Interior and exterior painting that holds up to Illinois winters
Every numbered surface below is something we wash, repair, prime and paint on homes in the north and northwest Chicago suburbs. Inside, it is walls, ceilings, trim, doors and cabinets.
- 1Siding and stucco, washed, scraped where it peels and coated for freeze-thaw
- 2Trim and window casing, caulked at the joints so water stays out
- 3Soffit and fascia, the boards under the roof edge that most quotes leave out
- 4Gutters, painted to match once the fascia behind them is sound
- 5Doors, brushed and sprayed to a hard finish
- 6Decks, porches and railings, cleaned, sanded, then stained or sealed
- inWalls and ceilings, with drywall patching first
- inCabinets, refinished for a fraction of new ones
What is your old paint telling you?
Walk around the house and look at the south and west walls first, then the shaded side. Exterior paint here goes through freeze-thaw cycles, driving rain and strong summer sun, and each kind of failure points to a different cause. Painting over it without fixing that cause buys a season or two.
Peeling and flaking
The paint lost its grip. Usually there is moisture behind it, or it went onto a dirty, glossy or unprimed surface.
We start by scraping and sanding every loose edge back to sound paint, finding where the water gets in, and priming bare wood.
Chalky powder on your hand
Rub the siding with a finger. If it comes away coloured, the old coating is breaking down in the sun and new paint will not bond to that dust.
We start by washing the chalk off completely and letting the surface dry before anything is applied.
Dark spots on the shaded side
That is mildew, and it grows where walls stay damp: under trees, behind shrubs, on the north face.
We start by cleaning it off. Paint rolled over mildew lets it grow back through the new coat.
Bubbles and blisters
Either the last coat went on in hot direct sun, or moisture from inside the house is pushing out through the wall.
We start by cutting the blisters out and checking for a moisture source before we repaint that wall.
Why do two painting quotes differ so much?
Nearly always, prep. It is most of the hours on a good paint job and the first thing a low quote drops, because nobody sees it on the day the painters leave. Our written estimate lists it line by line, so you can compare quotes on the same work.
| In our written scope | What a low quote often leaves out |
|---|---|
| Washing the whole exterior and letting it dry | Paint straight onto chalk and dirt |
| Scraping and feathering every failing edge | Rolling over loose paint |
| Caulking gaps at trim, joints and penetrations | Open joints left for water to find |
| Spot-priming bare wood, repairs and stains | Finish coat on raw wood, stains bleeding through |
| Replacing rotten trim and patching drywall, itemised | Filler pressed into soft wood and painted |
| Masking and covering floors, furniture, plants, roofing and hardware | A drop cloth in the main room only |
| Two finish coats where the surface or a colour change calls for it | One thin coat |
When can the outside of a house be painted in Illinois?
Late spring through early fall. Most exterior coatings need the surface and the overnight temperature to stay above roughly 50°F to cure, and the surface has to be dry. Inside work runs all year, so winter is a good time to book the rooms.
- Usual season
- Only on a warm, dry run of days
- Too cold for exterior coatings
How long does a house repaint take?
These are typical times, prep included. More scraping, carpentry or siding repair adds days, and outside work stops for rain. The estimate gives you the schedule for your house.
Paint over it, or fix it first?
A painting crew can only paint. We are a general contractor, so when the wood or siding under the paint has failed, the same team repairs or replaces it and then paints. On the walk-around we sort each surface into one of these two lists.
Paint is the right fix
- Faded or chalky siding that is still firm
- Peeling edges on wood that is solid under a screwdriver
- Small drywall cracks and nail pops
- Cabinets that are sound but dated
It needs repair first
- Trim or fascia soft enough that a screwdriver sinks in
- Siding that is cracked, warped or missing pieces, which we replace rather than paint over
- Water-stained ceilings, after the leak itself is found and fixed
- Rooms finished after a remodel, or after storm or water damage repairs
If the damage is part of an insurance claim, the carrier decides what it covers. Our part is documenting the damage, writing the repair and painting estimate, and doing the work. See storm and insurance work or our project gallery.
Questions before a paint job
When is the best time to paint the exterior in Illinois?
Late spring through early fall, on dry days. Most exterior coatings need surface and overnight temperatures above roughly 50°F to cure properly, so we schedule outside work in that window and do interiors the rest of the year.
How long does a house repaint take?
A single interior room takes one to two days with prep, and a full interior is usually about a week. An average exterior runs three to five working days if the weather holds, longer when there is heavy scraping or carpentry.
Do you repair damaged surfaces before painting?
Yes. Drywall patching, trim repair and rotten wood replacement are part of the scope and itemised in the estimate. Because we are a full contractor, damaged siding can be replaced instead of painted over.
Do you protect furniture and landscaping?
Yes. Inside, floors and furniture are covered and edges masked. Outside, plants, walkways, windows and the roof are protected before any washing or spraying starts, and the site is cleaned at the end of each day.
Get a written painting estimate
We walk the house with you, note every repair the paint needs, and give you a scope that spells out the prep. Call during business hours or pick a time online.
Related services
Want this looked at?
We inspect for free, document what we find and prepare a code-compliant estimate you can hand to your insurer. Our partner, a licensed public adjuster, State Adjusting Services, can represent you on the claim.
Call (866) 992-2982. Free Inspection