Rob's Exterior Services is a family-owned, Woodstock-based contractor that works on Lakewood, IL houses, covering gutters, siding, roof streaks, glass, decks, concrete and yard debris. Lakewood's six lakes, golf courses and wooded open space mean extra moisture, algae and leaf fall on many homes. No subcontractors, no shortcuts. Your first step is a picture of the house, sent by text to (815) 451-0106.
Lakewood is a small village with an unusual amount of water and green space packed into a few square miles. It was incorporated in 1933, it holds six lakes (including part of Crystal Lake), and it sets aside roughly 650 acres as open space. Two golf courses and a protected fen preserve fill in more of the map. For a house, that mix of lake air, grass and tall trees is wonderful to live next to and hard on the exterior.
Rob is a Woodstock contractor, a husband and a father of four daughters, and he works the jobs himself, without subcontractors. A house here usually needs a different eye than one on an open farm-field lot: more shade, more damp, more leaves landing on the roof, and often a deck or patio that sees water and sun all season. This page explains what that looks like and how Rob approaches it.
What six lakes and a golf course do to a siding wall
Moisture is the common thread. Morning air near a lake stays damper than air over a cornfield, and shaded walls dry slowly afterward. That is the setup algae and mildew want. Green film shows up first on the north and east sides of a house, along the bottom courses of siding, and behind shrubs that block airflow.
Golf course edges add another layer. Mowing and irrigation on adjoining turf can leave a haze of fine grass clippings and damp ground near foundations, and sprinkler overspray can streak siding and windows with mineral spots. A house that backs onto a fairway or a pond tends to look dull sooner than one that faces a dry street.
Lakeside streets and the newer open-space subdivisions
The lake neighborhoods near Country Club Road and Lake Shore Drive are tied to a property owners association that runs private parks and beaches along the shore. Houses there sit close together on lots with mature trees, so gutters, decks and windows share the same problems from one yard to the next. Many homeowners in association-style areas also ask what an HOA or association expects before exterior work happens.
Newer subdivisions such as Turnberry Meadows were laid out with permanent open space around them. Younger trees mean less leaf load for now, but wetland edges and prairie grass bring their own seed fluff, pollen and insects to window glass and siding. Each house is quoted from its own photo, so a newer build and an older lake cottage get separate plans.
Leaves, seed and pollen: the tree calendar
Northern Illinois trees run on a predictable schedule, and Lakewood has plenty of them. Maple and cottonwood seed drops in late spring, oak leaves hang on until November, and what is left of the ash population keeps shedding twigs and dead limbs. Gutters under those canopies can go from clean to packed in a single season.
When a trough backs up, water spills past the fascia and drops onto foundations and landscape beds. Roof valleys under overhanging branches stay wet and grow dark streaks faster. A second cleaning in late fall, after the oaks finish, is the one most homeowners near big trees end up wanting. The gutter frequency guide lays out the reasoning.
Decks, docks and lakefront hardware
A deck within sight of a lake takes sun, spray, humidity and a lot of foot traffic. Wood grays, mildew settles into the grain, and a stain that was fine two summers ago may now be thin. The correct order is wash, let the wood dry fully, then stain or seal. Skipping the drying step traps moisture under the finish.
Concrete walks, patios and boat-launch aprons collect algae and rust marks from metal furniture. High-pressure water works on concrete, but soft wood, mortar joints and old sealant can be damaged by it, so Rob chooses the method surface by surface rather than using one setting for the whole property.
Winter on Lakewood roads and roofs
Salt season shows up as white crust on driveways, garage floors and the base of brick or stone. Freeze-thaw cycling widens small cracks, and meltwater from roofs can refreeze at the eaves into ice dams, particularly where the attic leaks heat. Clean gutters help water leave the roof, though they are not a cure for poor insulation.
In spring, the first warm weeks are a good time to rinse salt residue off hard surfaces and check what the winter did to the exterior. Rob keeps the spring exterior checklist handy for exactly that walk-around.
Working with an association or a neighbor
If your street belongs to a property owners association, check its exterior guidelines before changing a stain color or repainting trim. Many HOAs and associations have opinions on color and on when work can happen near shared roads. Cleaning is rarely the problem, but it is worth a quick look at the rules. The HOA and association cleaning guide covers the usual questions.
