Outside work in Brooklyn ranges from a full wood-frame house in Flatbush to the cornice, windows and ironwork on a brownstone. Freeze and thaw in winter and humid summers open joints in old wood, so scraping, priming and caulking come first. On landmark blocks, a color change needs Landmarks Preservation Commission approval before we start.
Exterior painting means different things on different Brooklyn blocks. On a brownstone or limestone row house the stone itself is a mason's job, and painters take care of the wood cornice, window frames, the front doors and the iron on the stoop. On a wood-frame house in Flatbush, Bushwick or Greenpoint it can mean the whole building: clapboard or shingles, porch, trim and gables. Brick and stucco houses in Bay Ridge, Bensonhurst and Sheepshead Bay fall in between. We quote what your house needs and nothing extra.
The weather here is hard on paint. Water gets into open joints, freezes in winter and pushes the coating off. Summer humidity keeps shaded walls damp, and homes near the Narrows and the bays get salt on top of that. So the work begins with washing, then scraping loose paint, priming bare wood, replacing rotten pieces and caulking joints. Two finish coats follow. Exterior work runs in the warmer months, roughly May through October, on days when the surface is dry and stays dry after the coat.
Row houses are attached, tall and right on the sidewalk, so access needs planning. We tell you in the quote how we will reach the cornice and top floor windows and how the sidewalk, stoop and neighbors' property will be protected. Painting needs no permit from the Department of Buildings. If your house is a landmark or in a historic district, a change of exterior color or painting bare masonry needs a Landmarks Preservation Commission permit first. Repainting in the same color does not.
Exterior painting in Brooklyn: common questions
Do you paint brownstone?
We paint the wood and metal on a brownstone front: cornice, windows, doors, railings and gates. The stone is repaired and resurfaced by a mason, and bare stone is best left unpainted. Stone that is already painted can be repainted, with a landmarks permit where one is needed.
My wood-frame house has vinyl or aluminum siding. Can that be painted?
Often, yes. Aluminum takes paint well once the chalky layer is washed off. Vinyl can be painted in a color no darker than the original, because a dark color takes in heat and can warp the panels. We check the siding first.
How do I know if my block is in a historic district?
Look up your address on the Landmarks Preservation Commission's map on nyc.gov, or ask us and we will check with you. Park Slope, Brooklyn Heights, Stuyvesant Heights and parts of Crown Heights and Carroll Gardens all have protected blocks.
How it works
- Free estimate: Call, text or book online. We walk the job and measure.
- Written quote: Prep, paint and price in writing.
- Prep & protect: We cover floors and furniture, repair and prime surfaces.
- Paint & walk-through: Two coats, clean lines, full clean-up and a final walk-through.