Painting Services in Dunbar-Southlands
Dunbar-Southlands spans from the residential streets of Dunbar near UBC down to the large estate properties of Southlands — one of the few areas within Vancouver city limits with acreage lots, equestrian properties, and significant outbuildings alongside the primary residence. We work throughout both areas and understand the distinct character of each.
Heritage Homes in Dunbar
Dunbar's residential streets contain many pre-war and post-war homes built from the 1930s through the 1950s. These properties typically have original cedar siding, old-growth millwork, and plaster walls that require specific preparation before painting. We assess older materials carefully before starting work — homes built before the 1980s may have lead paint on exterior surfaces, and we follow safe work practices for any disturbance of potentially lead-containing coatings.
Exterior repaints on these older homes start with careful scraping and sanding of all failing paint back to a stable base, followed by spot-priming of bare wood with a moisture-blocking oil primer before applying topcoats. This prep process is what protects the wood through Vancouver's wet winters.
Southlands Estate Painting
Properties in Southlands tend to be much larger than a typical Vancouver lot, often featuring guest cottages, barns, garages, and perimeter fencing alongside the primary home. We've executed full property painting packages in Southlands that include the main house exterior, outbuildings, and wood fence lines. For fencing and horizontal decking, we use penetrating oil stains rather than paint — they soak into the wood grain and protect from the inside rather than sitting on the surface where they can crack and peel.
Interior Modernization
Inside Dunbar homes, one of the most requested services is popcorn ceiling removal followed by a full interior repaint. Many of these homes still have the original acoustic texture applied by the builder, dark stained wood trim from the 1980s, and outdated colour palettes. A complete interior repaint — new ceiling finish, fresh wall colours, and updated trim in white or warm off-white — makes a substantial difference to how these homes feel and show.