Lewiston in the city's own records
The Lewiston Historical Commission's history of Lewiston's government, hosted on the City of Lewiston website, records that the act of incorporation for the town of Lewiston was signed on February 18, 1795. The City of Lewiston says its present City Hall was dedicated on May 19, 1892, replacing the first City Hall, which burned on January 7, 1890, and that the present building was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1976.
Those records describe the town and one civic building. They don't tell you anything about your own walls. NOAA publishes no engineering weather file for Lewiston, so this page gives no weather figures either. It's about the inside of a house, where the rooms themselves set the rules.
Every room wears differently
A painter pricing a whole interior is really pricing a set of rooms with different demands. Some get scuffed, some get steamy, some are mostly looked at. Knowing which is which helps you choose finishes and decide where extra preparation is worth paying for.
Ceilings
Ceilings are usually done first, so drips land on walls that haven't been painted yet. They're slower work than walls because the crew is reaching overhead, and stains from old leaks or smoke tend to bleed through ordinary paint unless they get a stain-blocking primer first. A flat finish hides the small waves in a ceiling best. Ask whether ceilings are in the price, and how stains will be handled.
Living rooms and bedrooms
These rooms see moderate wear and lots of light from windows, which shows every patch. A low-sheen finish hides imperfections, while one step up resists marks better. Our sheen guide sets out the choices. Expect the crew to fill nail holes and cracks, sand the patches and spot-prime them so they don't flash through the top coat.
Kitchens and bathrooms
Moisture and grease change the job. Walls near a stove can carry a film that new paint won't stick to unless it's cleaned off. Bathrooms often have mildew spots that need treating before paint, and they benefit from a finish that tolerates wiping. A bathroom fan that actually vents outdoors does more for the paint than any product label. If the cabinets are also on your list, the cabinet painting page explains why that's a separate kind of work.
Hallways and stairs
These take bumps from shoulders, bags and furniture. A tougher finish on walls and especially on trim pays off here. Stairwells with tall walls need ladders or planks, which adds time; ask how the crew will reach the high parts and protect the steps.
Trim and doors
Trim usually carries the glossiest finish in a room. Old glossy trim has to be cleaned and scuffed so the new coat grips. If it was painted with an oil-based product years ago, a water-based top coat may need a bonding primer first. Ask the painter how they'll find out.
Living in the house during the job
- Decide which rooms are done first so you always have somewhere to sleep and cook.
- Ask how long each room stays out of use.
- Pets and children should be kept out of rooms with wet paint and open cans.
- Ventilation helps paint dry and clears the smell; ask whether windows can stay open.
What the Maine Attorney General says
The Maine Attorney General says Maine does not license or regulate home contractors. So the written proposal is your main record of what was agreed. Make sure it names each room, the surfaces in it, the number of coats and the products.
Older paint
If your home was built before 1978, sanding and scraping can disturb paint that contains lead. The EPA describes the federal rule for paid work that disturbs paint in older homes. Ask the painter whether the firm holds RRP certification and how they'd keep dust contained.