Exterior Cleaning in Lakemoor, IL

Cottages, subdivisions and farm edges: three Lakemoor housing types

The county's own history of the area describes the first organized subdivision as a 1926 plat just west of the county line along Route 120, with lots sold on lake and beach rights for summer homes. Many of those seasonal places became year-round houses by the 1930s and later. Older cottage-scale houses often have low rooflines, shallow overhangs and wood trim that has been repainted several times. They need gentler washing, because old paint and soft wood do not forgive a hard spray.

Then came growth. The census count went from about 2,800 in 2000 to just over 6,000 in 2010, and the homes built in that stretch share vinyl siding, architectural shingles and attached garages with broom-finished concrete aprons. Those houses are now old enough to show their first real algae, their first stained driveways, and gutters that have never been cleaned by anyone.

Lily Lake humidity and what it leaves on siding

Lily Lake sits just south of Route 120, with Morrison Park on its northern and eastern shore. Open water means damp air on calm mornings, and damp air is what algae and mildew live on. Siding that faces the water or sits behind a screen of trees stays wet longer after dew or rain, so green film shows up first on the shaded and north-facing walls.

That film is organic and soft, which is why low-pressure washing suits it. Rob applies a cleaning solution, lets it work, and rinses the wall without driving water behind lap seams. Homes with docks, boat storage or lakeside decks add one more surface to the list: wood that stays damp grays and grows slick quickly, and it cleans up best before the surface starts to rot.

• Shaded and north walls go green first
• Lakeside decks turn slick and gray from constant moisture
• Window frames collect spider webs and mineral spotting near the shoreline
• Concrete steps near the water hold algae well into fall

Route 120 and Route 12 dust, salt and splash

Two busy state routes cross the village. Homes close to them get a film of road grime on windows, siding and garage doors that is different from lake algae: it is gray, gritty and tends to build up on the side that faces traffic. In winter the same corridors carry plow spray and de-icing salt, and that lands on foundations, lower siding courses and driveway aprons.

Salt does not just look bad on concrete. Repeated freeze-thaw with salt present can flake the surface over time, so a spring rinse of garage aprons and walkways is cheap protection. Rob handles those hard surfaces as pressure washing jobs and keeps the siding above them on a softer, separate pass.

New streets, old trees, and what the gutters collect

Lakemoor's tree cover is uneven. Established lake neighborhoods have mature maples, oaks and some leftover ash, while the newest streets have saplings and bare lawn. Mature lots drop a heavy leaf load in October and November, and oak foliage clings well into November, so an early-fall visit is often premature. Younger subdivisions have a different gutter problem: construction grit, roof granules and the first cottonwood fluff blowing in from open fields.

Cluster-style building on former farmland, like the 75-home subdivision approved north of Route 120 in 2017, leaves wide open sky and wind. Open exposure means more sun on roofs, which dries them faster, but also more wind-borne seed and dust.

Wells, village water and why it matters for window and deck work

Water supply varies across the village and the surrounding unincorporated pockets, and the answer matters to cleaning. Hard water leaves mineral spots on glass, and irrigation overspray can etch windows if it keeps hitting the same pane. If you are not sure how your house is supplied, tell Rob when you text and he will plan the rinse accordingly.

The same goes for lawn and landscape beds. Soap and solution runoff is a concern around plants, so Rob wets down greenery first and rinses after. That habit matters more on small lots, where beds sit right against the foundation.

Getting a quote for a Lakemoor house

Texting beats phone tag. Message (815) 451-0106 with a picture of the front elevation and whatever bothers you, mention the nearest cross street, and Rob answers with his read of it and his plan. Quotes are free. If the honest answer is that a shingle shingle surface is too worn for cleaning, Rob says that too.

Many homeowners here bundle jobs, because the same visit can cover gutters, a house wash and the driveway. Ask about a package if you want to compare it with doing the jobs one at a time.