Short answer
In Alexandria we mostly paint historic exteriors and trim, limewash or repaint brick, and repair plaster inside older homes. A visit starts with a call. We walk the house, test for lead, note anything that may need Board of Architectural Review approval, and give you a written price before setting the schedule.
Federal rowhouses, Victorian frames and Del Ray bungalows
Old Town Alexandria holds one of the largest collections of Federal-style buildings in the country. Brick and frame rowhouses from the late 1700s and early 1800s line streets such as Prince, Duke, Cameron and Oronoco, many with original six-over-six windows, paneled doors, wood cornices and iron boot scrapers by the steps. Later Victorian frame houses and Italianate rowhouses fill in between.
North of Old Town, Del Ray and Rosemont grew in the early 20th century as streetcar suburbs. Del Ray is full of bungalows, foursquares and small Craftsman-era homes with front porches and wood siding. Rosemont adds larger Colonial Revival and Tudor-style houses.
Farther west, Seminary Hill, Beverley Hills and the West End have mid-century brick Colonials, ramblers and garden apartments. Each part of the city has a different material story, and the paint plan follows it.
Board of Architectural Review and other access points
Alexandria regulates exteriors closely in its historic districts, so it is worth sorting out approvals before we plan the job.
- The Old and Historic Alexandria District and the Parker-Gray District are overseen by the city's Board of Architectural Review, which generally reviews exterior changes visible from a public street.
- Painting previously unpainted brick in these districts generally needs approval, so check with the city's historic preservation staff before we start.
- Repainting already-painted wood in Old Town is often handled differently from new work on masonry, but check with the city about color changes for your property.
- Old Town street parking is tight and largely permit-restricted, so we plan van placement and loading time in advance.
- Sidewalk-facing facades often need ladder and drop cloth setups that keep the walkway open.
- We take calls 24/7 to set walkthroughs, and the painting itself runs on normal working hours.
Paint problems on Alexandria's older houses
Old houses have their own failure patterns, and most of what we see in Alexandria comes from age and moisture.
Spalling painted brick
Brick painted decades ago with a non-breathable coating traps moisture, and the faces pop off in freeze-thaw. We use breathable masonry systems through our brick painting work.
Failing window glazing
Original wood sashes lose their glazing putty, so water gets into the joints. We reglaze where needed before painting, and keep sashes operable rather than painted shut.
Rot in cornices and sills
Wood cornices and windowsills on frame rowhouses rot where water sits. Damaged sections are consolidated or replaced in matching profiles before primer goes on.
Many layers of lead paint
Two centuries of paint can sit on Old Town trim. Most of it contains lead, so we follow EPA RRP lead-safe work practices for every disturbed surface.
Cracked plaster ceilings
Plaster on wood lath sags and cracks with settlement. We re-anchor loose plaster and skim it rather than tearing it out.
How we limewash or repaint brick on an Old Town rowhouse
Brick work is one of our most requested Alexandria jobs, and it depends on what is already on the wall.
- Coat 01
Check what's on the wall
We look at whether the brick is bare or painted, check the mortar and test any old coating. Limewash typically runs $3.10 to $6.20 per square foot and brick painting $2.70 to $5.40.
- Coat 02
Confirm approval
If the brick is unpainted or the color change is visible from the street, you check with the Board of Architectural Review before we schedule.
- Coat 03
Clean the surface
We wash the brick gently, never at high pressure on soft historic brick, and remove loose paint and efflorescence.
- Coat 04
Repoint where needed
Cracked or missing mortar is repointed with a soft, lime-based mortar compatible with old brick before any coating goes on.
- Coat 05
Apply the coating
We apply limewash in thin, wet layers or a breathable mineral or masonry paint, chosen for how the wall handles moisture.
- Coat 06
Cure and review
Limewash cures and lightens over days. We come back to check it, and touch up any thin areas once it has settled.
Most requested here
Historic Home Painting
Pre-war plaster, old-growth wood trim and original windows painted with methods that respect the house.
Brick & Masonry Painting
Previously painted brick cleaned, repointed where needed and coated with a breathable masonry system.
Limewash & Mineral Paint for Brick
Soft, breathable limewash and mineral finishes for brick that should age gracefully rather than peel.
Window Sash & Trim Painting
Glazing checked, sashes and frames painted, and windows left operable instead of painted shut.
Lead-Safe Painting
Containment, wet scraping and HEPA cleanup when older paint is disturbed in homes built before 1978.
Plaster Repair
Cracked and sagging plaster re-anchored and skim coated so pre-war walls stay plaster, not drywall.
Rowhouse Exterior Painting
Front facades, cornices, bays and porch fronts painted with shared party-wall edges and sidewalk access in mind.
Wood Rot Repair
Soft sills, fascia and porch trim cut out or consolidated and rebuilt so new paint is not wasted.
Close by
ZIP codes we cover here: 22314, 22301, 22305. We also paint in these neighboring areas.
Questions from Alexandria homeowners
Do I need Board of Architectural Review approval to paint my Alexandria house?
It depends on the district, the surface and whether the change is visible from the street. Painting previously unpainted brick in Old Town or Parker-Gray generally needs approval, and some color changes on wood may too. Check with the city's historic preservation staff first. We can describe the proposed materials and method for your application.
Can you paint original wood windows on an Old Town Alexandria rowhouse without painting them shut?
Yes. We cut sashes free, check and replace failing glazing putty, paint the sashes and frames, and leave them operable. Window sashes typically run $135 to $290 each, depending on size, condition and how much glazing work is needed. Read more on our historic home painting page.
What is the best time of year to paint a Del Ray porch in Alexandria?
Late spring and early fall are best, when temperatures are mild and the boards are dry. Porch floors take floor-rated enamel that needs a day or two to cure before furniture goes back. Call (771) 247-4038 in early spring to get on the schedule, since porch work books up quickly.
