New Westminster has Metro Vancouver's densest collection of Victorian, Queen Anne, Edwardian and Craftsman heritage homes — most of them in Queen's Park and the West End. These homes are gorgeous and they are also unforgiving. Here is how we paint heritage New West properties so the result is correct, durable and respectful of the original architecture.
Test for lead before sanding anything
Pre-1978 paint frequently contains lead, and almost every Queen's Park Victorian we touch tests positive somewhere. We follow EPA RRP-style lead-safe practices: contained work area, HEPA vacuums, and disposal protocols.
Use breathable, vapour-permeable systems
Old wood siding needs to release moisture. Modern impermeable acrylics can trap water against 100-year-old cedar and cause rot. We spec breathable mineral or premium acrylic systems suited to heritage substrates.
Period-appropriate colour palettes
Queen's Park has informal community expectations for heritage-appropriate colour palettes. We help homeowners choose schemes that read authentically Victorian or Edwardian without breaking strata-level conformity.
Restore, do not just repaint
Window casings, decorative brackets, gable trim and porch posts on these homes are often original and irreplaceable. We hand-strip, repair and prime each one rather than spraying over the damage.
Painting in New Westminster?
Heritage homes need experienced hands — we use traditional techniques where they matter and modern paints where they perform best.