Historic and Spanish Revival Painting in Santa Barbara

Santa Barbara Landmarks

Santa Barbara County Courthouse

For Plant Construction, we repainted the exterior of the historic Santa Barbara Courthouse through a carefully planned five-phase, five-year process. The project included the preparation and coating of all architectural elements: wood windows and doors, ornamental corbels, plaster walls and soffits, and extensive wrought iron details.

Damaged historical plaster top set was repaired using traditional lime, cement and sand mixtures to match the original texture and composition of the 1929 construction. All surfaces were prepared to historic preservation standards, and the finishes are high-performance, breathable coating systems specifically designed for coastal environments.

Faulkner Gallery, Santa Barbara Library

For Edwards Construction, we worked on a complete interior renovation of the Faulkner Gallery performed to 1920s historical standards. All existing wood elements were stripped, bleached and refinished to a rich brown tone consistent with the original design, and the upper plaster wainscoting was faux-finished to complement the restored woodwork below.

Custom wood trim was added at all vertical corners, replicating details found in the original archival photographs.

Older Homes

An 1820s Cabin in Montecito

We painted the exterior of a Mennonite mansion in Montecito that was brought all the way from Ohio, one of the oldest buildings in Santa Barbara. It was painted entirely using hand brushes and rollers, avoiding overspray while ensuring maximum penetration and adhesion of our stain-blocking paint, and the 30-year-old roof shingles were protected with scaffolding and foam roof panels.

Spanish Roof Tiles and Aged Brick

On one of our first large projects, a full exterior job, we pressure washed the Spanish roof tiles and painted them red, painted the aged natural brick the same color, and repaired the termite-damaged trellises before coating them and the gates in white.

Old Spanish Doors

For the Alma del Pueblo Homeowners Association, which manages the Santa Barbara Public Market and many condominiums in the ART district next door, we sanded, stained, then clear coated the doors for long term protection.

Entryways in the Riviera

For a long-time client in the Riviera, we re-primed the existing doors and windows to extend the lifespan of the top coat against salt and strong UV, and double coated them for further coverage against moisture.

What’s Included

• Wood windows and doors, prepared and coated
• Ornamental corbels
• Plaster walls and soffits, with damaged historic plaster repaired in traditional lime, cement and sand mixtures
• Wrought iron details
• Existing wood stripped, bleached and refinished
• Faux-finished plaster
• Spanish roof tiles and aged brick, washed and painted
• Doors sanded, stained and clear coated

How We’ve Worked on Historic Buildings

• In phases: the Courthouse was repainted through a five-phase, five-year process.
• To historic preservation standards: every Courthouse surface was prepared to them, and damaged plaster was repaired to match the original 1929 texture and composition.
• To the original design: at the Faulkner Gallery, wood was refinished to a tone consistent with the original design, and new corner trim replicated details in the original archival photographs.
• By hand: the 1820s cabin was painted entirely with hand brushes and rollers, avoiding overspray.
• With the building protected: scaffolding and foam roof panels kept the cabin’s 30-year-old roof shingles from damage.
• With breathable coatings: the Courthouse finishes are high-performance, breathable coating systems designed for coastal environments.

Breathable Finishes for Older Buildings

Limewash, lime paint and integral plaster are mineral-based and breathable compared to other paint alternatives. Especially in coastal environments and older homes, having a vapor permeable option is a must: it allows evaporation rather than trapping moisture beneath the sealed surface.

For historic buildings or older homes, brick may be better preserved with breathable finishes rather than fully sealed coatings.

The only buildings that need annual attention are usually historic or structures that are primarily wood.

Frequently asked questions

What’s the difference between limewash, lime paint and integral plaster?

All three are breathable mineral finishes, which matters in older homes and near the coast because they let moisture evaporate instead of trapping it. Limewash is a thin coating of crushed limestone and water that gives masonry a soft, chalky patina and may need refreshing over time. Lime paint sits between paint and limewash, can go on primed drywall and is easier to spot-repair. Integral plaster has the color mixed into the plaster itself, so it is both the prep and the finish; it is very durable but should be checked for hairline cracks. Read our limewash guide.

How does Santa Barbara’s coastal climate affect paint, and how often should I repaint?

Salt air, marine layer mornings and the daily swing between fog and inland heat make materials expand and contract. For a standard building, plan on touch-ups every 5 to 7 years, which doesn’t have to mean a full repaint; with consistent upkeep, exterior paint can last 15 years or more. Inspect every 2 to 3 years if your building gets heavy sun or weather, and re-coat transparent or semi-transparent wood stains every 1 to 3 years. Painted metal within five miles of the ocean should have marine coatings, re-coated every 3 to 5 years to keep rust away. Read Protection from Coastal Conditions.

Do you do public works and prevailing wage projects?

Yes. Our public projects include the Santa Barbara County Courthouse, the Santa Barbara Public Library’s Faulkner Gallery, the Santa Maria DMV, Hope School and La Colina Junior High. On public works we pay prevailing wage, our office keeps DIR reporting up to date every week, and we’re registered with the California DIR (#PW-LR-1000998228). See our government projects.