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Nashville Painting Company

Painting an Older Home: What's Different and What to Ask

By Jeremy Reeves, GM and Owner, Nashville Painting Company · August 16, 2026 · Updated November 3, 2026

Craftsman home with porch columns after exterior painting

Old wood siding, layers of oil paint, plaster walls and pre-1978 paint. What changes when the house has some age on it.

Older homes need more prep

A house with decades of paint on it usually needs more scraping, sanding and wood repair than a newer one. Expect the prep to take a bigger share of the job.

Old oil paint under new latex

Many older homes have oil-based paint on the trim. Latex paint can peel off glossy oil paint if the surface isn't sanded and primed first. We test and prime so the new coat holds.

Wood siding and trim

Original wood siding, porch columns and window sills are worth saving, but soft spots need repair before painting. We point out what we find and agree on repairs with you first.

Plaster walls inside

Plaster cracks differently than drywall. Hairline cracks get filled and primed so they don't show back through the paint.

Homes built before 1978

Paint made before 1978 can contain lead. If your house is that old, tell us the year it was built when you book the quote, so we can talk through the plan for that job.

Ask about the history

If your home is in a historic district or an HOA, check whether colors need approval before you pick them. We can help you put the request together.

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