An 1820s Federal-style colonial in the Lexington Historic District, two doors down from the Lexington Battle Green. Owners wanted the original three-tone palette restored and preservation board approval secured.
The challenge
Historic district properties in Lexington face restricted color palettes, restricted work hours, and required preservation board approval on any color change. Original 1820s clapboards have survived 8-10 paint cycles; stripping risks damaging the wood.
What we did
- Submitted three-tone color spec to preservation board with archive paint chip references
- Scraped only failing paint; preserved sound paint as substrate
- Hand-sanded transitions to feather sound paint into bare wood
- Oil-bond primer on bare wood (compatible with old layers)
- Hand-brushed two coats Aura Exterior throughout (period-appropriate technique)
- Original wood shutters refinished off the building, re-hung
The result
Preservation board approved without revision. Historic palette restored. Photographs the way the original 19th-century builder intended.