Paint Schemes.

This might be directed more toward Tim(VA) and other folks who serve on Boards in the Washington DC/Baltimore metor area. Our current archetectual plans and color palettes were put in place by the builders some time ago. (Van Metre Homes and Batal). The schemes used pastel trim colors by McCormick as accent colors for siding and brick and they look quite nice. Unfortunately over the last 3-4 years has the homes are getting so old, Harry Homeowner is bolting off to the big box strores for paint and grabbing the first can of white paint that they see. Some of them are probably just white base (snow white, artic white as a description only for reference). We also know that some of the paints were not exterior paint and some cases the paint was flat instead of simi-glass. We had one case were they owner tried to color match and paint his wooden garage door with cans of of flat spray paint which turned out blotchey and flat. Currently the wood trim paint colors specify Colonial White, Amber White and Wheat. (Their "Super White" is not an option.

So lately, we had one homeowner that used a "Super White" paint to repaint 6 houes on one block. Plus we've a few other simlar cases like this. The stark white contrast on most of the home has a negative impact and it might look less offensive on one or two of homes. The point here is that we have set color schemes which work put together by the builders architects and now several of the residents have repainted using non-approved colors. They think that "White is White".

They can use other manufacturers (like Duron, Benjemin Moore, Sherman Williams, Big Box etc), but the burden of color matching is on the owner. Most of the time, it works, but that's not really the issue here.

In this area, I'm wondering what other folks might be using for Paint Companies and curious about the color schemes that are being used. Right now the Board and the Architectual committee is asked to adopt the stark white, while only 1 commitee member believes that it's ok and the other 4 do not.

ps - Now one of the owners with the stark white paint is complaining about a new pink deck behind them. That's why we have Architual guidelines to address pink decks, but the owner who has the stak white trim belives that their paint scheme is ok.

Any input.

Thanks Fred - The issue here reallyis not the enforcement, but I appreciate your thoughts on this. The property manager has noticed the new paint jobs and has implemented due process as per Virginia's Property Assocition act,so there are hearings that have been held about this and the homeowners have been cited. Even if the the PM does not catch it right away, they can still be cited when the home is sold and they ask for the HOA docs. They PM does an inspection and if there have been uapproved changes made since the Builder sold the home, these are listed on the inspection that's part of the HOA docs (disclosure package). The purchaswer has 3 days to review the docs and if they allow the 3 day contigency to expire, then the architectual defiencies become the responsibility of the purchaser.

Mike

Are these standalone as in private houses or are they adjoining such as townhouses?

Also as so many have already painted I suggest the best you can now do is the distrubute specific color chips and also dictate the sheen/gloss and hope they pay attention. Maybe even suggest some specific suppliers/brands.

Mike,

We have similar issues. Personally, I can't tell the difference between most shades of paint. My wife can, so I let her pick the colors

In addition to actual differences in shades, colors look different in sunlight vs. shadow and that causes more issues. Color matching doesn't really work unless you have a good color sample. Taking a weathered paint chip from the exterior of the home will always produce variations from house to house.

Our builder used McCormick Paint as well. We have decided not to have a color pallet but do limit it to colonial colors (as the exact paint color may or may not be available) with the decision being made by the ACC.

We have checked with McCormick paints and they can still make the colors even though it has been discontinued. Therefore, we point members to the McCormick store in Tysons, Woodbridge or Alexandria (search for McCormick paint on the internet and they provide store locations). The ACC does keep track of what colors (with manufacture numbers) that have been approved and advertise that this is available.

Hope this helps,

Tim

Mike,

FWIW, below are our rules related to color. Most of our properties are heavily forested, no fences, and mostly "natural" landscaping at elevations from about 6,300 to 7,300 feet.

"1) PRINCIPAL COLORS: The principal exterior color should be an earth tone or a color that blends with the natural surroundings; i.e., variations of brown (medium beige to dark brown), greens and grays. Certain shades may not be acceptable to the ASC. Bright or gaudy colors, including white, will not be allowed.

2) ACCENT COLORS: Accent colors for decks, fascia, trim, doors, and garage doors are to be a color which will harmonize with the principal color. This includes support posts, beams, railings, and pickets. Excessively contrasting accent colors are not allowed. (An example of "excessively contrasting" is dark brown siding with white trim.)"

Paul T

Thanks Paul - It sounds like you might be in Northern California. Interesting comment about the white. It can visualize your community and I can see where a white colonial (like George Washington's home at Mt. Vernon, might now fit it. Thanks.

Color charts - Yes, we picked up 60 McCormick charts recently and we make them readily available to any of the homeowners whenever they want them.

Hi John - In our area, virtually almost all townhomes are fee-simple attached and they refer to them as single family attached in the deed description. . In some newer communities in Northern Virginia we are seeing more newer communities where the owner is not responsible for exterior maintenance, but its not real common yet. Typically newer 55 plus or gated communities where they are building very expensive duplex, triplex etc homes that look like one single family home, but they are not. There are some (a few) smaller townhouses in the area that are classified as condos even though they look like any other fee simple townhome community, but not that many. 95% are single family attached (fee simple) townhomes.

Mike,

FYI, here is a link to our website:

http://www.tahoedonner.com/what-is-tahoe-donner/

Many of our properties have white window trim after we were forced to change to plastic
window frames sometime back. but no all white garage doors.

Paul T

Mike,

I'll locate our list and e-mail it to you tomorrow.

Tim

Thanks very much Tim!