Exterior paint costs in Harrisburg

Harrisburg's historic district guidelines say something most painters suspect when they open up an old house: the paint underneath is probably oil. The guidelines say most painted surfaces on Harrisburg's historic buildings were likely painted with oil-based paint. They recommend a high-quality oil-based primer, then an oil topcoat or a good latex over that primer, because that combination sticks best to what's already there.

The same guidelines cover lead plainly. Lead paint was common in homes built before 1978, and they warn never to use dry sandpaper or a heat gun on it. Careful hand scraping is slower, which is one reason prep is the biggest piece of an old-house paint job here.

Brick gets its own rules. Painting brick or stone that has never been painted isn't recommended, because the paint traps moisture and the masonry can spall. Stone, including lintels, sills, foundations and steps, should never be painted. But some brick buildings in Harrisburg were made with a very soft brick that was painted from the beginning, and those can stay painted. If your brick already wears paint, it may be one of them.