Photo of a craftsman landscaping in Louisville.

Architect: Becker Henson Niksto General Contractor: Allen Construction Photographer: Jim Bartsch Photography
Example of a trendy concrete floor and gray floor powder room design in Santa Barbara with open cabinets, a one-piece toilet, gray walls, a vessel sink, solid surface countertops and gray countertops

This hardwood deck on this New England front porch floor is mixed with warm, rich tones of ebony, chocolate and cinnamon, in a variety of interesting plank formations. The center, which leads to the homes front door, was installed on the horizontal for an easy sight line into the home. The two adjacent seating areas consist of two opposed 45 degree angle board placements, adding a beautiful contrast to the center area.

Roger Hill/Hill Construction
Example of a huge tuscan exterior home design in San Francisco

Ever notice how your iron fence looks worse every spring after another Chicago winter? That slow deterioration is not cosmetic - it is active metal failure that compounds every freeze-thaw cycle until replacement becomes the only option. Windy City Painters works with homeowners across the Chicago North Side and Near West Side to restore original iron fencing on greystones, two-flats, Victorian brownstones, and coach houses before that point is reached. PROJECT OVERVIEW This iron fence restoration involved a classic Chicago residential property with original wrought iron fencing showing surface rust across the majority of pickets, flaking previous paint coats, and localized deep pitting near the base rails. A structural check identified two loose pickets requiring welding before any surface preparation or coating began. Total linear footage fell in the mid-range for a standard Chicago residential lot. MATERIALS AND PRODUCTS Windy City Painters selected Ospho rust converter for chemically neutralizing active iron oxide before priming. Ospho reacts with rust to form a stable phosphate compound that stops corrosion progression rather than simply sealing over it. Sherwin-Williams DTM rust-inhibitive primer was applied to all bare and converted surfaces, followed by two finish coats of Rust-Oleum DTM in satin black. DTM - direct to metal - formulas provide corrosion inhibitors built into the coating matrix, which matters significantly in Chicago's climate. THE PROCESS Step 1 - Structural Assessment and Welding Coordination. Before any surface preparation begins, Windy City Painters inspects every picket and rail connection for structural integrity. Loose or cracked iron must be welded before coating. Paint applied over a compromised joint will fail within one season as movement continues to break the bond. On this project, two pickets were tack-welded by a coordinating welder before prep started. Step 2 - Wire Wheel Grinding and Needle Gun Descaling. All rusted sections were ground to bare or near-bare metal using wire wheel attachments and needle gun descaling tools. This step removes loose scale, flaking previous coatings, and surface contamination that would prevent primer adhesion. Skipping mechanical prep is the single most common reason iron fence paint fails prematurely on Chicago properties. Step 3 - Ospho Rust Converter Application. Ospho was brushed into all pitted and converted areas and allowed to cure fully. The phosphoric acid chemistry converts iron oxide into iron phosphate, arresting active rust and creating a surface that accepts primer more effectively than bare metal alone. Corroseal is an equivalent alternative used on projects with heavier pitting. Step 4 - DTM Primer and Finish Coat Application. Sherwin-Williams DTM rust-inhibitive primer was applied across all prepared surfaces. Two topcoats of Rust-Oleum DTM in satin black followed after full primer cure. DTM finish coats add a second corrosion-inhibiting layer and provide the UV and weather resistance needed for Chicago exterior iron work. CHICAGO-SPECIFIC CHALLENGES Chicago iron fencing faces conditions that accelerate corrosion faster than most US markets. Lake humidity keeps metal surface moisture elevated through much of the year. Road salt splash from winter maintenance reaches fencing along parkways and sidewalk edges, introducing chlorides that aggressively attack iron. Freeze-thaw cycles expand any rust pocket that has formed under paint, lifting coatings from the inside and creating the classic bubbled-paint appearance homeowners notice every spring. WHAT TO EXPECT LONG-TERM With Ospho conversion, DTM primer, and two DTM finish coats properly applied over mechanically prepared surfaces, most Chicago residential iron fences hold 5-8 years before needing significant touch-up. Annual visual inspection for any chips or bare spots, with immediate touch-up using Rust-Oleum DTM, extends that window considerably. PRO TIPS Tip 1 - Address any bare metal spot the same season you notice it. A pinhole of exposed iron becomes a rust bubble within one Chicago winter and a flaking section by the following spring. Tip 2 - Never paint over active rust without a converter step. Ospho or Corroseal is inexpensive insurance against a complete repaint two years early. Tip 3 - Check picket bases at grade level every spring. Ground contact accelerates corrosion at the base faster than anywhere else on the fence. Catching it early keeps welding out of the equation. Contact Windy City Painters at windypainters.com for a project estimate. FAQ Q: What does iron fence painting cost in Chicago? A: Residential iron fence painting with proper rust prep typically runs $300-$900 for standard lot footage. Windy City Painters provides itemized estimates based on linear footage, rust severity, and whether structural welding is required before surface preparation begins. Q: Do you paint over rust or remove it first? A: Windy City Painters always addresses active rust before priming. Ospho or Corroseal rust converter chemically neutralizes iron oxide, and wire wheel grinding removes loose scale - coating over unaddressed rust guarantees early failure on Chicago iron fences. Q: When does an iron fence need welding before painting? A: Loose pickets, cracked rails, or connections with visible movement require welding before any coating work begins. Paint cannot stabilize a structural joint - Windy City Painters coordinates with welders when this condition is identified during initial assessment. Q: How long does iron fence paint last in Chicago? A: With mechanical prep, Ospho conversion, and Sherwin-Williams or Rust-Oleum DTM coatings, properly restored iron fencing holds 5-8 years in Chicago's freeze-thaw climate before needing significant maintenance. Q: Is Ospho better than Corroseal for Chicago iron fences? A: Both are effective rust converters. Ospho is a liquid phosphoric acid treatment suited for moderate rust and pitting. Corroseal is a latex-based converter-primer hybrid better suited to heavier rust profiles. Windy City Painters selects based on site conditions. Q: What finish sheen works best on iron fencing? A: Satin or semi-gloss black is the traditional and most durable choice for Chicago greystone and brownstone properties. Satin hides minor surface imperfections better than gloss while still providing adequate UV and moisture resistance. Q: Can iron fence painting be done in spring or fall in Chicago? A: Yes. Windy City Painters schedules iron fence work in temperatures above 50 degrees Fahrenheit with low ambient humidity - spring and early fall are often ideal windows that avoid both winter cold and peak summer humidity.

