Exterior Painting in Chicago & the Suburbs
Siding, brick, stucco, trim and front doors — prepped for Chicago weather and coated to hold.
What this covers
What our exterior painting includes
An exterior paint job in this climate is a weatherproofing job. Chicago-area siding and trim take a freeze-thaw cycle every winter, wind-driven rain off the lake, and a full summer of UV. Paint fails at the details first — south and west elevations chalk, north elevations hold moisture, and the joints around windows, fascia and corner boards open up before anything in the field of the wall does.
So we scope elevation by elevation rather than pricing a house at one condition. Everything is washed down, loose and failing coating is scraped back to sound material, bare wood and metal are spot primed, and open joints are cut out and re-caulked with an exterior-grade sealant before a finish coat goes anywhere near them.
Included in the scope
- Wood, fiber cement, vinyl and aluminum siding
- Painted brick, block and stucco
- Soffits, fascia, corner boards and window trim
- Front doors, storm doors and garage doors
- Porches, columns, railings and painted decking
- Shutters, dormers, gable ends and eaves
- Fences, sheds and detached garages
How we do it
Our exterior painting process
Every step below happens on every job of this type. Nothing here is an optional extra we quote separately later.
- 01
Elevation-by-elevation survey
Each side of the building is assessed on its own condition — shaded sides, sun-beaten sides and gutter lines rarely need the same work.
- 02
Wash down
Dirt, chalking, cobwebs and organic growth are removed so the new coating bonds to the substrate rather than to what is sitting on it.
- 03
Scrape, sand and repair
Failing paint is scraped back to a sound edge and feathered, and any rotten or split trim is flagged for repair before painting.
- 04
Spot prime and seal
Bare wood, exposed metal and stains are primed, and open joints around trim, windows and corner boards are re-caulked.
- 05
Finish coats
Body, then trim, then doors and accents — applied within the manufacturer's temperature and humidity window, not just when the calendar suits.
- 06
Site cleanup and walkthrough
Drop cloths, tape and debris come off the property the same day we finish, and we walk each elevation with you.
Timeline & pricing
Exterior schedules depend on the weather window as much as the house, so we don't advertise a fixed number of days. Your estimate states the expected working days on site and how we handle a rained-out day.
Materials we use
Exterior-grade primers and topcoats selected for the substrate — different products for bare wood, previously coated aluminum, masonry and fiber cement. Sealants are exterior-rated and paintable. Everything is named on your written estimate.
Why it matters
What you get from doing it this way
Prep that matches the elevation
The shaded north side and the sun-beaten south side get scoped separately, because they never fail the same way.
Sealed before it is coated
Re-caulking open joints is what keeps water out of the wall — paint alone will not do it.
A scheme that suits the street
Body, trim and door colors chosen together, and viewed on the house before the whole exterior commits to them.
Questions
Exterior Painting FAQs
When is the best time of year to paint an exterior in Chicagoland?
Late spring through early fall, when temperatures and overnight dew points stay inside the manufacturer's application window. We book exterior work around that window and will tell you plainly if a late-season date is too tight to do properly.
Do you pressure wash, and can it damage siding?
We wash every exterior before painting, at a pressure appropriate to the substrate. Old wood siding and soft mortar do not get the same treatment as fiber cement — pushing water behind siding causes far more problems than dirt ever will.
Can you paint brick?
Yes, with the right preparation and a breathable masonry coating. It is close to permanent, so we talk it through first: painted brick has to be maintained as painted brick from then on, and that decision should be made deliberately.
What happens to rotten trim or siding?
We flag it during the survey and price the repair separately so you can see it. Painting over soft or split wood hides the problem for one season and costs more to fix the next.
Also available
Other services
Most projects combine more than one of these. Quote them together and we sequence them in the right order.
- Interior PaintingWalls, ceilings, trim, doors and stairwells — prepped, patched and finished coat by coat.View
- Cabinet PaintingKitchen and bath cabinetry degreased, sanded, primed and sprayed to a furniture-grade finish.View
- Drywall RepairCracks, dents, nail pops, water stains and full sheet replacement — sanded flat before we paint.View
- Color ConsultationSheen, undertone and whole-home palettes worked out on your walls, in your light, before we buy paint.View
- Commercial PaintingOffices, retail, HOA and multifamily, industrial facilities and hospitality — scheduled around your operation.View
Where we work
Exterior Painting across Chicagoland
We provide exterior painting throughout Chicago, IL and the surrounding suburbs across Chicagoland. Choose your area for what we plan around locally.
Ready to see what a premium finish looks like?
Tell us about the space and we'll put together a free, no-obligation estimate — with a clear plan, timeline and transparent pricing.