Painters Forest Hills TN — Interior, Exterior & Cabinet Painting
Forest Hills is a small city of about 5,000 people spread over roughly nine square miles of Davidson County, made up of steep wooded hills and large lots. The city has its own mayor, board of commissioners and city hall, which sits at Hillsboro Pike and Old Hickory Boulevard. Its borders run along Old Hickory Boulevard to the south, Granny White Pike to the east, Harding Place to the north, and Chickering Road and Belle Meade to the west. Most homes sit on parcels of one to two acres. That changes how a painting job is planned, because the size, slope and shade of the lot matter as much as the house.
Three kinds of homes, side by side
Forest Hills was developed as a suburb after World War II, and hundreds of homes have been built since 1970. A handful of far older properties remain: a c. 1798 log house listed on the National Register of Historic Places, a c. 1819 log house on Tyne Boulevard, a Queen Anne-style house built in 1890 along Hillsboro Pike, and 1930s estates such as Longleat and The Hibbettage. Around them you will find mid-century ranches (many renovated), and larger, newer custom homes on infill lots. Each needs its own plan:
Older estates and historic homes: wood trim, shutters, porches and windows. Repair and prime first, then use a durable finish, and keep the color scheme in keeping with the age of the house.
Mid-century homes: fresh trim, soffit, fascia and doors, with a modern color plan. Many have been added onto, so the old and new sections often need matching.
Newer large homes: two-story entries, tall exterior walls and long runs of trim. The challenge is reach and scheduling, not detail.
Steep lots, long driveways and getting the job done safely
On a hilly one- to two-acre lot, the ladder or lift often has to go on a slope or a long way from the driveway. If you are comparing painters for a Forest Hills house, ask:
How will they reach the tallest walls and gables, and where will lifts or scaffolding sit on the slope?
How will they protect landscaping, stone walls, and the slope below the house?
How will they stage materials with a long driveway or gated entry?
Can they do the walkthrough with you on site so they can see the access?
Wooded hills mean shade and moisture
Forest Hills is made of steep, forested hills, and many homes sit under heavy tree cover. Trees keep siding, trim, porch ceilings and decks damp for longer, which feeds algae and mildew. That is why the north side of a house or a deck under oak branches turns green first. Paint over mildew only hides it for a short while. The surface should be washed and treated, bare wood primed and trim joints sealed before new paint goes on. Where branches touch the roof or siding, trimming them back helps any paint last longer.
What to look for on a mid-century Forest Hills home
Houses from the 1950s and 1960s share a short list of problem spots. Check them before you call a painter:
Peeling or bare wood on the fascia and under the eaves, where gutters have overflowed for years.
Gaps and open seams where an addition meets the original house, because old and new sections weather differently.
Rust stains from old nails and metal trim bleeding through paint.
Window and door trim that has been painted so many times the edges are rounded and the paint is thick.
Garage doors, shutters and front doors that look tired next to otherwise sound walls.
Whole-house projects, from exterior to cabinets
Large homes often mean a long list: exterior walls, trim, doors, garage doors, interior rooms, cabinets. Combining them in one walkthrough and one written estimate keeps the schedule simple. - Exterior painting: siding, trim, shutters, doors and gutters. - Interior painting: walls, ceilings, trim and doors. Mid-century interiors often have wood paneling, dark trim and dated finishes that look much better with a new color plan. - Cabinet painting: refinishing kitchen and bath cabinets. - Winter interior painting: the easiest time of year to get interiors on the schedule.
Decks, porches, fences and outbuildings
Large lots usually mean large decks, long fences and sometimes a barn, guest house or pool house. We stain and seal decks and fences, and repaint porch ceilings, rails and columns. More on staining. The right time to stain is when the wood is clean and dry, which usually means late spring or early fall.
Getting an accurate estimate on a large property
A big lot is hard to price from a phone call. When you reach out, it helps to have these ready: the year the house was built and any additions, the number of stories, whether you want the exterior, interior or both, any detached buildings (garage, guest house, barn, pool house), decks and fences, and a few photos of the worst spots. We walk the property, measure, note the trim and wood repairs, and send a written estimate.
Neighborhood covenants and exterior colors
Some Forest Hills subdivisions have covenants or architectural review. If you plan more than a repaint, such as an addition or new windows, check with Forest Hills city hall first. Tell us your street when you call and we will ask about covenants before we quote. For historic houses, choose colors in keeping with the age and style of the house.
Nearby areas we paint
Belle Meade, Green Hills, Oak Hill, Brentwood, Sylvan Park and Franklin. See all Nashville painting areas.
Why homeowners choose us
4.8 stars from 162 Google reviews
Painting since 1999, in business since 2010
Voted Best of Nashville since 2012
Licensed, bonded and insured in Tennessee, license #7688
Five-year transferable warranty. See our warranty.
A free written estimate after we walk the property.
Forest Hills painting FAQ
Is Forest Hills part of Nashville? Forest Hills is its own city inside Davidson County and Metro Nashville, with its own mayor and commissioners. We serve all of it.
Can you paint a large home with a long driveway and several levels? Yes. At the walkthrough we look at the size, levels and access, and the written estimate covers it.
Why is the shady side of my siding or trim green? Tree cover keeps wood and siding damp, which feeds algae and mildew. The surface should be washed and treated and bare wood primed before painting.
Do I need to check my neighborhood covenants before choosing colors? Some subdivisions have covenants. Tell us your street and we will ask before we quote.
Can you do the inside and outside in one project? Yes. We paint exteriors, interiors and cabinets, and cover them in one written estimate.
Do you paint old or historic homes? Yes. Older homes need careful wood repair and a color scheme that suits their age, so we look closely at the trim, windows and porch at the walkthrough.
When is the best time to paint a Forest Hills exterior? Spring and fall, when it is dry and mild. Interiors can be scheduled year-round, and winter is the easiest season to book.
Do you stain decks and fences? Yes. See staining.
What does the warranty cover? Every job carries a five-year transferable warranty. See warranty.
Get your free Forest Hills estimate. Call 615-975-6464 or request an estimate. Hours: Monday to Friday 7am to 7pm, Saturday 8am to 5pm, closed Sunday. We work from a Nashville home office and come to you.