Free estimates, detailed surface preparation and our 1-year quality guarantee. Call Empire Painters Chicago to discuss your project and scheduling.
Your trim may be a small part of the room, but it frames everything around it. When the paint starts to chip, turn yellow, or wear away, those details become easy to notice.
Empire Painters Chicago helps homeowners, condo owners, and property managers repaint interior trim and molding with careful preparation and attention to the edges.
We work on door casings, window trim, decorative molding, chair rails, wall panels, and other paintable interior details.
Whether your home has simple modern trim or older painted woodwork, we review its condition before choosing how to prepare and paint it.
A room can have clean walls and still look unfinished because of the trim.
Old paint can turn yellow. Furniture can leave dents in door frames. Small gaps may appear where molding meets the wall. Paint may collect in thick layers and hide the shape of decorative details.
These problems are common reasons to repaint interior trim.
Signs your trim may need attention:
We review the surface and explain whether it needs cleaning, minor repairs, priming, or repainting.
Some damage needs more than paint. Loose, rotten, or badly damaged wood may need repair before we can finish the surface.
Use our existing estimate form to tell us which rooms and trim pieces need painting. Include your Chicago neighborhood or ZIP code, the trim type, the number of rooms, and any chips, gaps, or peeling paint in Project Details.
Select Cabinet, Wood & Detail Painting for this service. Ask how to share project photos when we follow up.
The type of trim matters. A flat door casing is different from detailed molding with several small grooves.
We plan the preparation and painting method for each surface.
For walls and ceilings as well as trim, see our interior painting service. If the door itself needs a new finish, see door painting in Chicago.
The painted wood around a door can show scratches, chipped edges, and marks from daily use.
We prepare suitable door casings and jambs before applying a new finish. This helps the trim look cleaner next to the door and wall.
Window trim can collect dust, show worn paint, or fade near sunlight.
We paint suitable interior window casings and trim, while keeping moving parts and hardware clear.
Chair rails and wall molding help divide or frame a wall. Clean edges and even paint can make their shape easier to see.
We work around corners, joints, and raised details without turning the project into a full wall repaint.
Decorative wall panels and applied molding may have many edges and small spaces.
These surfaces need careful cleaning and paint application so the details remain visible.
Built-in shelves, wall openings, and decorative wood features may have trim that needs repainting.
We check the old finish and recommend the right preparation for the material.
Baseboards and crown molding can be included when they are part of a larger trim painting project.
For projects focused only on these surfaces, tell us whether you need baseboard painting or crown molding painting so we can define that scope.
Trim paint should look good next to your wall color and hold up to normal use.
The right finish depends on where the trim is located and how often it is touched.
Satin provides a softer shine. It can work well for homeowners who want a less reflective finish.
Semi-gloss is a common choice for interior trim. It reflects more light and is often easier to wipe clean than flat wall paint.
If you want to keep the current color, we can review the old paint and try to match its appearance.
Color and sheen both matter. Even a close color may look different if the old finish has faded.
White is a common choice, but it is not the only option.
Some homeowners prefer warm white, soft gray, or trim that matches the wall color. We can review the options before painting.
The cost depends on how much trim needs painting and how much preparation is required.
A few door casings are different from decorative molding throughout a two-story home.
Your estimate may include factors such as:
We review the project so you know what the estimate includes.
If you only want certain trim pieces painted, tell us which ones. We can help define a smaller scope rather than assuming you need a full interior repaint.
Empire Painters Chicago is led by Jorge Díaz, a Civil Engineer with 26 years of experience in construction and project management.
His background helps guide how we plan painting work.
Trim and molding painting requires attention to the surface, the preparation, and the way the finished details connect with the rest of the room.
We explain the work before starting and review the result with the client.
Our goal is to make the process clear and keep the project focused on the trim and molding you want painted.
Trim takes a different kind of wear than walls.
People touch door frames. Furniture rubs against molding. Cleaning products come in contact with painted surfaces. Older woodwork may also have several layers of paint.
If the surface is glossy, dirty, or loose, new paint may not bond well.
Before painting, we look for:
The preparation depends on what we find.
For example, a sound painted door casing may need a different approach than bare wood trim or old molding with peeling layers.
We choose the preparation and primer based on the surface rather than using the same method everywhere.
A good result starts with knowing which pieces need work and how each surface should be prepared.
We review the door frames, window trim, decorative molding, and other details you want painted.
We check for loose paint, gloss, dirt, cracks, nail holes, and damaged areas.
We explain which surfaces are included and discuss the paint color and finish.
We cover floors and protect adjacent walls, doors, windows, and hardware as needed.
Safe and appropriate prep may include cleaning, filling small holes, caulking suitable gaps, and priming bare or repaired areas.
We apply paint suited to the surface. We pay attention to corners, grooves, edges, and even coverage.
We review the painted trim and molding with you and check the agreed work before completing the project.
Older Chicago homes can have woodwork with shapes and details that are harder to find in new construction.
Near Logan Square and Palmer Square, some homes have decorative door casings, tall baseboards, and detailed molding.
