Painting Older Homes in Claremont and Rondebosch

Claremont Village, Kenilworth and Rondebosch have some of the finest older residential stock in Cape Town — Victorian cottages, Edwardian semis, Cape Dutch revivals and mid-century homes that have real character. Painting these properties correctly requires understanding what makes them different from modern construction and using appropriate products and techniques.

Lime Plaster Properties

Many pre-1950s Southern Suburbs homes have original lime plaster that behaves very differently from modern cement render. Lime plaster is softer, more flexible and permeable — it allows moisture to move through the wall and evaporate. Applying modern impermeable acrylic paint over original lime plaster can trap moisture and cause significant damage. On heritage lime plaster, a breathable mineral silicate paint or a traditional lime wash is often more appropriate than modern acrylic. Always get specialist advice before painting a pre-1940s home with modern products.

Multiple Old Paint Layers

Older Claremont homes have typically been painted many times over the decades. When old paint layers have lost adhesion collectively, a new topcoat will simply continue the failure. The correct approach is to assess whether the existing paint is sound, remove what has failed, apply a bonding primer and then topcoat. Never apply new paint over flaking or poorly bonded old paint regardless of cost pressure. See our wall preparation guide for Claremont homes.

Claremont Painters connects you with painters experienced in older Southern Suburbs properties.