When it comes to Adelaide's historic homes, giving them fresh coats of paint presents both challenges and opportunities. To honour the building's past, some research into appropriate colours and painting methods is important, but you don't want to delay the project too long since paint protects the structure of the exterior walls and helps preserve the building.

This painters Adelaide guide to painting historic homes can give a clear view of what to expect before taking on a project.

Preserving Cultural Significance

First, consider the role a home has played in Adelaide's culture. The structure represents a period of the region's history, and this significance should stay a part of the property for generations to come.

Start at your local council library to see photos of the colours and styles common during the period the historic home is from.

The goal for any historic home repaint is to acknowledge the storied home's place in culture and preserve the structure. Expect to outline a plan for maintenance that avoids unnecessary replacement or repairs. Preservation plans should also not include the use of modern materials simply as a means to reduce overall maintenance efforts.

Heritage and Non-heritage Listed Properties

Deciding on the colour scheme for the home comes down to whether it is a Heritage property of historical significance to Adelaide. Heritage homes have strict guidelines for what colours and painting styles are allowed. For example, the Heritage colour palette should never include black paint.

Non-heritage homes have more relaxed requirements. A historically accurate colour scheme may not be necessary or listed in historical records, so you have more freedom to experiment with accent colours.

Highlight Existing Features

When painting historic homes, it is important to consider all unique building features. Choose colours that will highlight rather than take away from ornate decorative touches. Pair complementary colours together to achieve this as well, assuming the paint schemes align with the period of historical significance.

Determine an Approach for Selecting a Colour Scheme

Choosing paint schemes can be overwhelming. Make the decision easier with the following approaches:

• Accurate reproduction: using either the original colours or those that have significance in the home's history
• Conjectural approach: using colours that are authentic to the particular style of the home
• Considered contemporary: using a more diverse selection of colours while taking into account the home's history and style
• Contemporary: addressing any preservation limitations but ultimately incorporating the use of contemporary colours

Understand Key Aspects of the Colour Wheel

If you're not using the accurate reproduction approach, understanding colour theory simplifies the painting process. Factors like direct or indirect light and how a hue will mix with a building's exterior material can play a big part in how the building looks.

Knowing the colour wheel can also present options like the best use of complementary colours plus achieving monochromatic and analogous harmony. These colour schemes can work but only with careful consideration of the overarching colour theory.

For more information or help getting started painting historic homes in Southern Australia, contact One Touch Paint at 0415-392-436.