Historic review
The approval path, step by step
Rules differ by district and by the change. This is the order we follow in ours.
- 01
Step 1: Read your district's rules
We look up what review asks of exterior paint on your street, then tell you in writing whether your project needs approval at all.
We read the published guidelines and the application form
You get a written answer before any research is scheduled
- 02
Step 2: Look under the paint
Small samples from hidden spots, read under a loupe and photographed in cross-section, show the colors the house has worn.
Samples come from under a shutter, behind a downspout or inside a porch ceiling
Each spot is patched and primed after
- 03
Step 3: Draft the color schedule
Body, trim, shutters, door and porch ceiling, each with a color name, a sheen and a place, painted on boards you can hold against the house.
Two or three schedules, so the board sees a choice
Boards are viewed in morning and afternoon light
- 04
Step 4: Assemble the packet
Photographs of every elevation, the schedule, the layer findings and a plain description of the repairs, in the format your district asks for.
You are the applicant and you sign
We submit it with you, or you submit it
- 05
Step 5: Paint once the answer is in
Nothing is painted until the decision is in hand. If the board asks for a change, we revise the schedule and carry on.
Scaffold and crew are booked after the decision
A copy of the approval goes in the job file
Who does what
What we do, and what only you and the board can do
We prepare. You apply. The board decides.
| Step | You and the board do | We do |
|---|---|---|
| The rules | You and the board doConfirm with the district, which has the final say | We doLook up what applies to your address and tell you in writing |
| The house | You and the board doGive us access to hidden spots for samples | We doPhotograph every elevation and read the paint layers |
| The colors | You and the board doChoose one | We doDraft two or three schedules on boards |
| The application | You and the board doSign as the applicant and pay the district's fee | We doAssemble the packet and the description of the work |
| The decision | You and the board doThe board or its staff decides | We doRevise if the board asks, and book the crew after |
Questions about review
Do I need approval to repaint my house?
It depends on your district and on the change. Repainting in the colors already on the house is often treated differently from a new scheme, and some districts review only what is visible from the street. We look up the rule for your address and tell you in writing. The decision is the district's, not ours.
What does an approval packet contain?
Usually photographs of each elevation, the proposed colors with names and where each goes, a plain description of the repairs and any layer findings. Your district's form decides the exact list.
How long does a review take?
Each district keeps its own calendar, so ask yours. We schedule the crew after the decision, not before.
What if the board asks for changes?
We revise the color schedule or the repair plan, and we resubmit with you.
Can you come to the hearing?
If you'd like us there, tell us when you book. You present the application and we answer questions about the work.
Start with the rules for your street
Send the address. We'll tell you in writing whether the work needs approval and what the district asks for.