Short answer
Yes, we paint in Batavia, Kane County's oldest city with 26,098 residents. A town founded in 1833 has houses from many eras, so the work covers careful repaints on older exteriors, breathable coatings or limewash on masonry, and interior rooms patched and painted between seasons.
Kane County's oldest city and its windmill-era buildings
Batavia was founded in 1833 and was home to six windmill makers in the 1800s. Limestone factory buildings from those companies are still in use today. Older masonry like that, and older houses of any material, need coatings that let moisture escape. Sealing old stone or brick under a tight film traps water, which can spall the face through freeze and thaw cycles.
Limewash and mineral paint on brick
Limewash is absorbed into bare brick and weathers gradually to a soft, chalky look, and it can be reapplied without stripping. Mineral silicate paints bond with the masonry and stay vapor-open. Ordinary latex can be the wrong choice on older masonry because it may hold moisture in. See brick painting and limewash for how each is applied.
Wood siding and trim on older Batavia homes
Wood on older houses carries many coats, and the bottom layers may contain lead if the house predates 1978. We check the build year, scrape loose paint, prime bare wood and caulk open joints before two finish coats. Soft sills and trim get repaired first so the new paint sits on sound wood.
Batavia projects on older and newer homes
Brick Painting & Limewash
Brick walls and chimneys get limewash or breathable mineral paint so moisture can still escape the masonry.
Exterior House Painting
Older wood siding and trim are scraped, primed and repainted, with the build year checked first.
Wood Rot Repair Before Painting
Soft wood on sills and trim of older houses is repaired or replaced before any paint goes on.
Fireplace & Mantel Painting
Interior brick fireplaces can be limewashed or painted to brighten a room without losing texture.
Interior Painting
Rooms are repainted through the winter, with walls repaired and primed before the color goes on.
Front Door Painting & Refinishing
Entry doors on older homes are stripped where needed, primed and finished in a durable exterior enamel.
Nearby areas we paint
Sources: en.wikipedia.org, epa.gov.