Trim Painting in Charlestown, Boston MA

On Charlestown properties

Most of what we paint in Charlestown is Federal-era rowhouses. Federal and Greek Revival rowhouses from the 1800s, brick and clapboard, plus converted Navy Yard buildings and a band of triple-deckers toward Sullivan Square. Much of Charlestown falls under Boston Landmarks Commission review. Exterior changes visible from the street — including paint colour — require approval before work begins, not after.

How we do it

Brushwork with clean cut lines where trim meets wall. Semi-gloss enamel so it wipes down and holds up.

Trim gets filled, caulked at the wall line, sanded, then brushed with an enamel that levels out rather than holding brush marks. Waterborne alkyds flow better than straight latex on casing and give you a harder surface on a windowsill that actually gets used.

Where these jobs go wrong

Caulk applied after paint rather than before is the tell of a rushed job. It yellows, it cracks along the top edge, and it can't be fixed without redoing the line.

What the quote covers

• Line-by-line scope — prep, materials and labour costed separately
• A real start date and duration, held to
• Licence #193121 and certificate of insurance in writing
• Two-year workmanship warranty

Products are Benjamin Moore and Sherwin-Williams. Worth reading before you hire anyone: Benjamin Moore