A 1908 Worcester triple-decker in Tatnuck — three units, three sets of tenants, ornate Victorian trim profiles on every elevation. Landlord wanted a full exterior repaint preserving original character without disrupting tenant work-from-home schedules.
The challenge
Worcester triple-deckers have layers of paint history — usually 5-6 cycles over 100+ years. Differential adhesion across elevations is severe. Plus tenant coordination across 3 separate households means scheduling is 30% of the project effort.
What we did
- Week-of tenant introduction letter to each unit with daily schedule
- Soft-wash with mildewcide on Saturday before any work-from-home tenants
- Scrape to sound substrate on south + west walls; sand transitions on shaded north + east
- Oil-bond prime all bare wood; lead-safe containment per EPA RRP rules
- Full caulk replacement at trim joints (~860 linear feet)
- Two coats Aura Exterior in Amherst Gray, hand-brushed on Victorian profiles
- Original wood shutters refreshed in Black, reinstalled by hand
The result
Period detail preserved, three tenant complaints over 14 days (all minor). Landlord re-listed two units at higher rent the following month. Worcester housing stock at its photogenic best.