Exterior painting and cedar staining in southern Lake County
In Lake County we work mostly in four towns: Highland Park, Lake Forest, Deerfield and Buffalo Grove. The houses range from ravine estates near the lake to cedar-sided ranches and townhome rows farther west, and wood siding drives a lot of the work.
Short answer
We paint and stain homes in southern Lake County, mainly Highland Park, Lake Forest, Deerfield and Buffalo Grove. Much of the work is exterior: cedar siding stain at $1.95 to $4.40 per square foot, full exterior repaints, wood windows and trim on early 1900s homes, and HOA townhome trim. Interiors in the older estates often include plaster repair and woodwork staining before any color goes on.
Where our Lake County work actually happens
Waukegan is the county seat, but our Lake County jobs cluster along the southern edge, close enough to reach from Park Ridge in a reasonable drive. We take the Edens north to Highland Park and Lake Forest and use the Tri-State to get to Deerfield and Buffalo Grove.
Lake Forest and Highland Park jobs tend to be big houses with multi-day exteriors, so a crew usually stays on one property until it is done. Buffalo Grove leans toward townhome associations and two-story homes, where we can sometimes paint several units in one trip.
Calls come in at all hours, and the phone is answered 24/7, so you can set up a walk-through whenever it suits you.
Ravines, Metra-era homes and western subdivisions
The lakefront and ravine estates in Highland Park and Lake Forest are the most demanding houses we paint in Lake County. Heavy tree cover and the ravines keep wood siding damp and shaded, so we see mildew, peeling on the north faces and soft spots around sills and trim. Highland Park also holds Prairie School homes, including Frank Lloyd Wright's Ward Willits House, and mid-century modern houses with wide flat wood surfaces that show every brush mark.
Near the Metra stops, early 1900s homes carry plaster walls, original woodwork and wood windows. Those jobs move slower because of lead-safe prep and window glazing, and they reward patience.
West of the lake, the housing gets newer. Deerfield has many 1950s and 1960s ranches and split-levels with cedar or redwood siding, and Buffalo Grove has 1960s to 1990s two-story homes and large townhome associations that set exterior color rules.
What Lake County houses need from a painter
These picks follow the wood siding, shade and older trim that shape most Lake County jobs.
Cedar Siding Staining
Cedar and redwood siding on Deerfield ranches and Buffalo Grove homes needs restaining every few years to keep the wood from graying and cupping.
Exterior House Painting
Large Lake Forest and Highland Park homes need full exterior repaints planned over several days in good weather.
Wood Rot Repair
Shaded ravine lots keep sills, trim and porch parts wet, so we often find soft wood that has to be rebuilt before coating.
Pressure Washing
Mildew on shaded siding has to come off before stain or paint will bond.
Plaster Wall Repair
Early 1900s homes near the Metra stations still have plaster walls that crack at doorways and ceilings.
Condo & HOA Painting
Buffalo Grove townhome associations book trim, doors and garage doors building by building.
Lake County details we plan around
Moisture first, paint second
On ravine lots we check siding moisture before coating. Wood that is still wet from shade and dew will push the paint off within a season or two.
Buffalo Grove spans two counties
Buffalo Grove sits in both Lake and Cook counties, and many neighborhoods have homeowner associations. Check your association's approved colors before we schedule.
Big houses take longer
Multi-day exteriors on estates need a stretch of dry weather, so we book them early in the season when we can.
Stain choice depends on age
Newer cedar can take a semi-transparent stain. Older siding with failing coats usually needs a solid stain to look even.
Questions from Lake County
Which Lake County towns do you paint in?
Mostly Highland Park, Lake Forest, Deerfield and Buffalo Grove, along the southern edge of the county. Those are reachable from Park Ridge by the Edens and the Tri-State. We do not usually travel to the far north of the county.
How often should cedar siding be restained on a Lake County home?
It depends on sun, shade and the type of stain. Semi-transparent stains on exposed walls fade sooner than solid stains on shaded ones. Cedar staining usually runs $1.95 to $4.40 per square foot, depending on how much cleaning and stripping the wood needs.
Why does paint peel on the shaded side of my Highland Park ravine house?
Shaded siding stays damp longer, and moisture behind the paint pushes it off. We wash off mildew, let the wood dry, fix soft spots and use a primer and finish suited to wet exposures.
What does a full exterior repaint cost on a large Lake Forest home?
A typical two-story frame or sided house runs $7,850 to $16,400, and large estates can go past that range. Height, the amount of trim, rot repairs and lead-safe prep on older homes set the final number.
Painting in Lake County? Call us
Call any hour. Someone picks up, takes the details and books a time to walk the job with you.