What to Know Before Painting Heritage Homes in Coquitlam

If you are wanting to paint a heritage home in Coquitlam, there are many considerations to address before going ahead with your project. This is a project where you will likely benefit from using a professional painter with experience working on heritage homes. In our blog today, we are going to list for you some of the more important considerations.

Heritage Status

The first thing to verify is whether your home is, in fact, a heritage home. Properties can be formally designated as heritage homes on municipal, provincial, and/or federal levels and different restrictions may apply. This needs to be thoroughly researched ahead of time in Coquitlam or elsewhere.

Permits

Depending on the jurisdiction and the heritage status, you will likely need one or more permits to alter the heritage property. Requirements will vary depending on the location. Even if your home is not a designated heritage property, if you are in a heritage conservation area, there may still be some restrictions.

Interior or Exterior

Interior painting is rarely restricted on a heritage home, however, there are exceptions, especially if you intend to change some other finishings such as trim or wainscotting. Restrictions usually apply to exterior painting. But, again, you should research carefully before beginning the work, so you do not encounter any ugly surprises at the end.

Protection

One of the main points when painting a heritage home in Coquitlam or elsewhere in BC is not to damage what is already there and preserve what you have. This usually means using breathable paints such as latex, but the type of paint could very well be described in the permit.

The main takeaway here is to research the whole heritage modification process thoroughly before beginning anything and to use a professional painter for the best results. There is always the chance that there may be some lead paint lurking underneath somewhere that will need to be addressed.

Level 5 Painting are experienced and dependable interior and exterior, residential and commercial painters based in Surrey, British Columbia. The Level 5 Painting crew performs at the highest industry standards to exceed your expectations and deliver painting projects with phenomenal results. 

If you have any questions about this article or would like to talk to us about your next painting project, then please call us at (604) 910-4828.