paint analysis

We use a stereomicroscope to examine the layers of paint from historic buildings and objects. Our conservators match the samples to a Munsell color chart and/or Benjamin Moore paint colors. We can provide you with an entire color history of your building, or just match the oldest paint sample!

Paint Analysis is a fun and interesting tool that allows building owners to see the historic color schemes of their old buildings. Our paint analysis process is typically simpler, faster, and more affordable than the large laboratories that offer enhanced imaging services.

Michelle Duhon is the co-author of Painting the Town, which is a book that provides history and cultural context of paint colors in New Orleans. Her writing focuses on the different types of pigments, coatings, and paint colors that different cultures used throughout the development of New Orleans to create a “color geography.” This book was published by the Preservation Resource Center of New Orleans and is available through their website and at local bookstores.