The Journal · Older HomesOlder homes, painted with care.
Much of the housing in the Pointes and across Metro Detroit was built long before today’s paints existed. Plaster, old-growth trim, original windows and generations of paint all change how a job should be done.
4 guides
Painting an older Grosse Pointe home: materials, style and care
Plaster, old-growth trim, original windows, decades of paint and wind off the lake: what Grosse Pointe’s older homes ask of a paint job, and how to plan for it.
Read the guidePainting old wood windows: sashes, glazing and storm windows
Original wood windows can last for generations when glazing and paint keep the water out. Here’s how a sash is built, how to paint one, and what to leave unpainted.
Read the guidePainting plaster walls in an older home: cracks, calcimine and what to fix first
Plaster is harder and more solid than drywall, and it takes paint beautifully once it’s sound. Here’s how to handle cracks, loose plaster, calcimine and the old layers underneath first.
Read the guideLead paint in older homes: what to know before you paint
Homes built before 1978 may have lead-based paint under their newer coats. Here’s where it tends to be, when it matters, how to test for it, and what lead-safe work looks like.
Read the guideMore topics
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