Project Overview
This residential exterior painting job in Old Westbury, New York, went beyond just giving the house a nice new coat of paint. The painted wood-shingle siding had pretty much given up the ghost – large chunks of it were peeling and flaking all over the place, especially around the back door, roof edges, windows, and walls where it connects to the exterior.
We were brought in to not only restore the weathered surfaces, but also to give the house a nice, consistent finish that would bring its detailed architecture back to life. And let me tell you, once we finished, the house looked brand new – like it had been given a whole new lease on life.
Location: Old Westbury, New York
Property type: Residential home
Service: Exterior painting & restoration
Key surfaces: Painted wood-shingle siding, window trim, fascia, soffits, doors, and all the surrounding architectural woodwork
The Surface Had a Story to Tell
When we took a look at the before photos, it was clear that the existing exterior coating had deteriorated in some pretty uneven patches over time. Some bits were still sporting that pale yellow finish, while other areas had peeled down to older paint layers or were just showing the bare substrate.
The worst of it was around the lower roofline, the back door, the walls under the chimney, and the transition into that screened porch of theirs. It was all pretty complicated – multiple roof angles, narrow corners, windows, trim boards, and overlapping shingles – we had our work cut out for us.
The design of the house meant that even the tiniest imperfections were going to be pretty noticeable. I mean, with all those long rows of windows, broad siding elevations, and the white trim standing out in contrast, we really needed to get the finish just right.
Why a Quick Paint Job Just Wouldn’t Cut It
Just slapping on some new paint over the failing coating wasn’t going to cut it. For one thing, you’d just be covering up the problem, not fixing it – and loose paint underneath the new finish would just continue to come off, leaving you with an uneven appearance after a few months.
No, before we could even think about painting, we needed to bring the exterior back to a sound condition. We had to carefully take off the loose and flaking coatings, and then smooth out any exposed sections before we could even think about painting.
And with all those painted shingles, it wasn’t just a matter of painting some big flat surfaces. No way – we had to account for every individual edge, overlap, joint, and textured surface. Each area needed to be prepped in just the right way to make sure the adhesion was good, without damaging the character of the original exterior.
Building the Restoration Around the House
We decided to divide up the work around the different elevations and architectural sections of the house.
First, we tackled the really badly weathered areas near the back door and lower roofline. Once we’d got those areas sorted, we moved on to the broader siding surfaces. And of course, we had to take care of all the window trim, screened sections, fascia boards, soffits, and other painted details.
We needed ladders and elevated access to reach the walls around the chimney, the upper roof transitions, and all the taller bits of the property. And we had to make sure we didn’t disturb the surrounding patio, landscaping, windows, doors, and outdoor features while we were working.
The job involved:
- Taking off loose and peeling exterior paint
- Smoothing out rough transitions between the old coatings and exposed areas
- Preparing each wood-shingle edge and overlap
- Taking care of the worn trim around windows, doors, rooflines, and the screened porch
- Priming any exposed or repaired areas where needed
- Applying a consistent finish across all the differently weathered sections
- Keeping that nice clean separation between the pale siding and the white architectural trim
Preserving the Home’s Traditional Character
We didn’t want to change the look of the house too much – it’s a beautiful old place with a warm, light-colored siding and white trim, and it fits right in with the traditional character of the area.
Instead, our goal was to restore that established look with a bit more consistency. The refreshed pale yellow exterior still gave the house that welcoming feel, and the clean white trim just sharpened up all the windows, roof edges, and long architectural lines even more.
It was a subtle change, but it made a big difference – the house now looks like it’s been well-maintained for years, rather than just a quick slap-dash job.
The Turning Point
Once we’d unified all the patchy and exposed sections, the transformation really started to show. The back elevation was a particular mess before we started, with multiple shades and layers from all the coating failure. And once we’d finished, the whole thing just read as one cohesive surface.
The worn sections blended right in with the rest of the siding, and the window trim and roofline details looked just spot on. It was especially noticeable along the long side of the house – the consistent siding color just created a much calmer backdrop for the windows, trees, and landscaping.
The Final Result
And now the finished exterior is really something to behold. The restored siding’s got a nice uniform warm finish across all the visible elevations. The white trim frames the windows and rooflines with real clarity, and those previously distressed sections just blend right in. It’s a beautifully polished job that really respects the house’s original architecture.
The Finish
We took this place that was looking pretty rough and turned it into a home that really shines with a cleaner, more put-together exterior
The end result looked great – and here’s what made it so:
- A smooth pale yellow finish all over the wood-shingle siding – that was looking pretty rough before
- Cleaned-up white window trim, fascia, soffits and rooflines – you’d almost think it was new
- We fixed the gap between the old and new parts of the house, so it all looks like it belongs together
- Gave a bit more definition to the rear entrance and screened-in porch – which really makes a difference
- Now the whole place looks brighter and fits in with the beautiful woodsy Old Westbury surroundings
- Plus we made sure the siding is protected from the elements – since the old paint was peeling away
The house still looks great in a classic way, but it’s just so much fresher and more well-cared for now.
Real Exterior Restoration Means Doing the Work Up Front
You know the final result was great, but the real key to this project was all the work that happened before we even applied the final coat. Taking off old, unstable paint, tidying up weathered shingles, and working around all the intricate details on this house – that’s what made it possible to get such a great finish in the end.
When it comes to older homes, preparation is what sets a quick-fix paint job apart from a real restoration that lasts.
Exterior Painting Around Old Westbury, NY
C.E.T. Painting does custom residential exterior painting and surface restoration for homes in Old Westbury and all around western New York. We tackle all sorts of exterior surfaces that need TLC – from weathered siding to peeling paint, tricky trim to hard-to-reach rooflines.
Call C.E.T. Painting to get a quote for your next residential exterior painting project.