When Gruber Painting was asked if we were up to painting one of the older San Jose homes, we were thrilled with what we found on the site walkthrough. The home, built somewhere before 1910, was clearly constructed in a time when the details mattered, with wonderful high ceilings, picture railings, elaborate crown molding, and wainscoting throughout. The issue, of course, was the paint, which was faded and chipped in many areas, making the colors appear dull, faded, and lifeless.
The homeowners wanted to give the house a fresh, updated look without removing the original moldings. We completely understand the desire to preserve beautiful and rare architectural flourishes like these whenever and wherever possible, so we needed to come up with a plan of action to make the home’s paint as pristine as possible while maintaining the original craftwork’s beauty and accents.
As part of our painting of this home, we asked the owners if we could do a video walkthrough. To our delight, they agreed, and our owner, Joel Gruber, took us through the house and detailed what we were doing.
Because the paint was oil-based, it added some extra concerns to the job. Interior paint from the turn of the 20th century was frequently oil-based, which allowed for superior adhesion, water resistance, and durability while adding that wonderful warmth and luster to the interior colors that older homes are so often known for.
When updating the paint in vintage homes such as this hidden San Jose gem, modern, eco-friendly low- and no-VOC paints tend not to adhere well to the underlying layers. Joel Gruber explains: “One of the things we’ve done over the years is really try to make sure our paint jobs last because we know that our methods work. This paint is NOT going to peel off this trim. It’s very common when going latex paint over oil, you’re going to have issues where that paint will fail.” To prevent the failure of the new paint, the existing paint had to be sanded off without damaging the fine detail of the accent areas, such as the crown moldings.
As Joel said, “…[W]e actually went through this house, that has quite a bit of trim everywhere, and we completely sanded everything out. Then we primed it with a shellac-based primer which helps to adhere really well to the surface. So the finished product we put on is going to stick. Then we went through, and we sprayed finish paint on this trim…[T]here’s a lot of trim throughout this house and moldings, wainscot everywhere, then we’re going through and applying some wall color here. We’re going to cut this all in, and it’s really going to bring this older home back to life and give it a nice refresh.”
Another factor in this home was the height of the ceilings. Unlike most modern homes, which typically feature an 8’-10’ ceiling, this home’s ceilings were much higher, giving it a more spacious feel—but also requiring more work to paint! As Joel pointed out on the video walkthrough, “…[As} you can see on the other side of the room, there’s a picture railing. I mean, we’re looking pretty high, so it’s quite a bit of work in here. We have to use taller ladders and take a little bit more time to make sure these lines are straight and look good…We’ve got a great crew here. We’re going to start to roll the walls out, and this is going to look amazing with this nice fresh coat of updated colors, a little more modern, and it’s going to look sleek and clean.”
When we were finished, the homeowners were delighted with their new paint and the care and attention to detail our professional crew delivered on this project. Everyone at Gruber Painting is very proud of the results we gave our latest happy customers—and we’re excited to take on the next project. Maybe it will even be yours!
One of the points that sets us apart from other San Jose painting contractors is our warranty. Joel says, “…[W]ith our process, we have a 7-year warranty which basically [means] this paint isn’t coming off that trim, and we know that we can stand by our work. If there’s any issues, we always come back. We’ve actually made a point to have a better, longer, more comprehensive warranty than any of our competitors in the Bay Area.” It’s this warranty, along with our eye for detail and determination to get the job done right, that has made Gruber Painting the most trusted name in residential interior and exterior painting and restoration in the Bay Area. We’re proud to offer a comprehensive list of services many San Jose painters don’t, including:
- Residential, commercial, and industrial painting
- Interior Paint
- Exterior Paint
- Light Restoration
- Stain and Varnishing
- Fencing and Deck Work
- Historic Preservation
- And more!
To find out more about Gruber Painting’s exclusive 7-year warranty and to schedule a free, no-obligation site walkthrough and estimate, we invite you to call us at (408) 716-3953; email us at info@gruberpainting.com; or click here to schedule a site walk at the time that works best for you and your lifestyle through our hassle-free appointment scheduling app. Be sure to ask us about our seasonal and monthly specials when you call, too! With the best warranty and the best results from the best painters in the Bay Area, Gruber Painting is sure to be your painting contractor of choice for your next job. Let us show you how easy and affordable getting the beautiful new look your home or business deserves can be—only from your friends at Gruber Painting!
