Painting Across Northern Michigan
East Jordan, Charlevoix, Harbor Springs
Northern Trades
paints, stains and seals homes and cottages across Charlevoix, Emmet, Antrim and Grand Traverse counties.
Paint up here has a hard job. Wind and weather off the bay, long winters, humid summers. A good paint job starts with the prep and the right product for where it's going, not just the color.
What we do
Exterior painting and staining. Siding, trim, doors, porches and decks. We scrape, sand, repair and prime first, then use coatings that hold up to lake exposure.
Interior painting. Walls, ceilings, trim, windows and doors. We keep it clean and low-impact, since most people are living in the house.
Wood rot repair. Soft trim and sills get repaired or replaced before we paint over them, not hidden under a fresh coat.
Sealing and clear coats. Stain, polyurethane and specialized sealants for wood that needs protection more than color.
Cabinets and detail work. Cabinet painting and the fine finish work that shows up close.
Cottage work. Older summer cottages need care: matching what's there, working around original detail, and choosing coatings that suit old wood.
How it goes
We walk the house with you and look at the surfaces, the exposure and any repair that needs to happen first. You get an estimate built around your priorities: the finish, the timing and the budget.
Then we prep properly, paint, clean up, and walk it with you when it's done. If touch-ups turn up later, we take care of them.
Why prep matters more than paint
Most paint failures up here aren't about the paint. Bare wood that wasn't primed, moisture behind the siding, old coats that were never scraped back. Bay humidity and freeze-thaw find every shortcut. We spend the time on scraping, sanding, repairing and priming because that's what decides whether the job looks good in five summers or just this one.
Exterior or interior?
Exterior work runs with the weather, so most of it happens late spring through early fall. Interiors can happen year-round, which makes winter a good time for rooms, trim and cabinets, especially in a house that's empty until summer.
Seasonal homes
If you're only up in the summer, we can paint while you're away, or have the exterior done before you arrive. We'll keep you posted with photos.
Ongoing touch-ups and refresh cycles fit well with our maintenance work.
Where we paint
Harbor Springs: Harbor Springs Painting covers Harbor Springs, including Harbor Point and Wequetonsing.
Everywhere else: our local divisions paint in Petoskey, Bay View, Bay Harbor, Charlevoix, East Jordan and the rest of our area:
Related
Questions people ask
Is Harbor Springs Painting part of Northern Trades?
Yes. Harbor Springs Painting is the Harbor Springs painting division of Northern Trades.
I'm not in Harbor Springs. Who paints my house?
Our local division for your area. Charlevoix, East Jordan and our other towns each have their own.
Do you fix rot before painting?
Yes. We repair or replace soft wood first rather than painting over it.
Can you paint while we're away for the season?
Yes. Many of our clients are seasonal. We schedule around you and send photos.
Do you do interiors as well as exteriors?
Both, plus stain, clear coats and cabinets.
How is a painting job priced?
Every estimate is built around your priorities: surfaces, finish level and timing.
Are you insured?
Yes, Northern Trades is fully insured.
Ready for a fresh coat? Call or text (202) 941-1282, or get a quote. Northern Michigan based, serving Charlevoix, Emmet, Antrim & Grand Traverse counties.