How do I Paint a Historic Building?

There are a number of publications available for preservationists interested in paint colors.  Roger Moss has written several books on historic paint colors, including a Preservation Press publication, Paint in America: The Colors of Historic Buildings.  While Paint in America is now out of print, you should be able to locate it at your library, in a used bookstore, or through an online bookseller; local bookstores will have his more recent publications.  The National Park Service's "Preservation Briefs" will also be helpful and are available on the NPS website.  Two briefs which will be particularly useful are:  No.10 - Exterior Paint Problems on Historic Woodwork and No. 28 - Painting Historic Interiors.

The National Trust has worked extensively with the Valspar Corporation to develop an exclusive collection of historical colors. The resulting American Tradition® palette, sold exclusively at Lowe's Home Improvement Warehouses, covers the spectrum of historic hues. It features 250 colors certified by the National Trust, having been developed from samples taken from the Trust's Historic Sites: examples include Woodrow Wilson Presidential Ivory, Lyndhurst Duchess Gold, and Woodlawn Plantation Pear. These 100% acrylic paints are available for both interior and exterior work and all carry a lifetime warranty.  Valspar also supports preservation by donating a portion of every paint sale to the National Trust and by supplying paint to the National Trust's Historic Sites.  In addition, Valspar supplied paint to the 12 sites featured in Home and Garden Television's Restore America - A Salute to Preservation, 2003-2004 season.  For more information - including a complete listing of available colors - please visit our historic paint colors page.