Exterior Painting
Older and newer homes across the city.
Prep matched to the house: lead-safe scraping on older homes, washing and caulk on newer ones.
City · Mecklenburg County · 28202
House Painting in Charlotte, NC
Charlotte is the city next door, and its southeast neighborhoods along Providence, Sardis and Independence are a short drive from our Matthews office. About 9 miles from our Matthews office.
Every Kind of House in One City
Everything from 1920s bungalows and 1950s ranches to 1990s subdivisions and new townhomes, plus a large share of apartments. Charlotte has local historic districts with their own design review, so exterior work there starts with a district check.
The median home in Charlotte was built in 1995, and 51.0% of occupied homes are owner-occupied, according to Census estimates. That shapes what most jobs here look like.
What we see most in Charlotte
- Older neighborhoods with lead-era paint. Bungalows and mid-century ranches with layered paint near the center.
- Suburban HOA homes. 1990s and 2000s subdivisions due for repaints and caulk.
- Rentals and multifamily. Turnovers and common areas on a schedule.
Quick answer
Charlotte has about 399,305 homes, and the median one was built in 1995; 27.9% were built before 1980. Published national benchmarks put a typical exterior repaint at $1,819-$4,551 (HomeAdvisor) and a single room at $300-$1,000 for walls (HomeGuide); a written quote after an on-site estimate sets the real price, and prep decides how long it lasts. How costs break down.
Charlotte Housing & Paint Data
How old the homes are, what kind of buildings they are, and the weather paint has to survive, compared with Mecklenburg County and North Carolina.
Charlotte City
Mecklenburg County
North Carolina
- Before 1940
- 1940 to 1979
- 1980 to 1999
- 2000 and later
| Measure | Charlotte City | Mecklenburg County | NC |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 903,844 | 1,154,681 | 10,730,404 |
| Housing units | 399,305 | 503,071 | 4,895,668 |
| Median year built | 1995 | 1997 | 1991 |
| Built before 1980 (closest Census cut to the 1978 lead-paint line) | 27.9% | 24.8% | 33.9% |
| Built 1980 to 1999 | 29.5% | 29.9% | 30.9% |
| Built 2000 or later | 42.6% | 45.3% | 35.1% |
| Built 2010 or later | 21.5% | 23.2% | 16.5% |
| Single-family detached | 51.1% | 54.8% | 65.3% |
| Attached homes (townhouses, twins) | 9.2% | 8.8% | 4.8% |
| Apartments and condos (2+ units) | 38.4% | 34.9% | 18.9% |
| Owner-occupied | 51.0% | 55.1% | 66.6% |
| Median home value | $385,700 | $406,800 | $288,900 |
Painting weather (NOAA 1991-2020 normals, Charlotte Douglas Airport)
- Rain
- 43.6 in a year, on 112 days
- Wettest month: August, 4.35 in
- Temperature
- July average high 90.3°F, January average low 31.8°F
- 58 nights a year below freezing, most from December to February
What this means for painting in Charlotte
- 27.9% of homes here were built before 1980 (24.8% across Mecklenburg County). Paint in homes built before 1978 may contain lead, so scraping or sanding it is done by a North Carolina certified lead-safe firm using containment and cleanup.
- 42.6% of homes were built in 2000 or later. Many still have the builder's original flat wall paint and first exterior coat, which usually wear through 8 to 12 years in; the first repaint is the one where caulk and trim prep matter most.
- 47.6% of homes are townhouses, condos or apartments. Exterior paint on those buildings is usually an HOA or management decision, so owners there mostly call us for interiors, cabinets and drywall.
Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, tables B01003, B25001, B25003, B25024, B25034, B25035 and B25077 (profile); NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991-2020, station USW00013881. ACS figures are survey estimates with margins of error, and small places have wider margins. The Census year-built table breaks at 1980, not 1978, so "built before 1980" slightly overstates homes covered by lead-paint rules.
Signs Charlotte Homes Need Paint
-
Peeling trim on older homes
Wood trim on older houses peels first at sills and porch rails.
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Chalky suburban siding
Builder paint in the suburbs chalks and fades on sunny sides.
-
Scuffed rental walls
Busy rentals need durable, washable finishes at every turnover.
-
Mildew in shaded yards
Mature trees keep walls damp and grow mildew.
-
Water stains on ceilings
Old leaks leave stains that need stain-blocking primer.
Matching the Prep to the Neighborhood
A 1920s bungalow and a 2005 two-story in the same city need different jobs. The bungalow usually needs lead-safe scraping, wood repair and a bonding primer; the newer house needs a wash, new caulk and two coats.
Charlotte also has local historic districts with their own design review. Exterior work on a property in one of those districts starts with checking what needs approval.
Painting Services in Charlotte
In Charlotte, everything from 1920s bungalows and 1950s ranches to 1990s subdivisions and new townhomes, plus a large share of apartments. These are the services most homes here start with.
Interior Painting
Rooms, ceilings and trim.
Repairs first, then two coats in the right sheen for each room.
Commercial Painting
Offices, retail and rentals.
After-hours and phased work with documentation.
Every service we offer is available in Charlotte.
How a Charlotte Job Comes Together
-
Check the district and the year built
Historic district review and lead-safe rules are confirmed first.
-
Write the scope
Surfaces, repairs, products, colors and coats in writing.
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Protect and prep
Containment where needed, washing, repairs and primer.
-
Paint and walk through
Two finish coats and a walkthrough with you.
Parking, Permits and Neighbors
In older neighborhoods with street parking, we plan where trucks and ladders go so we do not block driveways.
Repainting rarely needs a permit, but siding replacement and structural repairs can; Mecklenburg County Code Enforcement handles permits for Charlotte.
Questions From Charlotte
Do you work in all of Charlotte?
We focus on southeast, south and east Charlotte nearest Matthews, and take larger jobs farther out.
How far is Charlotte from your office?
About 9 miles from our office in Matthews. Charlotte is a regular part of our service area.
Does my Charlotte home need historic review to repaint?
Only if it is in a local historic district or is a landmark. Check with the Charlotte Historic District Commission before changing exterior features.
Do you paint apartments and rentals?
Yes, including turnovers on fixed move-in dates and common areas.
Are many homes in Charlotte old enough for lead-safe rules?
Census estimates put 27.9% of Charlotte homes as built before 1980. For any home built before 1978, scraping or sanding paint has to follow lead-safe rules.
More answers on our painting FAQ page.
On-Site Estimate Painting Help in Charlotte
Painting Help in Charlotte
Mecklenburg County, NC
Tell us what you are seeing on the outside or inside of your Charlotte home, and roughly when it was built. Each points to a different kind of prep. North Carolina rules for older homes apply.
Booking estimates Mon-Sat 7 AM-6 PM
✓ On-Site Estimate✓ Written Scope✓ Insured Crew✓ Based in Matthews, NC