Painting Considerations For Kansas City Shirtwaist Houses

16 Jul Painting Considerations For Kansas City Shirtwaist Houses

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One of the most unique styles of homes that we work for is the Kansas City Shirtwaist House, also known as the Midwest Shirtwaist House.

What is a Shirtwaist House?

Shirtwaist refers to the architectural style of many homes built in Kansas City in the early 1900s. Standard shirtwaist house floor plans and features of this unique-to-our-area architecture include:

• At least two, possibly three levels with a very symmetrical design.
• A first level is usually made from native limestone (brick was used in later years).
• A front porch made of the same stone (or wood in later years).
• A steep, triangle-shaped gable roof.
• A kitchen in the rear of the house, with a backdoor leading outside.
• A first-floor living space with all bedrooms located upstairs.
• A full basement to attic staircase, generally located on the side of the house.

How To Paint A Shirtwaist Home

These gorgeous and unique homes also require unique preparation when planning for exterior painting or repair. The prep work is highly detailed, and it takes a lot more tedious effort to restore these homes (see an example of our work in this KansasCity.com article). Extra work includes re-glazing old lead pane glass windows, laborious hand-scraping of old paint, replacing rafter tails, and repairing trim embedded in Stucco. It’s also imperative to follow lead-safe protocol in these houses. All the replacement trim and lumber on these homes have to be custom fabricated; manufacturers don’t make these trim pieces or lumber sizes anymore following modern housing trends.

Beyond prep, choosing the right color and paint schemes are essential to reflect the period; usually, there are 3-4 paint colors around the entire home, and part of the allure of these homes is keeping them in-period, even after restoration is complete.

If you live in a Kansas City Shirtwaist-style house and are considering repainting or restoring your home’s exterior, please contact us. Our exemplary understanding of these architectural beauties, coupled with our customer-first approach, makes us the absolute best choice you can make.

-Updated 4/12/2023