My Gladstone home was built in the 1950s — should I be concerned about lead paint?

Homes built before 1978 likely have lead paint somewhere, especially on trim, doors, and window components. We test before we scrape and follow EPA RRP rules to contain and properly dispose of lead-containing materials. Your family’s safety comes first.

Can you paint over the wood paneling in my family room?

Yes, and it’s one of our most popular requests in Gladstone. We clean the paneling, lightly sand the surface, fill the grooves if desired, apply a bonding primer, and then paint with your chosen color. The transformation is remarkable.

How do you handle plaster walls that have cracks?

Plaster cracks are common in Gladstone’s older homes. We assess whether they’re cosmetic (surface-level) or structural. Cosmetic cracks get filled with flexible patching compound, sanded smooth, and primed before painting. Structural cracks may need mesh tape reinforcement.

Is it worth repainting old wood siding or should I re-side?

If the underlying wood is structurally sound, repainting is far more cost-effective and preserves the home’s original character. We replace only the boards that are truly rotted. A properly prepped and painted wood exterior can look stunning and last 8–12 years before the next repaint.

How do you protect my original hardwood floors during interior painting?

We cover all floors with heavy-duty canvas drop cloths that stay in place throughout the project. High-traffic paths get additional protection. We don’t use plastic sheeting on floors because it creates a slipping hazard and doesn’t absorb drips.

What’s the typical cost range for a Gladstone exterior repaint?

Every home is different, but a typical 1,200–1,600 sq ft Gladstone ranch exterior runs between $5,000 and $9,000 depending on siding condition, number of paint layers to address, and the extent of any wood repair. We provide detailed written estimates after an in-person inspection.

Gladstone House Painting Services

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Gladstone Local

Serving Clackamas County

Gladstone packs big neighborhood character into a compact city, and its post-war homes are reaching the age where quality painting makes a tremendous difference.

Nestled between Oregon City and Milwaukie along the Clackamas River, Gladstone is a small, walkable city with a housing stock heavily concentrated in the 1940s through 1970s era. Gladstone Central features tidy bungalows and ranch homes on tree-lined streets, many with original wood lap siding, single-pane windows, and small covered porches. The River Road area follows the Clackamas River with a mix of mid-century ranches and updated homes enjoying water proximity. Clackamas Bluffs offers slightly larger lots with elevation views, while the Arlington neighborhood features rows of 1950s and 1960s ranches with attached garages and mature birch and maple trees. Jennings Lodge, straddling the Gladstone-Milwaukie border, adds split-levels and bi-levels from the late 1960s and 1970s.

Lenny Martin Painting has worked on hundreds of homes in this age range over three decades. We understand the specific challenges that 50- to 80-year-old homes present — from lead paint considerations to multi-layer scraping and wood rot repair — and we address them systematically.

Exterior House Painting in Gladstone

Post-War Exteriors Renewed

Gladstone’s older homes have exterior challenges rooted in their age. Original wood lap siding from the 1940s and 1950s has endured decades of Pacific Northwest weather, often accumulating six or more layers of paint that eventually crack, chip, and peel as the underlying wood moves. Trim boards around original single-pane windows are common failure points where moisture wicks in and rots the substrate. Homes in the Arlington neighborhood and along River Road frequently show paint failure at gable ends and south-facing walls where sun exposure is greatest.

Our Gladstone exterior process emphasizes thorough preparation above all else. We test for lead paint on pre-1978 homes and follow EPA protocols when it’s present. Multi-layer peeling areas get scraped to sound paint, feather-sanded smooth, and spot-primed with high-adhesion primer. We replace rotted trim sections with primed wood or composite, caulk all joints with 50-year sealant, and apply two coats of premium acrylic latex that flexes with the old wood rather than cracking against it.

Multi-layer paint scraping & surface preparation
Lead paint testing & EPA-compliant abatement
Wood lap siding rot repair & patching
Window trim & casing replacement and painting
Attached garage door & frame refinishing
Front porch ceiling, post & railing restoration

A Finish That Holds Up Year After Year

Gladstone’s older wood siding demands coatings with flexibility. Rigid bargain-brand paints crack quickly on aging wood that expands and contracts with moisture changes. We specify premium 100% acrylic formulas with built-in flexibility and adhesion promoters, giving Gladstone’s vintage homes a finish that moves with the wood and lasts.

Interior Painting for Gladstone Homes

Updating Mid-Century Interiors

Inside Gladstone’s post-war homes, you’ll find a time capsule of mid-century features — plaster walls, coved ceilings, picture rail molding, original hardwood floors, and in many cases, wood-paneled family rooms added during 1960s and 1970s remodels. Our interior work respects the bones of these homes while bringing them into the present with fresh color and clean finishes. We protect original hardwood, mask off built-in cabinetry, and prep plaster surfaces with the appropriate fillers and primers.

Homes in Gladstone Central and Arlington typically have modest square footage with 8-foot ceilings and defined rooms rather than open floor plans. Thoughtful color choices make these spaces feel larger and brighter. Jennings Lodge split-levels present the additional challenge of stairway painting and multiple half-levels that each need cohesive color treatment.