Properties around Avondale, Hermosa, Humboldt Park, and Wicker Park may also have woodwork that has been painted several times.
When painting older trim, we pay attention to the existing finish and the shape of the molding.
Too much paint can fill small grooves. Rough preparation can damage edges. In some homes, the owner may want to preserve the original wood appearance instead of covering it with a solid color.
We discuss those choices before work begins.
City records describe buildings in the Logan Square Boulevards District as largely built between about 1880 and 1930. That history is a reason to check original details before changing the finish.
If you want the natural grain to remain visible, Wood Staining may be a better fit than painting.
Have you noticed a thin crack between the wall and the trim?
In Chicago, indoor conditions can change between winter and summer.
Heating often makes indoor air drier during colder months. Humidity may rise during warmer months. Wood and nearby materials can move slightly as conditions change.
This can make joints and caulk lines easier to see.
Small gaps may be suitable for paintable caulk. But caulk does not fix loose molding, large movement, or hidden damage.
We check the gap before deciding how to prepare it.
If a joint continues to open, there may be another problem that needs attention before painting.
Our goal is to give you clear guidance, not cover a problem that may come back.
Painting trim may look simple, but the old finish can change what work is safe and appropriate.
Some older painted surfaces may contain lead-based paint.
If sanding, scraping, or other work will disturb paint in a home built before 1978, federal lead-safe renovation rules may apply.
Any work covered by those rules must follow the applicable certification and safety requirements. See the EPA lead-safe renovation guidance.
Some Chicago properties have older decorative woodwork that owners want to keep.
Before changing or removing original trim, it is important to consider whether the building has protected historic features or special requirements.
Ordinary interior painting is generally listed as work that does not need a building permit. The Chicago permit exemption rules have exceptions for work affecting designated interior elements of a Chicago Landmark. Other code and safety rules still apply.
Paint cannot repair loose trim, deep rot, or serious wood damage.
Those problems should be addressed before cosmetic painting begins.
Empire Painters Chicago is based at 3604 W Schubert Ave, Chicago, IL 60647.
We work with homeowners, condo owners, landlords, and property managers in Chicago and nearby neighborhoods.
Near Our Location: Logan Square, Avondale, Belmont Gardens, Hermosa, Palmer Square, Kosciuszko Park, and Humboldt Park.
Nearby Residential Neighborhoods: Wicker Park, Bucktown, Ukrainian Village, Irving Park, Old Irving Park, Roscoe Village, North Center, Lincoln Square, and Ravenswood.
Additional Chicago Areas: West Town, Lincoln Park, Lakeview, Portage Park, Belmont Cragin, and nearby areas.
From older wood trim in Logan Square homes to painted decorative molding in Wicker Park condos, we can review the surface and explain the work involved.
Chipped door frames, worn window trim, and faded molding can affect how a room looks.
Empire Painters Chicago can review the existing finish, explain what preparation is needed, and provide an estimate for painting the trim and molding in your home.
Yes. We can paint just the trim and molding. We protect nearby walls and floors before starting.
Not always. If the trim is solid and in good condition, painting may be enough. Loose or badly damaged wood may need repair first.
Sometimes. The old finish needs to be checked, and the surface may need a suitable primer. We will review it before painting.
Satin and semi-gloss are common choices. We can help you choose based on the look you want and how the trim is used.
Paint alone will not fill holes or dents. Small repairs may be included in the preparation before painting.
Yes. We paint suitable interior window trim, door casings, and jambs. We take care around hardware and moving parts.
Some small gaps can be filled with paintable caulk. Larger gaps or loose trim may need repairs first.
Often, yes, if the old coating is in good condition. We check for loose paint and other issues before planning the work.
It depends on the paint, room temperature, and humidity. We follow the product directions and explain when the trim can be touched or used.
They may. If the work disturbs old painted surfaces, federal lead-safe rules can apply. We review these concerns before planning the preparation.
Yes. We serve Logan Square, Wicker Park, Avondale, Bucktown, Humboldt Park, Hermosa, West Town, and other nearby Chicago neighborhoods.
Tell us which rooms and trim pieces need painting. Photos of the current paint, any damage, and the amount of molding will help us review your project.
Address: 3604 W Schubert Ave, Chicago, IL 60647
Empire Painters Chicago is a local painting company serving Chicago, IL and nearby neighborhoods. We provide interior painting, exterior painting, residential painting, commercial painting, cabinet painting, drywall repair, wallpaper removal, popcorn ceiling removal, deck staining, fence painting, pressure washing, power washing, trim painting, ceiling painting, door painting, accent wall painting and more.
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Service Area: Chicago, Logan Square, Avondale, Humboldt Park, Hermosa, Bucktown, Wicker Park, West Town, Ukrainian Village, Irving Park, Lincoln Park, Lakeview, West Loop, River North and Downtown Chicago
Monday: Open 24 hours
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Sunday: Closed
Insurance & COI Empire Painters Chicago is fully insured and carries General Liability and Workers’ Compensation coverage. A Certificate of Insurance (COI) can be provided upon request, and we can list clients or property managers as Additional Insured when required.
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