Exterior Painting in Chicago & the North Shore
Preparation that stands up to an Illinois winter. Washed, scraped, primed and caulked before a finish coat goes anywhere near the wall. Licensed and insured.
Exterior paint fails from the bottom up
Around Chicago a coat of exterior paint has to survive freeze and thaw, driven rain and a summer of direct sun. When an exterior job fails early it is almost never the paint — it is a surface that was not washed properly, bare wood that never got primed, or old caulk that was painted over instead of cut out. That is where the time goes on our exterior work, and it is why we put the preparation in writing before we quote a colour.
What is included
- Wash down to remove dirt, chalking and mildew before any prep begins
- Scraping and sanding of loose and failing paint back to a sound edge
- Bare wood spot-primed before it sees a finish coat
- Failed caulk cut out and replaced at joints, trim and window surrounds
- Siding, trim, soffits, fascia, shutters, doors and garage doors
- Windows, doors, landscaping and hardscaping masked and protected
- Minor wood repair and replacement identified before we start, not mid-job
- Site left clean each evening and a final walkthrough with you
How the work runs
1. Free consultation
We walk the exterior with you, note the areas where the previous finish is failing and flag any wood that needs repair, then put the scope and the schedule in writing.
2. Prep and paint
Wash, scrape, sand, prime and caulk first. Only then do finish coats go on, working with the weather window rather than against it.
3. Final walkthrough
We walk the property with you, look at the finish in daylight from every elevation, and handle anything you point out before we pack up.
Recent exterior work
Exterior painting questions we get asked
When is the best time of year to paint an exterior in Illinois?
Roughly late spring through to mid autumn. What matters is the surface temperature and the overnight low rather than the date, so we watch the forecast and schedule around it. We would rather move a start date than put a coat on a wall that is about to drop below the product’s minimum temperature.
How long should an exterior paint job last?
It depends far more on the preparation and the exposure than on the brand of paint. South and west elevations take the most sun and always weather first. We will tell you honestly which parts of your house are likely to need attention soonest.
Do you pressure wash before painting?
We wash every exterior before prep, at a pressure appropriate to the substrate. Old wood siding and stucco do not want the same pressure as brick, and driving water behind a surface causes far more damage than the dirt it removes.
What happens if you find rotten wood?
We flag it at the estimate stage wherever it is visible, and if something turns up once the old paint is off we show you before we do anything about it. Rotten trim gets repaired or replaced — painting over it just hides the problem for a season.
My house was built before 1978. Does that change anything?
It can. Homes from that era may contain lead-based paint under later coats, which changes how the surface has to be prepared and contained. Tell us the age of the house when you call and we will cover it during the estimate.
What happens if it rains partway through?
We stop, protect what is open and pick up when the surface is dry again. Weather delays are normal on exterior work in this part of the country; we keep you updated rather than leaving you guessing.
Do you paint gutters, shutters and garage doors too?
Yes. Soffits, fascia, gutters, shutters, entry doors and garage doors can all be included. Tell us what you want covered and it will appear as a line on the estimate rather than as a surprise.
Get a free estimate for your exterior
We will come out, walk the elevations, and put the preparation and the price in writing — no charge and no obligation.
Related services
Stucco Services · Brick Painting & Staining · Deck & Fence Staining · Carpentry · Commercial Painting
We paint exteriors across Chicago, the North Shore and the western suburbs, including Winnetka, Lake Forest, Wilmette, Glenview, Northbrook, Barrington, Hinsdale, Elmhurst and Naperville. Ask us about your town.