Two Clopay Model 33 flush Luan mahogany doors with Long Panel windows provide warmth and a sleek upgrade for this in-town Austin home. The doors were finished using the Sikkens Cetol 1/23+ stain system to increase the doors' elegance and to assure that they look like new for years. (BTW, the "pea shooter" at the left door is a flag holder:-)

Crisp and clean white faux wood blinds are a great match for laundry rooms
Example of a classic laundry room design in Orange County with blue walls

For this project, we removed the old sod and excavated 3 to 4 inches of topsoil. We capped the sprinklers and then spread a base of crushed aggregate, which was packed down. The artificial turf was laid out and trimmed. Then seamed and staked into place, we spread infill and power broomed the turf so the blades would stand up straight. We used Tigerturf (Tiger Cool) Everglade Fescue. Created by Tencate, a worldwide innovator of space-age yarns for NASA and Boeing, TigerCool® yarns are engineered with heat reflective color pigments and advanced U.V. inhibitors that reduce surface temperatures. A series of solar panel tests indicate that artificial grass featuring TigerCool® technology successfully reduces turf temperatures by 30% and up to 17 degrees! That’s a difference that you can feel. The homeowner also selected a border of river rocks with a slight wave that gives a lush cool grassy Island effect. Photo by Greg Hawks

https://bit.ly/2IJ9uiH Enjoy and relax by soundproofing with cork tiles. Bring the simple quiet pleasures of a backyard oasis into your home with cork soundproofing tiles, planks or panels. With cork, soundproofing becomes a manageable endeavor. Great prices combined with a material that works as an eco-friendly sound inhibitor, cork tiles as a soundproofing option will give you the quiet, relaxing home you’ve been dreaming about without straining your bank account

