Roughly 86 percent of Philadelphia’s housing stock was built before 1978, meaning the vast majority of the city’s row houses, twins, and detached homes contain lead-based paint. This makes Philadelphia one of the strictest cities in the country for painting contractor compliance: local ordinance Chapter 6-800 requires landlords to obtain lead-safe certifications before renting any pre-1978 property, and the City charges a $330 inspection fee through the Lead and Healthy Homes Program. Contractors who lack EPA Lead-Safe Certification are effectively locked out of a large portion of the city’s painting work.
The row house is the defining housing form in Philadelphia, and its narrow interiors, plaster walls, and ornate Victorian woodwork create preparation challenges that drive painting costs above regional averages. Interior painting in the city averages $2,024 per project, with detailed trim, plaster repair, and tight stairwells adding $0.50 to $4 per square foot beyond basic wall surfaces.
Nolan Painting
Founded: 1979
Address: 181 W Hillcrest Ave, Havertown, PA 19083
Phone: (610) 572-2806
Website: https://www.nolanpainting.com
Services: Interior painting, exterior painting, cabinet painting, color consulting, decorative painting, drywall repair, lead paint removal, plaster repair, plastering, popcorn ceiling removal, wallpaper removal, carpentry, shutter repair, molding installation
Products Used: Not specified
Kevin Nolan started the company in 1979 while a student at Villanova University, and his children have since joined the business, making it one of the longest-running family-owned painting operations in greater Philadelphia. The company has accumulated over 1,500 five-star Google reviews and holds EPA Lead-Safe Certified Firm status, which matters considerably given that the majority of their Philadelphia-area clients own pre-1978 homes. The Philadelphia Inquirer named them a Top Workplace every year from 2017 through 2023.
Philadelphia House Painting and Historical Restoration
Founded: 1994
Address: 703 S 3rd St, Philadelphia, PA 19147
Phone: (610) 715-3002
Website: https://www.philadelphiahousepainting.com
Services: Interior painting, exterior painting, historical restoration, masonry, carpentry, metalwork, wood repair, glazing, weather-stripping, cast iron restoration, 3D decorative form replication
Products Used: Not specified
This company occupies a niche that few Philadelphia painters serve: the restoration of 18th and 19th century structures where matching original plaster profiles, cast iron railings, and decorative masonry is as important as the paint itself. They use 3D scanning technology to replicate decorative forms that would otherwise be impossible to match, a capability more commonly associated with museum conservation than residential contracting. Their service territory covers South Philly, the Main Line, and Center City blocks where historic preservation standards apply.
Heiler Painting
Founded: 2012
Address: 650 Painter St, Suite 1, Media, PA 19063
Phone: (610) 818-7920
Website: https://www.heilerpainting.com
Services: Interior painting, exterior painting, cabinet painting, cabinet refinishing, color consulting, deck staining, drywall repair, lead paint inspection, lead paint removal, plaster repair, popcorn ceiling removal, stucco repair, custom carpentry
Products Used: Not specified
Tom Heiler founded the company after graduating from Temple University, starting with two painters and building to a 40-person operation within roughly a decade. That growth rate in Philadelphia’s competitive painting market reflects a structured approach: Heiler operates with a seven-step project management process and covers territory across Pennsylvania and into New Jersey, including the Main Line communities of Ardmore, Bryn Mawr, Narberth, and Wayne.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: How much does interior painting cost in Philadelphia?
A: Interior painting in Philadelphia averages around $2,024, with most projects falling between $1,072 and $2,996. Row houses with detailed Victorian trim, plaster walls, or narrow stairwells typically run toward the higher end, as prep work alone can add $0.50 to $4 per square foot.
Q: Do painting contractors in Philadelphia need special certification for older homes?
A: Yes. Homes built before 1978 likely contain lead paint, and Philadelphia’s Chapter 6-800 ordinance imposes stricter requirements than state or federal law. Contractors performing renovation or painting work on pre-1978 properties should hold EPA Lead-Safe Certification. Property owners renting pre-1978 units must obtain a lead-safe certificate costing $330 through the city’s Lead and Healthy Homes Program before tenants can legally occupy the space.
Q: When should exterior painting be scheduled in Philadelphia?
A: Late spring through early fall is the most reliable window. Philadelphia’s damp winters slow paint curing, and the summer humidity, while more moderate than coastal cities to the south, still affects adhesion and drying times. Scheduling in May, September, or October typically avoids both freeze risk and peak summer heat, and most established Philadelphia painters book these months quickly.
Philadelphia’s density of pre-Civil War and Victorian-era housing makes it one of the more technically demanding painting markets in the northeastern United States, and the city’s lead paint regulations create meaningful barriers that separate contractors with proper certification from those without. The companies that have built lasting reputations here are, almost without exception, ones that invested in restoration skills alongside standard painting work.