Neighbors on a tight lake street often ask for work at the same time, which is practical for everyone. A text with a photo of each house is all Rob needs to start.
Every service Rob offers in Lakewood
Gutter Cleaning in Lakewood
Lakewood's canopy of maples, oaks and cottonwoods can fill a gutter faster than the calendar suggests. Rob clears the troughs and downspouts, flushes them, and checks that water leaves the corner cleanly instead of spilling over the fascia. Homes beside the lakes tend to want a spring pass for seeds and a late-fall pass after the oaks finish. Details are on the gutter cleaning page.
Soft Washing in Lakewood
Damp lake air and shaded walls are where green film on siding starts. The method is gentle: a cleaner goes on with little force, sits briefly, then rinses away, leaving vinyl seams, paint and trim intact. For Lakewood homes near water or a golf course, it is the gentler way to bring a dull exterior back to a clean tone.
Roof Washing in Lakewood
Black streaks on a roof are usually Gloeocapsa magna, and they spread fastest on shaded slopes under big trees. Rob keeps force low on asphalt shingles, because shingle makers caution against hard blasting. Lakewood roofs under the oaks often show the pattern first, along with the slope that never gets afternoon sun. He treats the growth, rinses gently, and tells you honestly if the shingles are too worn for cleaning to help. Read more about roof washing here.
Window Cleaning in Lakewood
Window glass in Lakewood gets hit by pollen, lake haze, sprinkler mineral spots and tree sap. Rob cleans glass, frames and sills, and tells you if a pane has seal failure or etching that cleaning cannot fix. Homes with lake views are the ones where clean glass is most noticeable, and sunrooms show every spot in evening light. Screens and tracks can be included if you ask when you text.
Pressure Washing in Lakewood
High-pressure water is the right tool for concrete, but not for everything. Rob uses it on driveways, walks and patios where salt, algae and rust have built up, and switches methods for wood or mortar. Pressure washing is a good fit for the lake-adjacent hard surfaces that stay damp and slick, and for the salt crust that winter leaves on garage aprons. Steps that have turned green are a safety issue as much as a looks issue.
Deck Wash & Staining in Lakewood
A lakeside deck deals with sun, humidity and spray, and the finish suffers. Rob washes the wood, lets it dry, and then stains or seals it in the right order. If a board is soft or a rail is loose, he will say so rather than coat over it. See deck wash & staining for how the process works.
Lawn Clean-Up & Trimming in Lakewood
Larger lots near open space collect fallen limbs, brush piles and leaf drifts, and wooded edges shed more after every windstorm. A homeowner over in Huntley had two heaps of dead limbs and brush carted off, and that same kind of haul suits Lakewood lots after a storm. Beds get cleared, turf gets raked, and the debris leaves with Rob. He will tell you in advance what he can carry and what belongs with a tree service.
House Washing in Lakewood
Whole-house washing removes mildew, pollen film and spider webs from siding, trim and soffits. Lakewood's damp, shaded sides of the house are usually the worst. Rob selects the method for your siding and quotes after seeing a photo, since the right approach for vinyl differs from fiber-cement. He also flags worn paint, loose siding or failed caulk that washing will not repair, so you know what to expect before the work begins.
Driveway & Patio Cleaning in Lakewood
Driveways and patios take salt in winter and algae in spring, especially in shade or near water. Rob cleans concrete, pavers and walkways and recommends sealing only when it makes sense. Concrete that is already flaking is a repair question, and Rob says so up front. A photo of the slab is all he needs to give you a price. Find out more on the driveway & patio cleaning page.
Curb Appeal Packages in Lakewood
A package combines services that belong together, such as gutters, a house wash and windows, so one visit changes how the whole front looks. It suits homeowners getting ready to sell or simply weary of a dull-looking front. Rob quotes each bundle from photos and puts the work in an order that does not undo itself, with roof and gutters first and walkways last. Start with the curb appeal packages page.
Getting a quote in Lakewood
Lakewood has a lot going for it: lakes, trees, trails and open space. Those same things leave marks on a house, and the marks are easier to deal with early than late. If something on your exterior looks green, gray, clogged or tired, text Rob a photo at (815) 451-0106. He will say which parts are worth doing now, which can sit another season, and which belong with a roofer or carpenter.