MetroWest Boston
Historic home painting and carpentry
Older homes need more than a fresh coat. We repair damaged wood, match trim and paint antique, historic and mid-century homes so the details that make the house special stay intact.
- Inspect the existing paint, wood and trim before deciding what to replace.
- Repair failed wood before paint hides the problem.
- Match original details as closely as practical, with samples when needed.
Inspect before covering
Older homes can have many layers of paint, aging wood and earlier repairs. We look closely before recommending the scope.
Repair before painting
Our in-house carpenters can repair clapboards, trim, fascia, window surrounds and other woodwork before the painting begins.
Match the house
When standard modern trim will not fit, we can source or mill material to match the existing profile as closely as practical.
Preserve the character
Fix what needs fixing
Original clapboards, windows, doors and trim may have survived for generations. The goal is not to make an old house look new. It is to protect the house while preserving the details that make it distinctive.
Preparation matters even more on an older home. Peeling paint, failed joints and deteriorated wood need to be addressed before the finish coat. When replacement is necessary, we can provide a sample for your approval before matching important details.
Historic does not always mean Colonial
MetroWest has Colonial and Victorian homes, later New England houses and mid-century modern architecture. Each has different materials, proportions and details. We plan the work around the house in front of us instead of treating every older property like new construction.
That can mean preserving centuries-old clapboards and detailed trim, or taking extra care with the clean lines, natural materials and distinctive woodwork of a mid-century home.
A Concord project
The Daniel Chester French House
The homeowners describe this Concord house as built around 1787. Target Painting completed exterior painting and carpentry while keeping the home's architectural details in view.
The home is associated with American sculptor Daniel Chester French. He created Concord's Minute Man statue, unveiled at the North Bridge in 1875, and the seated Abraham Lincoln inside the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C.
Daniel Chester French history from the National Park Service
How we plan the work
What happens before the first finish coat
1. Walk the property
We examine the existing paint, woodwork, trim and architectural details with you.
2. Identify repairs
We show you the carpentry and preparation that should happen before painting.
3. Agree on details
Where matching matters, we discuss the material, profile and sample before replacement work begins.
4. Put it in writing
You receive a written proposal with the scope, fixed price and planned start date.
Color and local review
Choose color with the house and the rules in view
A period-sensitive color can still feel like your home. Test a palette, then confirm any local historic-district requirements before changing exterior colors.
Start with the tools we already use
Try palettes in the Target Painting Color Studio, then review real samples during the walk-through.
Open the Color Studio
Read the Massachusetts historic-district paint guide
FAQ
Historic and antique home painting questions
Do you paint historic and antique homes?
Yes. Target Painting provides exterior and interior painting and carpentry for older homes across MetroWest Boston. The scope begins with the condition and details of the individual house.
Can you repair damaged wood before painting?
Yes. Our in-house carpenters can address damaged clapboards, trim, fascia, window surrounds and other exterior woodwork before painting begins.
Can you match original trim and woodwork?
In many cases, yes. When a standard profile will not match, we can source or mill material to match the existing woodwork as closely as practical.
How is painting an older home different?
Older homes may have many generations of paint, aging wood, unusual materials, intricate trim and earlier repairs. Those conditions need to be evaluated before new paint is applied.
Do you work on mid-century modern homes?
Yes. Mid-century homes have their own materials, proportions, woodwork and architectural details. We plan the preparation, repair and paint work around those features.
What about lead paint?
Homes built before 1978 may contain lead-based paint, and work that disturbs it can require special procedures. We will explain the applicable lead-safe steps during project planning. Read our lead-safe painting information.
Can you help with period-sensitive colors?
Yes. We can review color choices with the architecture and existing details in mind. If the home is in a historic district, confirm whether local approval is required before changing exterior colors.
How do you estimate a historic-home project?
We walk the property with you, examine the paint, woodwork and trim, identify needed carpentry and preparation, then provide a written proposal with the scope and price.
Next step
Get a written price for your historic home
We will inspect the paint, woodwork and details, then give you a written scope, fixed price and planned start date.
Towns we cover: Sudbury · Concord · Wayland · Lincoln · Weston · Wellesley · Lexington · Acton · Carlisle · Newton · Framingham · Natick and 18 more.