
Hillsboro’s mix of historic downtown bungalows, mid-century ranch homes, and brand-new construction makes it one of the most varied painting markets in the metro.
Lenny Martin Painting has served the west side for over 30 years, and Hillsboro captures everything we love about this work. Within a few miles you can find a 1920s Craftsman on Main Street, a 1980s ranch in the Jackson School neighborhood, a New Urbanist townhome in Orenco Station, and a just-built single-family home in South Hillsboro’s newest phase. Each era of construction brings different siding materials, different paint failure modes, and different homeowner expectations. We adjust our methods for every job rather than running a one-size-fits-all approach.
Here’s a closer look at how we handle exterior painting, interior painting, and commercial projects across Hillsboro.
Hillsboro sits in the Tualatin Valley where fog settles through fall and winter, keeping surfaces damp for days at a stretch. Older homes in the Jackson School and Downtown areas have original cedar or wood-composite siding that absorbs this moisture and develops paint blisters if the existing coat has cracked. Ranch homes along TV Highway often have T1-11 plywood siding that delaminates when moisture gets behind failed paint. Newer fiber-cement homes in Witch Hazel Village and South Hillsboro have their own timeline — factory finishes fading after 10–12 years of Tualatin Valley UV and moisture cycling.
We start every Hillsboro exterior with a moisture reading on the siding. If readings are elevated, we schedule around dry weather to let the substrate breathe before priming. On wood and T1-11, we scrape to a sound surface, spot-prime bare areas with alkyd primer, and follow up with two coats of premium latex. Fiber-cement gets a chalk-removal wash, spot priming, and two acrylic topcoats. Trim boards, fascia, and soffits are painted separately with a satin or semi-gloss for contrast and moisture resistance.
In Hillsboro’s valley climate, a quality exterior repaint lasts 8–12 years depending on siding material and sun exposure. North-facing walls in the Brookwood area, shaded by tall fir trees, tend to grow moss and algae fastest — periodic soft-washing stretches the paint’s life. South and west exposures along the hillier lots near Witch Hazel see more UV and dry faster, so paint adheres well but fades sooner on dark colors.
Hillsboro’s interior painting needs span every decade of construction. Downtown Craftsmen have plaster walls with subtle undulations, picture rails, and wood-cased windows that deserve careful brush work. 1970s and 1980s ranches in Jackson School feature textured drywall, wood-paneled accent walls, and smaller rooms that benefit from lighter, space-expanding color choices. Orenco Station townhomes have open layouts with smooth walls and high ceilings that call for precise roller technique and consistent coverage.
We handle all surface types found in Hillsboro homes: lime plaster, skim-coated drywall, orange-peel texture, knockdown, and smooth Level 5 finish. On plaster, we fill cracks with flexible filler and use a high-build primer to even out absorption rates. Textured walls get heavy-nap rollers for full coverage in every crevice. Smooth walls demand careful rolling technique to avoid lap marks — especially on taller walls in newer open-concept homes.
Hillsboro’s overcast winters mean interior color should compensate for low natural light from November through March. Warm whites, soft taupes, and muted sage greens keep rooms inviting without feeling dark. Orenco Station homes with large west-facing windows can handle cooler blues and grays because afternoon light brings warmth. We always test colors on-site with large brush-out samples — a paint chip at the store looks nothing like a wall in your actual living room.
Hillsboro’s commercial landscape ranges from the tech campus corridor along Evergreen Parkway and NE Century Boulevard to the small-business storefronts of Downtown and the retail centers at Tanasbourne. The tech industry brings high standards for clean, professional office finishes, while downtown shops and restaurants need character and durability in equal measure. Medical offices, dental clinics, and veterinary practices dot Cornell Road and Tualatin Valley Highway, each with specialized coating needs.
We schedule tech office repaints during off-hours and weekends to avoid disrupting shift workers. Retail and restaurant projects run overnight when possible. For medical facilities, we use zero-VOC coatings and set up air-scrubbing containment to keep odors out of patient areas. Every commercial project gets a dedicated point of contact on our crew who coordinates directly with your property manager or business owner.
We’ve painted office suites along the Evergreen Parkway tech corridor, brewpubs and restaurants in Downtown Hillsboro, retail storefronts at Tanasbourne, veterinary clinics on Cornell Road, daycare centers near Jackson School, and warehouse interiors in the Brookwood industrial area.
There are dozens of painters in Washington County. The difference is in the prep, the communication, and whether they’ll still answer the phone a year from now.
Read what past clients have to say on our reviews page, or browse our project gallery to see recent work.
From the tree-lined streets of Downtown to the growing neighborhoods of South Hillsboro, Lenny Martin Painting brings 30-plus years of experience to every project. Call 503-888-8020 or fill out the form below for your free estimate.