim and molding painting and door painting services.
A note about lead paint
Homes built before 1978 may have lead-based paint somewhere under the newer layers. Lead paint is only a hazard when it is disturbed, like when it is sanded, scraped or chipped. If your home was built before 1978, ask any painter you are considering how they will contain dust and debris, and whether their work follows the EPA lead-safe rules for renovation and painting. A careful painter will be glad to talk about it.
Exterior prep on older homes
Outside, older homes face the same problem plus the weather. Wood trim, sills and porch parts take a beating from rain, sun and freeze-thaw cycles. Good exterior prep means:
- Washing dirt and mildew off the surface
- Scraping all loose and peeling paint
- Sanding rough edges so the new paint looks smooth
- Caulking gaps around windows, doors and trim
- Priming any bare wood or metal
Skipping any of these steps can cut the life of an exterior paint job in half. See our exterior painting page for how we handle it.
Protecting the rest of your home
Prep is not only about the surface being painted. It is also about everything around it. On every job, we cover floors with drop cloths and plastic, move and cover furniture, and mask outlets, hardware and fixtures. At the end of each day, we clean up so you can still use your home. Our customers mention this in their reviews more than anything else.
Questions to ask your painter
Before you hire anyone, ask:
- What prep is included in the price?
- Will you prime bare spots and patches?
- How will you handle glossy or oil-based trim?
- How will you protect my floors and furniture?
- Can I see photos of past work?
You can see our own work on the projects page.
We know these homes
We are based in Northeast Philadelphia and also work in Bensalem and Feasterville-Trevose. We have been painting homes like yours since 2010. If your walls, trim or exterior need attention, send us a quote request or call Andy’s Painting LLC at (267) 752-5432.