Plaster wall crack repair & skim coating
Wood paneling priming & painting over
Coved ceiling & picture rail detail painting
Kitchen cabinet & vanity refinishing
Split-level stairway & landing painting
Original hardwood floor protection during painting

Color & Finish Guidance

Gladstone’s compact mid-century rooms brighten up beautifully with crisp whites, soft warm grays, and pale yellows that bounce natural light. Painting over dated wood paneling with a warm white or light greige transforms family rooms instantly. For accent touches, dusty blue, terracotta, and olive green honor the mid-century architecture while feeling completely current.

Commercial Painting in Gladstone

Small-City Commercial Painting

Gladstone’s commercial district runs primarily along Portland Avenue and McLoughlin Boulevard, with a mix of small retail shops, service businesses, offices, and restaurants that give the city its Main Street character. These older commercial buildings often have masonry facades, wood-trimmed storefronts, and interiors that haven’t been updated in years.

We work with Gladstone business owners to schedule painting with minimal disruption. Many Portland Avenue shops are open six days a week, so we plan evening prep and early-morning painting to have surfaces dry before the doors open. For restaurants and food service, we use zero-VOC products and maintain strict containment to keep dust and debris away from food-contact areas.

Storefront facade & entrance painting
Office interior refreshes & accent walls
Restaurant & cafe interior repainting
Salon, barbershop & service business coatings
Property management turnover painting
Masonry & stucco commercial exterior coating

Industries We Serve in Gladstone

We serve Gladstone’s retail shops, restaurants, salons, professional offices, service businesses, and rental property owners. Our experience with older commercial buildings means we know how to handle plaster walls, original millwork, and aging substrates that newer painting crews may not be familiar with.

Why Gladstone Property Owners Choose Lenny Martin Painting

There are dozens of painters in Clackamas County. The difference is in the prep, the communication, and whether they’ll still answer the phone a year from now.

What Sets Us Apart

Older home specialists: Three decades of experience with 1940s–1970s construction, including lead paint, multi-layer surfaces, and plaster walls.
Wood rot repair: We don’t just paint over problems — we fix rotted siding, trim, and window casings before a single coat goes on.
EPA lead-safe certified: Full compliance with federal lead paint regulations for pre-1978 homes, protecting your family and ours.
Compact city efficiency: Gladstone’s small footprint means we’re never far from your home, keeping travel costs down and response times fast.

Projects We Handle

Complete exterior restoration of a 1948 bungalow in Gladstone Central with original wood lap siding
Interior transformation of a 1960s Arlington ranch, including painting over wood paneling
Split-level stairway and whole-house repaint in Jennings Lodge for resale
Commercial storefront repaint for a Portland Avenue retail shop

Read what past clients have to say on our reviews page, or browse our project gallery to see recent work.

Gladstone Neighborhoods We Serve

Gladstone Central
River Road
Clackamas Bluffs
Arlington
Jennings Lodge

Gladstone House Painting & Commercial Painting FAQ

My Gladstone home was built in the 1950s — should I be concerned about lead paint?
- Homes built before 1978 likely have lead paint somewhere, especially on trim, doors, and window components. We test before we scrape and follow EPA RRP rules to contain and properly dispose of lead-containing materials. Your family’s safety comes first.
Can you paint over the wood paneling in my family room?
- Yes, and it’s one of our most popular requests in Gladstone. We clean the paneling, lightly sand the surface, fill the grooves if desired, apply a bonding primer, and then paint with your chosen color. The transformation is remarkable.
How do you handle plaster walls that have cracks?
- Plaster cracks are common in Gladstone’s older homes. We assess whether they’re cosmetic (surface-level) or structural. Cosmetic cracks get filled with flexible patching compound, sanded smooth, and primed before painting. Structural cracks may need mesh tape reinforcement.
Is it worth repainting old wood siding or should I re-side?
- If the underlying wood is structurally sound, repainting is far more cost-effective and preserves the home’s original character. We replace only the boards that are truly rotted. A properly prepped and painted wood exterior can look stunning and last 8–12 years before the next repaint.
How do you protect my original hardwood floors during interior painting?
- We cover all floors with heavy-duty canvas drop cloths that stay in place throughout the project. High-traffic paths get additional protection. We don’t use plastic sheeting on floors because it creates a slipping hazard and doesn’t absorb drips.
What’s the typical cost range for a Gladstone exterior repaint?
- Every home is different, but a typical 1,200–1,600 sq ft Gladstone ranch exterior runs between $5,000 and $9,000 depending on siding condition, number of paint layers to address, and the extent of any wood repair. We provide detailed written estimates after an in-person inspection.

Gladstone’s Trusted Painting Partner

From the bungalows of Gladstone Central to the split-levels in Jennings Lodge, Lenny Martin Painting specializes in the post-war homes that give this city its character. Call 503-888-8020 for your free estimate.