Straight Answers About Painting Your Home
These are the questions I get asked most on estimates. If yours is not here, call me. I would rather answer it now than have you guess.
How much does it cost to paint a house on the North Shore?
It depends on size, surface condition, and how much prep is needed. A single room is a few hundred dollars and up. A full exterior on a two-story home is several thousand and up. Pete walks the job, tells you what it needs, and puts every number in writing before any work starts. There are no surprise charges.
Is the estimate free?
Yes. Pete comes out, looks at the surfaces, and gives you a written estimate at no cost and with no pressure.
How long will my project take?
A room or two is usually a day or two. A full interior can run a week or more. Exteriors depend on size and weather, and we give you a schedule with the estimate and stick to it.
What time of year can you paint exteriors?
On the North Shore we paint exteriors from roughly April through October, when temperatures stay above the minimum the paint needs to cure. Lake effect humidity matters too. We will not paint a damp surface, and we time the work around the forecast.
Do I need to move furniture?
Move the small and valuable things. Our crew moves and covers the larger furniture, protects floors with drop cloths, and puts everything back when we are done.
What paint do you use?
Sherwin-Williams, matched to the surface and the room. Bathrooms, kitchens, trim, siding, brick, and decks each get a different product. We will tell you which one and why.
Do you paint brick, stucco, and wood siding?
Yes. Each needs its own prep and primer. Brick and stucco need masonry-rated products, and wood siding needs moisture checks before anything goes on.
My last paint job peeled after two years. Why?
Almost always moisture or skipped prep. Paint only sticks to a clean, dry, sound surface. We scrape, sand, prime bare wood, caulk, and check moisture before we paint, which is the part cheap painters skip.
My house was built before 1978. Is that a problem?
Not for us. We are an EPA Lead-Safe Certified firm. We test, contain the work area, and clean up with HEPA equipment, which the law requires for older homes.
Are you licensed and insured?
We carry general liability insurance and workers compensation, and we will send a certificate before the job starts. We are also PDCA accredited and every crew member has OSHA 10-hour ladder and scaffold training.
Do you help pick colors?
Yes, and it is free. Pete has been helping North Shore homeowners choose colors since 1969. You can also try our online color visualizer on your own photo before we meet.
Do you do more than painting?
Yes. Wallpaper removal and installation, drywall and plaster repair, light carpentry, trim, cabinet and door refinishing, deck and fence staining, power washing, and gutter cleaning. One crew, one call.
Do you do commercial work?
Yes. Offices, retail, restaurants, salons, schools, park districts, hotels, condo buildings, and amusement parks. We can work nights and weekends when a business cannot close.
Will you clean up every day?
Yes. Drop cloths down, tools put away, and the work area cleaned at the end of each day so you can still live in your home.
Do you guarantee the work?
All of our work is guaranteed. If a finish fails because of our workmanship, we come back and fix it.
How do I get started?
Call (847) 564-4880 or send the form on our contact page. Pete will set a time to walk the job with you.
Request a free estimate or try the paint color visualizer on a photo of your own room.