Tag Archive for: Boston

Exterior Painting Challenges in Boston, MA

The challenges that face expert painters in Boston, MA are often rather more complex than in other states. Here at United Home Experts, we have identified three areas from which these challenges stem. The first challenge is the closeness of the houses or buildings in this area, making the use of special equipment and experience important. The second and third challenges stem from legislation that guards the historical significance of certain areas and against lead poisoning.x--pictures-mike d photos-2011 website profiles-21 green after

Preserving Architectural History

Boston has been a part of the nation’s history from its original inception as thirteen states to the present day. The evolution and phases of architecture in the country can be seen reflected in various parts of the city. Walking through it is like taking a stroll through time; several properties owned by private individuals have great historic value. Many regulations have been put in place to preserve these national treasures. Of course, this makes painting the exterior of a home in Boston a challenge.

There are historic districts, landmark districts and architectural conservation districts. As long as the home is located in one of these areas, any modification, renovation or exterior work visible to the public must be approved by the commission assigned to the area. There are no pre-approved paint colors, instead of being evaluated on a building-by-building basis. After the work is done, a certificate of suitability must be obtained as proof of having followed the required structures.

Location ChallengesBostonHomeEverlast-resized-600

The layout of Boston is cramped compared to other cities. This means that sidewalks often need to be used in order to accomplish an exterior paint job. Permits for this activity must be obtained from the city.

Expanding the home often means adding an additional storey or two. Homes in Boston are typically taller than the typical home in other, more spacious states. Ladders cannot reach high enough to accomplish the job properly, so scaffolding is needed. There are also numerous devices needed by the painters to complete the project safely.

The advantage of employing an experienced contractor like United Home Experts is their people’s familiarity with the whole process. Everything that is required is done, so the job is accomplished smoothly with few or no interruptions or delays.

Lead Consciousness

The Massachusetts Lead Law states that homes built before 1978 should obtain a letter of compliance. This means that the paint used in the home should be lower than the limit set as safe by legislation. Homes that do not meet this criterion should be deleaded. The goal is to provide an environment that is free from the dangers of lead poisoning. Thus, the paint used in newer homes should also pass these standards.

The Expert Contractor Advantage

The people at United Home Experts understand all the peculiarities of the areas their clientele reside in. Its expert painters in Boston, MA have extensive experience in dealing with the challenges brought about by its eclectic architecture, and with the laws that ensure that the city’s historical areas are preserved for generations to come as well as regulations that protect its citizens from lead poisoning. With United Home Experts, exterior painting is in the reliable hands of conscientious expert contractors.

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Hire the Best: United Home Experts

Knowing that one’s home has been upgraded gives homeowners a sense of pride. There are many companies that provide home improvement, but United Home Experts (UHE) outshines them all. There are many great reasons why customers in Boston and its surrounding areas should choose United Home Experts as their choice of quality home improvement company.

 

Experienced Staff

Whether hiring a siding contractor, roofing specialist, window installer, or painter, one can be sure that UHE provides experts in that field. Unlike other companies, United trains employees in a specific area so that they become an expert in their chosen field. Although employees are trained in every area, they specialize in one area of work, making them experts in that field.  If a homeowner hires a roofing contractor from United Home Experts, they can be confident that the contractor will be an ace in the roofing business.

Knowledgeable About the Area

Homes in the greater Boston area require specific care. Winters can be harsh on a home’s exteriors and roofing. Living in coastal areas also comes with its own special issues for homes. Having a local company that understands the needs of local homeowners helps get the job done right the first time, with less worry.

Great Prices

A comparison of prices for home repairs and improvements results in varied estimates. The staff at United Home Experts are more than happy to provide an estimate, providing fair and detailed pricing of any improvement to a home. Times are tough, and it’s great to know that some companies offer reasonable prices in these harsh economic times.

Great Customer Service

Hundreds of local customers attest to their satisfaction with the service level they have received from United Home Experts. Homeowners comment that customer service is top-notch, work performed is excellent, and that they and their homes are treated with respect. Many homeowners return time and time again to have UHE work on their homes.

Some of the comments left by customers include statements that the work was completed in less time than expected, and that they were pleased with the professionalism of the workers. Also, many state they will use UHE for any future home repairs. Knowing that others rely on and trust United Home makes the job of hunting for a remodeling company that much easier. UHE is a trusted and reliable home improvement company for those living in the Boston and surrounding area.

For any home repair or improvement job, contact UHE for professional and reliable work. Hundreds of other customers are glad they relied on United Home Experts.

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Exterior Painting in Boston: What are the major challenges?

As an Exterior Painting Company in Boston, MA we’ve done it all.  Boston and the surrounding towns have such an eclectic assortment of buildings that we have to be prepared to handle a variety of different tasks.  Here are some of the challenges we face on a regular basis.

Lead Paint:  Any homes or buildings the predate 1975 and have not been previously refurbished or de-leaded contain lead paint.  Our challenge is to abide by the strict state and local regulations for handling lead paint, while keeping the cost as reasonable as possible.  In many cases we advise home and business owners to consider replacing the siding on the exterior of the building with something lower maintenance and longer lasting such as fiber cement or vinyl.  Often times this alternative is not much more expensive then using approved methods of stripping the paint from the existing home.  In addition, the new lower maintenance siding will last a whole lot longer.

Historical Regulations: Many neighborhoods in and around Boston have restrictions of what one can do with the exterior of their homes.  Often this is handled on a case by case basis, but we have had some success getting approval to install synthetic products such as Fiber cement clapboard and Azek style PVC trim on homes in Cambridge, Somerville, and other cities in the area.

Height and Access: Many homes in Boston exceed a height that’s workable from regular ladders.  In this case we bring in scaffolding, or lifts to help us access the high areas.  Of course this can add to the cost of the project but in many cases there is no other option.  Small spaces, sidewalks and alleys can also cause problems when painting in Boston.  Many times we have to obtain permitting with the city to block the sidewalk while we are working.

These are the major challenges we constanlty face when exterior painting in boston.

Visit cityofboston.gov for more info on lead paint removal regulations.

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