Short answer
Our Chevy Chase, MD work is mostly interiors in early 1900s houses: plaster walls and ceilings, paneled libraries, stairways and window sashes, plus exterior trim and porch work. We assess the plaster, test old finishes and plan lead-safe steps. A typical floor takes one to two weeks, with rooms done in sequence so the house stays lived in.
A planned streetcar suburb with century-old plaster and trim
The Chevy Chase Land Company laid out this part of Montgomery County along Connecticut Avenue in the 1890s, running a streetcar line from the District out to Chevy Chase Lake. The result is a set of incorporated villages and sections, including the Town of Chevy Chase, Chevy Chase Village and Martin's Additions, with tree-lined streets and large lots set back from the road. Much of the original area is listed as a historic district on the National Register.
The houses range from 1890s shingle-style and Queen Anne homes to 1910s and 1920s Colonial Revival, Tudor Revival and Craftsman designs. Inside, that means three-coat plaster on wood or metal lath, quarter-sawn oak and painted poplar trim, built-in bookcases, wide stair halls with turned balusters and many original double-hung windows. Some houses still have original paneled dens or dining rooms that were painted at some point and need careful stripping or sympathetic repainting.
These are substantial, well-built houses, but a century of settling, heating and humidity leaves its marks. Painting them well is mostly a matter of plaster repair and patient prep rather than fast rolling.
What a century of seasons does to Chevy Chase, MD interiors
These are the conditions we plan for in most older Chevy Chase houses.
Delaminating ceiling plaster
Ceiling plaster loosens from the lath over decades, showing up as cracks with a soft sag. We re-attach it with plaster washers and adhesive before skimming, so the repair holds instead of cracking again.
Alligatored trim
Many coats of oil paint on trim crack into an alligator pattern. We sand or strip back the worst runs and prime with a bonding primer so the new enamel lies smooth.
Painted-shut windows
Original sashes often have been painted shut for years. We cut them free, scrape the channels and paint so they open again, and note any glazing that needs work.
Water-stained ceilings under baths
Old bathroom leaks leave brown rings on dining and living room ceilings. Once the leak is fixed, we seal the stain with a shellac-based primer so it doesn't bleed through.
Lead in older layers
With houses this old, lead paint is likely somewhere in the layers. We follow EPA RRP lead-safe work practices whenever we sand or scrape, with containment and HEPA cleanup.
How a Chevy Chase, MD stair hall and living room repaint is done
A typical project here is the main floor of an early 1900s Colonial Revival: stair hall, living room and dining room.
- Coat 01
Walkthrough and plaster map
We tap walls and ceilings for loose plaster, note cracks and stains and check trim for alligatoring. The scope and price come from that map, not a square-foot guess.
- Coat 02
Contain and protect
Furniture is moved and covered, floors protected, and lead-safe containment goes up. Rugs and fragile pieces are moved out of the rooms where possible.
- Coat 03
Repair plaster
Loose plaster is re-anchored, cracks taped with mesh and setting compound and damaged areas skimmed. Repairs dry before we prime, which can add a day.
- Coat 04
Trim and windows
Trim is sanded, filled and primed, and windows freed. We brush trim in a semi-gloss or satin enamel suited to the period, and keep the original profiles crisp.
- Coat 05
Walls and ceilings
Ceilings get a flat finish and walls two coats of an eggshell or matte. On the stair hall we often recommend a more washable finish where hands and bags rub the wall.
- Coat 06
Cleanup and review
We HEPA clean, remove containment, return furniture and walk through every room with you in daylight and lamplight before touching up.
Working in the Chevy Chase villages: access and review
A few local rules and practices shape our Chevy Chase, MD schedule.
- Several of the Chevy Chase municipalities have their own rules on contractor parking, work hours and dumpsters, so we confirm them before day one.
- National Register listing generally does not regulate paint colors, but Montgomery County has its own historic preservation review for designated sites; check with the county and your village if you plan exterior changes.
- Large lots and driveways make access easier than in the city, but we still plan ladder placement around gardens and old trees.
- Interiors can be painted any time of year, while exterior trim and porch work generally runs April through October.
- We answer the phone 24/7 to book walkthroughs, and our painters work normal daytime hours.
Choosing colors and finishes for a Chevy Chase period house
Period houses often look best in soft, layered colors and lower sheens on walls, with trim in a slightly richer white or a contrasting historic shade. Paints from Benjamin Moore's historical collection or Farrow & Ball are popular here, and we can sample several against your woodwork and floors. A color consultation visit runs $145 to $285.
If your house also needs exterior attention, the same walkthrough can cover porch ceilings, window sashes and shutters. For houses in nearby Bethesda or across the line in Chevy Chase DC, we can schedule walkthroughs back to back.
Most requested here
Historic Home Painting
Pre-war plaster, old-growth wood trim and original windows painted with methods that respect the house.
Interior House Painting
Walls, ceilings and trim in occupied homes, with furniture moved, floors covered and rooms back in use each night.
Plaster Repair
Cracked and sagging plaster re-anchored and skim coated so pre-war walls stay plaster, not drywall.
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.
Staircase & Banister Painting
Spindles, newels, risers and handrails sanded and painted in a finish that survives hands and shoes.
Paint Color Consultation
Sample boards checked in your own light, with color and sheen picked room by room before any paint is bought.
Close by
ZIP codes we cover here: 20815. We also paint in these neighboring areas.
Questions from Chevy Chase homeowners
Do you repair original plaster in Chevy Chase, MD homes rather than replacing it with drywall?
Yes. Plaster in these houses is usually worth keeping. We re-anchor loose sections, tape cracks with mesh and setting compound and skim coat where needed. Skim coating a room typically runs $1,150 to $2,800, and smaller crack repairs $185 to $640 per area.
Is a permit or review needed to repaint a historic house in Chevy Chase, Maryland?
Repainting interiors generally needs no review. For exteriors, Montgomery County's historic preservation rules and your village's rules may apply in some cases, so check with them before changing colors or painting masonry. We can share what we know during the walkthrough.
Can you strip and repaint paneled rooms in an older Chevy Chase house?
We can. Painted paneling is cleaned, sanded and primed, and areas with failing paint are stripped back. Our historic home painting approach keeps the profiles sharp rather than filling them with new paint. Call (771) 247-4038 to book a look at the room.
