Licensed C-33 · CA Lic. #1143424 · Bonded and insured
Historical Restoration in San Diego
Careful work on older homes and buildings. Ironwood Finishes is a family-owned C-33 painting contractor based in Ocean Beach. An older building is not a new one. The surfaces, the details and the paint history all need a closer look first.
Licensed C-33. CA Lic. #1143424. Bonded and insured. Free estimates.
- Licensed C-33
- Bonded and Insured
- 7-year workmanship guarantee
- Free estimates
Why Older Buildings Need a Different Approach
San Diego has a lot of older homes and buildings, from beach cottages and bungalows to older homes on the Point Loma peninsula and historic island homes in Coronado. Many have layers of old paint, original trim and wood details, and surfaces that have taken years of sun, wind and salt air.
That changes how the job starts. We look at the building first. We find out what is sound and what is worn before any paint goes on. Paint only lasts as long as what is under it.
What Historical Restoration Means
For us it means painting and finishing older homes and buildings with a closer look at the surfaces and details first. The work can include:
Careful prep
Cleaning, scraping loose paint, patching cracks, caulking gaps and priming bare spots.
Exterior painting
Siding, trim and doors, with sun, salt air and moisture weighed before a paint is chosen.
Interior painting
Walls, ceilings, trim and doors in older homes.
Staining and sealing
Stain and seal for wood trim, doors and decks.
Pressure washing
Dirt, mildew and loose paint come off before new paint goes on.
We can also talk with you about coatings and decorative finishes. See everything we do on our services page.
How a Historical Restoration Job Goes
- We walk the building with you and look at the surfaces and details.
- We tell you plainly what we see and what we recommend. The estimate is free.
- We protect what stays, then clean and prep the surfaces.
- We prime and paint, then look over the work with you before we call it done.
The Flower House, Lawrenceville, Pittsburgh
Built around 1920 and standing for more than a century, this three-story, two-unit home on Liberty Avenue had lost its shine. When we arrived, paint was peeling from nearly every surface, and its signature feature, six hand-painted flowers above the windows, had faded almost to nothing. We took on a full exterior restoration: washing and scraping away the failing paint, priming every surface, a new body color, fresh trim, a recolored foundation, and every door and window. The hardest part was the flowers. We brought all six back to life by hand, high above the street, one petal at a time. It was one of the most demanding jobs we've done, and one of the ones we're proudest of. The house now looks the way it was meant to.
John Graef and his family's painting business did this job in 2023, before Ironwood Finishes.
One of the Six Flowers, Before and After
Historic Work: San Diego County Administration Center
San Diego County Administration Center, 1938. About a year and a half as owner's representative on the building's original rolled steel windows, overseeing their restoration and painting as part of a renovation that follows federal preservation standards: repair before replacement, with historic colors matched by lab analysis. The project later won Save Our Heritage Organisation's 2026 Civic Restoration Award.
Who Runs the Job
John Graef, owner, has 20 years of experience in painting and building. He grew up on job sites with his father, a lifelong painting contractor, and holds a degree in Architectural Engineering from Penn State. Read more on our history page.
Licensed, Bonded and Insured
We hold a California C-33 Painting and Decorating license, CA Lic. #1143424. We are bonded and insured, and our work carries a 7-year workmanship guarantee. You can check our license yourself at cslb.ca.gov. Our contact page shows how.
Based in Ocean Beach, Serving San Diego
Ocean Beach is home. We paint older homes and buildings across San Diego. See the neighborhoods we serve. Looking for a business property? See commercial painting.
Questions About Historical Restoration
What do you mean by historical restoration?
Careful work on older homes and buildings. We look at the surfaces and details first, tell you what we find, and plan the painting around what the building needs. That can mean prep, exterior or interior painting, and staining and sealing for wood trim, doors and decks. Call (858) 333-2396 to talk it through.
Do you need to see the building first?
Yes. Older buildings vary a lot, so we look at the work at the free estimate, talk it through with you and give you a straight answer. If you have photos, email them to info@ironwoodfinishes.com with your request. Photos help, but they do not replace a visit. Tell us what the building is and where it is.
Does an older building need city approval before painting?
It can, depending on the building and where it is. Check with the City of San Diego about your address, and with your HOA if you have one. Tell us what you learn when you call. We will plan the work around what you have approved, and the estimate is free. CA Lic. #1143424.
Is the estimate free?
Yes. We do not charge for estimates, for homes or for businesses. Call (858) 333-2396 or email info@ironwoodfinishes.com, and say what the building is and where it is. We will look at it, tell you what we recommend and give you a straight answer. Bonded and insured, with a 7-year workmanship guarantee.
Ready to Talk About Your Older Building?
Tell us about the building and what you would like done. Estimates are free. Call (858) 333-2396 or email info@ironwoodfinishes.com.
Ironwood Finishes · Ocean Beach, San Diego 92107
CA Lic. #1143424 · Bonded and insured · (858) 333-2396 · info@ironwoodfinishes.com
A Beautiful Job Every Time.
7-year workmanship guarantee.
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For more information:
- VISIT CSLB's website at www.cslb.ca.gov
- CALL CSLB at 1-800-321-CSLB (2752)
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