Example of a mid-sized tuscan yellow two-story stucco gable roof design in San Diego

Interior & Exterior Design, Interior Architectural Design by Lindsey Schultz Design Garrett Cook; garrettcookphotography.com
Example of a southwest exterior home design in Phoenix

Western Red Cedar is used often in exterior timber framing–because it is highly rot resistant. It is also shrinks less as it dries than many other species, and is lightweight, but fairly low in strength. Because rough sawn timber absorbs and holds more stain than surfaced timber, we sometimes suggest to our clients than they consider rough sawn texture outside © Carolina Timberworks

Ellen McDermott
Entryway - country entryway idea in New York

This custom driveway gate is pictured unfinished with just the raw steel before powder-coating. Our custom gates are cut from steel or aluminum with a water jet machine (we don't use plasma or laser jet cutting as the water jet gives a much smoother detailed finish), dipped in an acid bath that contains a rust inhibitor, sandblasted, and then powder-coated. This gate is finished in a brown tone, and it will never need painting! Our exterior gates receive an extra primer layer of powder coating as well. Stunning designs created for any style or size. Let our artist/owner Rob Gerdin design a work of art in metal for you. Call us at 888-743-2325 or visit our website www.NatureRails.com and we will answer your questions promptly.

Our custom gates are cut from steel or aluminum with a water jet machine (we don't use plasma or laser jet cutting as the water jet gives a much smoother detailed finish), dipped in an acid bath that contains a rust inhibitor, sandblasted, and then powder-coated. This gate is finished in a brown tone, and it will never need painting! Our exterior gates receive an extra primer layer of powder coating as well. Stunning designs created for any style or size. Let our artist/owner Rob Gerdin design a work of art in metal for you. Call us at 888-743-2325 or visit our website www.NatureRails.com and we will answer your questions promptly.

Traditional landscape and sea life designs, local to Turks and Caicos Islands, create the railing design sections (up to 13 feet in length) for areas used in between planters around the property of this lovely home. Durable, heavy gauge aluminum railing sections, as well as several pedestrian gates, were fabricated with sea & bird life of the local area. All to 4" code, aluminum materials provide a long lasting and durable product that puts spindles to shame. Finally--a railing that compliments the natural landscape, rather than deterring from it. Railing and gates shown with primer and penny vein powder coat finish. The exterior railings are dipped in an acid wash bath with a rust inhibitor, powder coated with a layer of primer, and powder coated again with the customer's choice of powder coat colors. This gate is very low maintenance and will always look amazing. No painting ever! What can we design for you? Call 888-743-2325 or visit our website and fill out our contact form to get a free quote or discuss your project. www.NatureRails.com

The pool deck has been completely re-coated with a white, opaque concrete stain. I then coated this pool deck with an acrylic sealer, with a UV inhibitor to keep the surface looking great for many years to come.

Updating the orange tone stucco color to this lighter shade dramatically improved the overall appearance and helped emphasize the beauty of the columns and trim around the doors and windows. Products used: 1) POWER HOUSE CAULK (60 yr. rated) to open joints & cracks. 2) two coats of Sherwin Williams DURATION PAINT, color Kendall Charcoal, to soffit, fascia, back entry doors. 3) one coat of Sherwin Williams LOXON ELASTOMERIC HIGH BUILD PAINT, color Manchester Tan, to stucco. 4) Metal railing surfaces were spot primed with a rust inhibitor and painted with Direct to Metal Paint: Sherwin Williams ASE OIL LL, color Tricorn Black

The driveway is complete. First the surface was thoroughly cleaned by pressure washing, then re-coated with a white, opaque concrete stain. To keep the new surface looking great, I sealed it with an gloss acrylic sealer, with a UV inhibitor. Christopher Hill