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We just repainted a Victorian house, Circa 1885, for a new client in Chicago. When you see a house of this size and this level of detail, a question comes to mind: How often do you want to have to repaint a house like this? The answer is simple: The least often possible! The related question is: What can you do to extend the life of a paint job? Depending on its size, its level of detail and the condition of its coatings and substrates, a Painted Lady’s paint job can cost between $20,000 and $50,000, sometimes even more. Because of its clapboard and extensive trim and millwork, a Victorian house is especially vulnerable to deterioration. Before having us start the painting project, the owners spent about $8,000 on carpentry repair work to the house. To minimize the future cost of carpentry repairs and prolong the longevity of the paint job, we recommend what we call “Maintenance Painting” to our clients. What does maintenance painting entail? Maintenance painting consists of doing a close inspection of the coatings of a house, every couple of years. What do we look for: signs of failure in the caulking and coatings. When the coating or caulking starts to crack, it is an entry point to moisture, which gets trapped, rots the wood and causes paint failure. Once caulk starts to fail, the deterioration of the substrate and coatings accelerates rapidly. This is why early detection is critical to maintain the integrity of the paint job. We then do caulk and coating maintenance on those spots we detected. When we notice the beginning signs of wood rot, we also do epoxy restoration in those areas. A homeowner needs the assistance of a dedicated painting and decorating contractor in order execute this periodic maintenance. The challenge is two-fold. One, owners are typically unaware of the importance of coating maintenance. Two, painting contractors do not seem to recognize the opportunity of offering this service to their clients. So, these expensive paint jobs are allowed to deteriorate, which adds to the future cost of the repaints. The kind of coating maintenance we are talking about can cost between $500 and $1,500 every two years. The money saved in avoiding expensive carpentry repairs alone more than justifies coating maintenance. Our clients who own historic Victorian home or other “Period” homes in the Chicago area really appreciate this additional service we offer them.

The Chisum Classic Brown Barstool is stunning, not only for its solid hardwood framing, but particularly for its classy brown-burnished leather giving style and impact! Crafted to be either bar or counter height, this fine barstool will make a statement in any home, dining room or living area. Brass-studded accents and the worn, comforting feel of the leather give the perfect motif for this accent piece. The armrests' gentle curve allow you to mold perfectly into comfort of the seat, while being supported on the sturdily squared hard lines of the barstool base, all handcrafted from Knotty Alder. The Chisum Classic Brown Barstool provides a uniquely authentic experience and elegant charm to any space. If beauty and charm along with a stand alone character are what you seek, dive into the experience with this Chisum barstool and bring color and life to your home. Best as a dynamic set, these barstools are hand made classics for you. 100% Texas Made! Overall Barstool Dimensions: 43" H x 26" W x 22" D Seat Height: 30" Top of Arm Height: 40" Overall Counter Stool Dimension: 38" H x 26" W x 22" D Seat Height: 25" Top of Arm Height: 35" Leather Description: A medium weight pure aniline crust. Started by adding the desired color with waxes, oils and seals to give the leather its base. Once the first application is dry, an expert craftsman can build up the finish to achieve a rich patina that is very much desired by the consumer. The final step is to apply a wax on for protection and feel. This labor intensive hand-wipe evokes classic appeal with the ability to use and add to the unique finish started. Please dust regularly and clean with a damp cloth. This leather will fade if expose to direct sunlight for a prolonged period of time. 100% top grain cowhide leather is characterized by variations in shade, texture, color and grain. Healed marks and scars are to be expected and enhance the natural beauty of the hides. These variations should not be considered defects as they are normal and unique features of genuine 100% top grain cowhide leather. Frame Construction: Made with American Alder Wood, our frames are glued, screwed and dowelled at the joints. Two coats of high quality stain is hand rubbed on the wood finish and then sealed with industrial grade clear coat.

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