Painting in Superior
Superior’s grid of older frame houses gives painters plenty to work with, from tall two-story homes in the East End to modest bungalows in the South End. Many of these houses have original wood trim, plaster walls and porches that have been repainted many times, and each of those surfaces calls for a slightly different approach.
Inside older Superior homes
Plaster holds paint well once it is sound, but years of house settling leave cracks at corners and above door frames. Those are cut out, taped where needed, filled and primed so the crack stays hidden. Tall baseboards, window stools and door casings in these houses are often the most time-consuming part of an interior job, and it helps to decide early whether to keep a natural wood finish or paint it. Testing any pre-1978 paint before sanding is part of the plan, since older coats may contain lead.
Siding, porches and bay weather
Cold air and damp off the bay mean exterior paint here needs a dry day to go on and several more to cure well. Wood clapboard on older houses typically shows the most wear on the sunny south and west walls, where the finish chalks and cracks first. Front porches, railings and steps are painted with products rated for foot traffic and moisture.
- Clapboard and trim scraped and primed
- Porch floors, ceilings and rails
- Garages and detached outbuildings
Rentals and duplexes
Superior has a lot of duplexes and older homes divided into rental units. Painting between tenants works best with a consistent color and sheen throughout, so touch-ups later are simple. Rules for rental properties are set locally and are worth checking with the city. Keeping a written note of the brand, color and sheen for each unit saves guesswork the next time a wall needs a patch. Stairwells and shared entries in duplexes take the hardest wear, so a tougher, washable finish makes sense there even if the units themselves use something softer.
For a free estimate on painting in Superior, call (218) 522-9671 and describe the house or unit.