Alamo Heights, Texas
House Painters in Alamo Heights, TX
Alamo Heights is an independent city surrounded by San Antonio, and many of its houses date from the 1920s and 1930s. Jesse and Isaac Tellez, a father and son crew with more than 40 years of family painting behind them, prep for the plaster, wood and masonry that are actually there.
Tellez & Sons Painting, since 1982Rated 4.7 on Google from 88 reviews.
Why does a house from the 1920s need a different painter?
Because it is not a new build with old paint on it. It is plaster, wood and masonry that have been painted over for decades, and each of them changes what has to happen before the first coat.
Plaster and lath, not drywall
Prep: cracks, patches, primer
Plaster is harder and more brittle than drywall, and old walls carry hairline cracks and patches from repairs made decades ago. Cracks are filled and patched spots are primed so they do not show through the new paint, and bare plaster takes a primer coat because it drinks paint unevenly. Anything bigger than a patch is quoted as repair work before painting starts.
Wood windows and deep trim profiles
Prep: masking, cleaning, hand brushing
Old wood windows hold glass in wood muntins, and deep casings, baseboards and picture rails have grooves a roller cannot reach. That work is masked and cleaned first and then brushed by hand, so it takes longer than a flat wall. Loose paint is dealt with before anything is painted over it, and failed caulk is replaced so the new coat seals the joint.
Painted masonry and stucco
Prep: wash, check, prime
Brick and stucco that were painted long ago can chalk, hold moisture and crack at the corners. The surface is washed, checked for loose or chalky paint and for hairline cracks, and primed where it needs it, so the new coat grips instead of sitting on dust. Pressure washing can also be booked on its own.
Deep eaves under mature live oaks
Prep: shade, mildew, soft wood
Deep overhangs and soffits under a live oak canopy stay shaded and damp, so mildew and green film build up on the wood and the wall below. That is washed off before painting, and soft wood is a repair to quote, not something to paint over. Plants are covered while we work and the site is cleaned when we leave.
Paint from before 1978
Paint on a house built before 1978 is handled carefully. Surfaces are not dry sanded and old paint is not burned off. If lead is a concern for your household, testing is the first step, and it is the homeowner's to arrange. Tell us what you know about the house when you call and the prep is planned around it.
What a careful repaint costs you in time
An older house takes longer than a new build. There are three reasons.
The prep comes first
A new build starts with clean, even drywall. An older house is washed, looked over, patched, caulked and primed wall by wall and window by window, and that stage takes a real share of the schedule.
Repairs appear late
Cracks, soft wood and failed caulk often stay hidden until the surface is clean and the loose paint is off. Whatever turns up is quoted and fixed before painting carries on, which adds time and protects the new paint.
Older surfaces take more coats
Bare plaster, thirsty wood and chalky masonry soak up the first coat. Most need a primer and more than one finish coat to look even and last, where new drywall often needs fewer.
We would rather explain this before the job starts than after, so ask about it when you call.
Who paints older houses in Alamo Heights?
Tellez & Sons Painting is a father and son crew, Jesse and Isaac Tellez, painting houses in Alamo Heights, the independent city surrounded by San Antonio in Bexar County. The family has painted in San Antonio since 1982, and Alamo Heights is where that experience counts, because the housing is substantially older than the north side subdivisions. Many homes date from the 1920s and 1930s, and the live oak canopy is mature.
We repaint interiors and exteriors, refinish kitchen cabinets, patch drywall and remove popcorn ceilings. The quote is built from the house itself: what the walls and trim are made of, what condition the surfaces are in, and how much has to happen before color goes on. We cover floors and furniture, protect what we are not painting, and leave the site clean. Estimates are free, and the crew is insured and bonded. The business is veteran owned and Latino owned.
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What we paint in Alamo Heights
Seven services, each with its own page. An older house often needs more than one.
Interior Painting
Plaster walls, deep casings and built-in shelving, with floors and furniture covered.
Exterior Painting
Wood siding, painted masonry and stucco, trim and deep eaves, repainted under the oaks.
Kitchen and Cabinet Refinishing
Existing cabinets get a new finish, so a sound kitchen does not have to be torn out.
Sheetrock and Repairs
Patches and taped joints for the cracks and holes an older house collects, finished smooth before paint.
Popcorn Ceiling Removal
Popcorn texture removed, then the ceiling is finished and painted with the room covered.
Commercial Painting
Offices, retail units and warehouses, scheduled around when the business opens.
Pressure Washing
Mildew, dirt and green film washed off before painting or on its own, which matters under heavy shade.
Describe the house and we will quote the job.
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The work, and what customers say about it
Rated 4.7 on Google from 88 reviews.
“I couldn't be more satisfied with the outstanding artisan work that Jesse and Isaac provided. … Daily updates and photos were provided when I couldn't be on site as well as recommendations to improve look. … The job site was cleaned nighty and they were always on-time and on schedule. …”
Joseph Crespo, Google, Apr 2024
“Definitely one of the best contractor experiences we've had. Mr. Tellez and Isaac and crew were not only professional but courteous and respectful and knowledgeable and they did everything they said they would do in a timely manner and they made our house look a hundred times better. …”
Maurice Trevino, Google, Jan 2024
“Jesse and his crew painted the exterior of my home. They were VERY detailed in their work. They did an AWESOME job!!! …”
Carmen Rivera, Google, Oct 2019
Questions about older houses
Plain answers on plaster, trim, old paint and the oaks.
Do you paint houses from the 1920s and 1930s?
Yes. Many homes in Alamo Heights date from the 1920s and 1930s, and plaster walls, wood windows, deep trim and painted masonry are what we expect to find. Each one changes the prep: plaster is patched and primed, detailed trim is brushed by hand, and masonry is washed and checked before any color goes on.
How do you handle paint on a house built before 1978?
We handle paint on a house built before 1978 carefully. Surfaces are not dry sanded and old paint is not burned off. If lead is a concern for your household, getting the paint tested is the first step, and it is the homeowner's to arrange before the work is planned. Tell us what you know about the house and we shape the prep around it.
Does painting under mature live oaks change the job?
Yes, a mature live oak canopy like the one in Alamo Heights shapes the job. Shade keeps walls and eaves damp, so mildew and green film are washed off before painting starts. Overhanging limbs drop leaves and debris, so plants are covered while we work and the site is cleaned when we leave. Tell us where the branches come close and we plan the access around them.
How is a repaint on an older Alamo Heights house quoted?
The quote is built from the house itself: what the walls, trim and masonry are made of, what condition they are in, and what has to happen before color goes on. Estimates are free. Call or send a request, talk us through the house, and mention any known cracks, soft wood or earlier paint problems so they are in the quote from the start.
Can you paint built-in shelving and detailed wood trim?
Yes. Built-in shelving, window casings, baseboards and door frames are part of interior painting. Deep profiles are brushed rather than rolled, which takes longer and gives a cleaner edge. If the kitchen is next, cabinet refinishing is its own service with its own page.
Tell us how old the house is.
The year it was built, what the walls and trim are made of, and what you want painted is enough to start. Estimates are free.
Alamo Heights sits inside San Antonio, where the family has painted since 1982. See house painting in San Antonio.