PAINT

The majority of buildings in the East Row area are of brick construction and have been left unpainted over the years. Paint is often found only at wood eaves, window and door surrounds, and roof dormers. Appropriate paint colors are an important defining feature of a building and aid in defining features of a building as well as highlighting details and trim. In addition to accenting decoration, paint is an excellent preservative and consistent painting and maintenance can add years to the lifespan of a house's architectural ornamentation.

Paint manufacturing and color mixing processes greatly increased in the late 19th century which allowed a wide variety of colors to be available to homeowners. These coincided with the application of wood millwork decoration in the Italianate and Queen Anne styles resulting in a shift towards a larger variety of colors applied to homes. Most homes from the 1870s to the early 1900s displayed a wide variety of shades and contrasting colors. Tans, greens, reds and grays were all widely used. Often the siding of the house was painted a light color while darker colors were added to the windows, porch and trim.

After 1900, paint colors were generally more conservative with white and light pastels coming back into demand for the Colonial Revival styles. Bungalow designs often relied on contrasts between brick and stained wood shingles to provide color. Paint colors for Bungalows are generally grays, browns and other earth tones.

The painting of masonry which has not been previously painted is not permitted. The rich colors and textures of the brick found throughout the East Row area is an important defining feature of its character. The use of contrasting materials on facades such as brick, stone, and terra cotta are significant architectural elements and should never be painted a uniform color. The application of paint can decrease a property's character and can also result in increased maintenance costs in future years for repeated paint applications.

Property owners are encouraged to select paint colors in keeping with each home's style and design. Many publications are available which illustrate and detail appropriate paint colors, such as Century of Color by Roger Moss. This and other publications should be referred to if historic paint colors are to be applied, especially to ornamentation.

 

General Color Recommendations

Italianate 1860-1890

Body of House: unpainted, medium gray, dark brown, dark red or dark green.
Ornamentation and Trim (cornices, porches, hood moldings, windows, shutters, eaves vergeboard): dark green, white or dark brown

Queen Anne 1885-1910

Body of House: medium gray, dark red, dark blue, dark green or brown.
Ornamentation and Trim (windows, shutters, shingles and vergeboard):
dark gray, dark brown, olive green and dark red.

Colonial Revival 1900-1930

Body of House: white, light yellow, tan or medium gray.
Ornamentation and Trim (shutters, eaves decoration, windows):
cream, warm white, dark green.

Bungalow 1910-1940

Body of House: often unpainted with stained shingles, brown or dark red.
Ornamentation and Trim (eaves, brackets, windows):
white, light yellow, gray, light green.

EXTERIOR PAINT GUIDELINES

• Paint colors for painted masonry and ornamentation shall not be restricted with the exception of intense bright and arresting colors such as fluorescent green, orange, yellow and similar shades.
• When removing paint from wood, use hand scraping, chemical solvents or a heat gun. Do not sandblast wood siding or brick under any circumstances.

*See masonry guidelines for additional information on brick painting.

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