An older house is not a bigger version of a newer one. Three things change, and the first is a safety question.
Lead, first
Houses painted before 1978 may have lead in the older layers. It is only a hazard when disturbed — which is exactly what sanding and scraping do.
That means testing before preparation begins, and containment rather than dry-sanding if it is present. It is not a reason to avoid painting; it is a reason not to let anyone start without asking.
The trim is not standard
Period profiles were milled locally and rarely match anything sold today. Replacing a rotten section means matching it, which is slower and is the difference between a repair you see and one you do not.
More layers, more failure
A house painted eight times has eight chances for a layer that was never bonded properly. The first coat of new paint finds them — that is not the new paint failing, it is an old failure surfacing.
What that means for the estimate
We walk older houses more slowly and we itemise the repair work separately, because on a period property that is where the number actually varies.
Exterior painting and work in Marietta cover the detail. Finished work is on our Facebook page.
