Preserving Denver’s Historic Homes: The Landmark Painting Guide

Denver’s historic neighborhoods tell the city’s story through architecture, character, and craftsmanship. But preserving a legacy home in Capitol Hill, Baker, or Potter Highlands is more than a cosmetic update—it demands adherence to Landmark Preservation Commission (LPC) guidelines and an understanding of century-old building science.

At DAECO Painting, restoration means combining traditional surface preparation (like dutchman repairs) with modern, eco-friendly technologies from Fine Paints of Europe, Benjamin Moore, and Farrow & Ball.

Our Verifiable Credentials

Before entrusting your historic home to a contractor, verify their standing. DAECO Painting maintains:

• EPA RRP Lead-Safe Certification: Fully certified to handle pre-1978 hazardous materials.

• Historic Product Specialization: Certified expertise in Fine Paints of Europe and mineral masonry coatings.

• Local Experience: 20+ years navigating Denver’s specific micro-climates and regulations.

The Science of Restoration: Why "Standard" Painting Fails

Owning a historic home requires specialized care. As noted by the National Park Service Preservation Briefs, using the wrong coating on historic materials can cause irreversible structural damage.

1. Breathability & Masonry Protection

Many Victorian homes in Denver were built with sand-faced soft brick. Applying a standard modern latex can seal moisture inside the masonry, causing it to "spall" (crumble) during freeze-thaw cycles.

• The DAECO Solution: We utilize high-permeability mineral paints that allow the structure to "exhale" moisture while repelling water, preserving the structural integrity of your masonry.

2. EPA RRP Lead-Safe Protocols

If your home was built before 1978, lead safety is federal law.

• The DAECO Solution: We are an EPA Lead-Safe Certified Firm. We go beyond basic scraping; we utilize HEPA-vacuum attachments to capture dust at the source, install vertical containment barriers, and perform verification cleaning to ensure your soil and family are safe.

Why Preserving Denver’s Historic Homes Requires Specialized Care?

District Spotlight: Our Technical Approach by Neighborhood

Different eras require different restoration tactics. Here is how we tailor our craftsmanship to Denver’s most notable areas:

Capitol Hill

• The Architecture: High-style Victorian, Queen Anne, Neoclassical.

• The DAECO Approach: These homes require stabilization of intricate trim. We use gentle stripping methods to preserve profile depth, perform epoxy and dutchman repairs on rotted wood, and apply historically appropriate color placement to sash and ornate elements.

Project Snapshot: Victorian Restoration

• The Challenge: A 1905 Victorian with severe "alligatoring" (cracked paint) and deteriorated cedar details.

• The Fix: We utilized wet-sanding techniques to suppress dust and restored the original wood using the Dutchman repair method—replacing rot with real wood rather than fillers that fail in winter.

Country Club

• The Architecture: Italianate, Denver Square, Spanish Revival.

• The DAECO Approach: Restoration here emphasizes the streetscape. We use subtle, estate-appropriate palettes and low-sheen finishes that feel period-correct rather than overtly “new,” while carefully protecting original stucco and stone.

Five Points

• The Architecture: Victorian residential and early 1900s commercial.

• The DAECO Approach: Honoring the neighborhood's jazz and cultural history means preserving sign bands and trim profiles. We use durable finishes capable of withstanding urban exposure while selecting colors that support both heritage and current use.

Potter Highlands & Baker

• The Architecture: Queen Anne, Craftsman, Nested Gables.

• The DAECO Approach: For these intricate facades, we use strategic sheen and color contrast to emphasize depth. Our prep is tailored to prevent damage to delicate profiles, ensuring new coatings are compatible with aging siding.

Navigating Denver’s Landmark Preservation Commission (LPC)

One of the most common questions we receive is regarding permissions.

Do you need a permit to paint? Generally, a Landmark Alteration Certificate is not required if you are repainting the same color. However, changing to a new custom color scheme often requires administrative review.

How DAECO Supports Your Application: We don’t just paint; we assist with compliance. We provide the necessary paint samples (drawdowns) and specification sheets required by Landmark staff to expedite approval, helping you avoid missteps that can trigger work stoppages.

Denver's Landmark Preservation staff and commission review exterior work on designated landmarks and properties in historic districts to ensure changes are compatible with the property's character.

• Color Choices: Property owners in Denver's historic districts are generally free to paint their homes any color they choose, as exterior painting (without structural changes) typically does not require a Certificate of Appropriateness (COA) or design review.

• Material Preservation: The key focus of the official guidelines is on preserving historic materials and features.

  • Masonry: Do not paint masonry walls (like brick) that were not historically coated, as this can trap moisture and cause damage.

  • Wood/Metal: Maintain protective coatings, such as paint or stain, on wood and metal surfaces to prevent deterioration.

  • Repair: When repairing or replacing architectural features, match the original material, composition, design, color, texture, and visual qualities as closely as possible.

Color That Honors The Era

Color on a historic home is both design and documentation.

• Palette Development: We develop schemes grounded in period-appropriate styles (e.g., Polychromatic Victorian) but informed by current design trends.

• Strategic Placement: We differentiate body, trim, sash, and accent colors so details read clearly and proportionally.

Client Verification “My 125-year-old house needed more than exterior paint! DAECO made their bid, and over a year later it still looks as new. They identified repairs others missed and delivered true craftsmanship.” — Lisa Spain, Verified Google Review

(FAQ)

Essential answers for historic home owners.

Q: Do I need to strip all old paint off my historic home? A: Not always. Full stripping can sometimes damage soft historic wood. We assess adhesion first; often, a combination of scraping, feather-sanding, and a high-bond primer provides the best substrate without destroying the original patina.

Q: What paint is best for historic wood siding? A: Breathability is key. We prefer high-quality acrylic resins or hybrid alkyds from lines like Fine Paints of Europe or Benjamin Moore Aura, which can expand and contract with the wood during Colorado temperature swings without cracking.

Q: Is it safe to paint a home with lead paint? A: It is only safe if you hire an EPA RRP Certified contractor. DAECO uses containment and HEPA filtration to ensure no lead dust contaminates your home or yard.

Ready to Preserve Your Historic Denver Home?

DAECO Painting is more than a historic house painting service painting company; we are caretakers of architectural legacy.

Request a Free Historic Color Consultation: or Request a Free Project Assessment Today

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