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Exterior Paint Schemes For Historical Houses
Owners of historical homes know that choosing paint colors is a
nerve-wracking and critically important decision. Ready-mix
paints have been available since the middle part of the
nineteenth century and from that time home owners have had to
choose their colors without really knowing how their finished
home will look. After all, a two inch paint chip looks very
different from a 3,000 square foot house!
In a visit to New England in the 1840s, famed novelist Charles
Dickens commented, "All the buildings looked as if they had been
painted that morning ... Every house is the whitest of white;
every shutter is the greenest of green."
If you have an older home and want to choose colors other than
green and white, here are some guidelines"
1. Light colors "advance" a home while dark colors cause it to
"recede". This means that lighter shades will make your home
appear larger and closer to the street, while darker shades make
your home seem smaller and further away. If you want your house
to blend in and be less noticeable, therefore, a darker hue is
best.
2. Light dramatically affects how colors appear to the human
eye. In cooler climates the light is diffused and bold colors
are intensified. In southern climates, the harsher, brighter
sunlight will cause pale tints to appear washed out.
3. If you want your gutters and downspouts to be less
noticeable, paint them the same color as the house.
4. Make sure any mildew problems are solved before painting.
Test suspicious spots with household bleach and if they change
color, you definitely have a mildew problem.
5. Moisture problems must be eliminated before painting. If they
are not, water will ruin even the best paint job.
6. Some paint manufacturers offer color
'families' to simplify
choosing. That is, there are several colors that go well
together and eliminate the agony of figuring out the exact right
shade for the trim so that it will relate well to the primary
exterior color.
7. It's always possible to get expert help. This is especially
desirable if you own a historical landmark and wish for it to be
restored to its former appearance. Historical paint consultants
are familiar with shades available at the time the home was
built and can often do research to determine original colors.
These folks understand chemical changes in paint and can usually
figure out what the original colors looked like before they
faded to today's milder colors.
8. There is software available that allows home owners to scan
in a picture of their home and then try out different colors
without making an actual commitment. It's powerful to see your
home in Colonial Barn Red or Patriot Federal Blue before
actually putting a drop of color on the outside.
9. You might consider staining your historical property, rather
than painting it. Stain is cheaper and it won't peel off or
crack the way paint does. This is because it actually sinks into
the wood, rather than coating it so it will instead weather and
dim over time. Stain won't cover up any imperfections in the
wood the way paint does, however.
Owning and living in a historically significant home is a
privilege and maintaining that house is a responsibility to take
seriously. Therefore, avoid hasty color choices and take the
time to choose wisely.
About the author:
Learn all about home
interior decorating from dozens of articles, a blog and
constant new information about how to create your special haven
from the world.
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