County we serve
House painting in DeKalb County, from Decatur bungalows to mid-century ranches
DeKalb mixes some of metro Atlanta's oldest streets with long stretches of 1950s and 1960s ranch homes. We paint across the county and adjust prep to whichever era your house comes from.
- Area
- DeKalb County
- Nearest office
- Atlanta office, Peachtree St NE
- Phones
- Answered 24/7
- Estimates
- Free walkthrough
DeKalb County painting work usually means exterior repaints on Decatur and Kirkwood-area bungalows, brick and trim work on mid-century ranches around Tucker and Chamblee, and interior updates in older homes with plaster walls. Exteriors typically take four to six days. Call (470) 458-0461 to set up a free walkthrough and a written estimate.
DeKalb County runs from the eastern edge of intown Atlanta out to Lithonia and Stone Mountain, and from Dunwoody in the north down past Decatur. It includes Brookhaven, Chamblee, Doraville, Tucker, Clarkston and a long list of unincorporated neighborhoods. Many of those streets were built out between the 1920s and the late 1960s, so a large share of the houses we paint here are older than their owners.
That age shows in the work. We see lots of bungalows with layered wood trim, brick ranches with painted fascia and carports, and plaster interiors that crack in hairline patterns after a dry summer. Our job is to find out what's under the current paint, fix what's failing, and choose coatings that suit the substrate rather than painting over problems.
Homes here
DeKalb housing eras and the paint problems each one brings
Around Decatur, Oakhurst, Druid Hills and the older parts of Avondale Estates, you'll find 1910s to 1930s bungalows and cottages with wood siding, tapered porch columns and wide eaves. These homes often have original or early-era wood under many coats. Lead is likely, rot hides at porch floors and window sills, and the deep eaves stay shaded and damp. We plan extra prep days for these houses and test before disturbing old paint.
Further out, in Tucker, Chamblee, Doraville and much of unincorporated DeKalb, the housing turns to 1950s and 1960s brick ranches and some early split-levels. Brick usually stays unpainted, but owners ask us to paint or limewash it more and more. Wood fascia, soffits and carport posts on these homes take a beating from roof runoff. Inside, many have plaster or early drywall, original hardwood trim and kitchens ready for a cabinet refresh.
Most requested
Work we're asked for most in DeKalb County
Bungalow exterior repaints around Decatur
Scraping and priming lap siding, rebuilding sills, and two coats of exterior acrylic on body, trim and porch, with lead-safe setup on any house built before 1978.
Exterior House PaintingPainting or limewashing mid-century brick
Owners of 1960s ranches often want to move past orange or tan brick. We clean, repair mortar, then use a breathable mineral paint or a limewash finish that lets the brick dry out.
Brick PaintingFascia and soffit renewal on ranch homes
Long, low rooflines mean long runs of fascia that rot near gutters. We replace soft boards, prime the ends and paint everything above the brick line.
Soffit & Fascia PaintingPlaster crack repair and interior repaints
Hairline and stair-step cracks in older plaster walls get cut out, taped and skimmed before we prime and repaint, so the cracks don't telegraph back through in a month.
Drywall Repair & PatchingPorch floors, steps and ceilings
Painted porch decks and haint-blue ceilings on bungalows wear fast. We sand, spot-prime and coat with a floor enamel built for foot traffic.
Porch & Column PaintingLocal conditions
Why paint fails early on many DeKalb houses
Old wood under thin modern coats
Some earlier repaints went straight over chalky, failing oil paint. The new acrylic looks fine for a year, then peels in sheets. We test adhesion before deciding how much to remove.
Shade from mature hardwoods
Decatur and Druid Hills streets sit under big oaks. Shaded siding stays damp into the afternoon, so we wash with a mildew treatment and avoid painting walls that haven't dried.
Carpenter bee damage in trim
Exposed fascia and rafter tails on older homes are favorite nesting spots. We fill holes, replace badly chewed sections and keep wood fully painted, since bare wood draws them back.
Historic district reviews
Parts of DeKalb have historic overlays where exterior changes can need review. We help you confirm what applies before you pick colors or change materials.
Timing
Planning a DeKalb County paint project around the weather
Older DeKalb homes need longer prep, so starting dates matter more here than on newer houses. We like to wash and scrape in late winter or early spring before pollen season, then paint once the pollen clears in late April. Fall is the other dependable window: lower humidity helps primers on bare wood dry properly. In July and August we schedule exterior coats for mornings and shaded sides and keep afternoons for prep and interior work, since storms roll in most afternoons.
Questions
Painting questions from DeKalb County
Is it a mistake to paint the brick on my 1960s DeKalb ranch?
Not if it's done with the right product. Old brick needs to breathe, so we skip ordinary film-forming paint in favor of mineral silicate paint or limewash, which let moisture escape. We also clean the brick and repair loose mortar first. Painted brick does need recoating eventually, usually every ten to fifteen years, so it's a commitment worth thinking through.
My Decatur bungalow has lead paint. Will that change how long the job takes?
It adds about one to three days to a typical exterior. We set up ground containment, wet-scrape instead of dry sanding, use HEPA vacuums, and clean the work area daily. The extra time pays off because it keeps dust out of your yard and your neighbor's. We explain the full setup during the walkthrough so you know what to expect.
Can you repair cracked plaster walls in an older DeKalb house before painting?
Yes. Plaster cracks in older homes usually come from settling and seasonal movement. We open the crack slightly, embed mesh tape, skim with a setting compound and feather it out, then prime with a sealer that suits plaster. For loose plaster that has pulled off the lath, we reattach it with plaster washers before patching.
What do you usually charge to repaint the exterior of a DeKalb bungalow?
A typical 1,300 to 1,600 square foot bungalow runs about $4,180 to $8,640, depending on how much scraping, wood repair and lead-safe work it needs. Homes with large porches or lots of decorative trim sit toward the higher end. We give a written number only after walking the house, and our price guide shows how these factors add up.
Painting in DeKalb County? Call us first
Tell us the house, the surfaces and the timing. We will book a free walkthrough and send a written scope.