Hello, All.
I live in Bolingbrook and am looking for estimates on an exterior paint job. I was wondering if anyone has had any good experiences with a painter they may want to recommend.
Thanks.

Still working on that puppy, huh mom22. I don't have rec for you but avoid certain companies that advertise that they use college kids to do the work. Look in your yellow pages for your county and call the 3 painters with the largest ads. Ask them to come out and give you an estimate that specifies the same prep work, primer and top coats.

Ahhh... BB.. How right you are. I have three companies out this week. One of them was recommended by the Bolingbrook Chamber of Commerce. One of them (CollegeWorks) turned me off because they did the whole "If you sign the contract at the time of the estimate we'll take 5% off" thing. I hate pressure sales. We'll see how it goes. I'm so sick of this house. So many issues, so little money.

Think of the added value you are getting and someday the sellers market will return.

Okay I'm three estimates in and more confused than ever. Some people have talked about caulking and others have said there is no caulking needed. One guy told me that exterior wood needs to be stained, not painted, and that will last longer and not crack. Some people have talked about sanding and power-washing, others just scraping. I'm starting to think that I should just do the research and try the project on my own. Any thoughts and whether this is doable? Or should I just leave it to the pros who all seem to have different ideas about what should be done? The wood is cedar sections about 4' wide. The paint is cracking badly and three section of the wood need to be replaced (this is the part I'm most afraid of trying to do myself).