Carpenters Chicago
Chicago finish carpentry

Preparing woodwork for paint or stain

Handing over ready rather than nearly ready: filled, sanded, caulked and de-nibbed, so the painter is painting and not repairing.

Final finishing preparation on one of our Chicago jobs

Why this is worth doing properly

Paint does not hide open joints, proud plugs or rough filler. We leave the woodwork filled, sanded, caulked and ready for the finish it is meant to receive.

What you get from us

  • 01

    Your trim should fit the wall

    A wide bead of caulk shrinks, cracks and shows. We scribe the woodwork to the wall, then use caulk only to close the hairline that remains.

  • 02

    Your inside corners should stay closed

    An inside miter opens as the house moves through a Chicago winter. A coped joint closes on itself, keeping the corner tight instead of exposing a crack.

  • 03

    New work should match the house

    Many Chicago homes use trim profiles no longer found at a lumberyard. We match the existing profile, or tell you plainly when the nearest stock option will look wrong.

  • 04

    Small jobs are welcome

    One door, one railing, one room of trim. We quote the smaller jobs most carpenters pass over, and give them the same attention as a full-house trim package.

185 services, one trade

Preparing woodwork for paint or stain is one of 9 things we do under final finishing preparation, and one of 185 across the whole catalogue.

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