Large gray house with white accents, multiple windows, brick steps leading to patio, outdoor chairs, and a pergola, surrounded by green grass and leafless trees.

From Faded to Flawless in Ludington

Project Details

Location

Ludington, Michigan

Scope Of Work

We restored the exterior of this lakeside Ludington mansion with a solid stain application on cedar shake siding and detailed trim repairs to revive its original beauty and durability.

Overview

Overlooking the shores of Lake Michigan in Ludington, the Merkel Residence is a grand cedar-shake mansion that had seen years of exposure to sun, wind, and lake-effect weather. The homeowners wanted a bold refresh—something that would restore the home’s striking presence and protect it for years to come.

We applied a solid stain to the faded cedar siding, giving the exterior a rich, uniform finish that enhances its architectural character. Alongside the staining, we completed extensive trim repairs, carefully restoring each detail to match the home’s original craftsmanship.

Scroll through the gallery below to see how this lakeside property was transformed with expert care and attention to detail.

Two-story house with blue shingle siding, large windows, and white trim. It features a balcony with a pergola overhead and a screened porch underneath. There are trees and bushes around the house, and the sky is clear and blue.
View of a house with a second-story balcony, a white picket gate, brick pathway, green trees, and a body of water in the background under a clear blue sky.
A large, two-story house with blue-gray siding, white trim, and a front porch with four white columns, surrounded by a landscaped garden with bushes and flowers under a clear blue sky.
Enclosed porch with wicker chairs and glass windows overlooking a sandy beach and calm water under a blue sky with some clouds.
Three-story house under construction with white siding, large windows, and a partially completed porch with a worker on a ladder. Clear blue sky and trees in the background.
A person working on the exterior of a multi-story house with ladders, a patio, and trees in a sunny backyard.
Large gray house with white trim, multiple windows, a brick patio, outdoor furniture, and flower boxes on the upper windows, under a blue sky with trees overhead.
Backyard patio with wooden table and chairs, large sliding glass doors with curtains, on a brick surface, two-story house with blue siding, white trim, and a balcony, surrounded by trees under a clear blue sky.
Front view of a gray house with white trim, multiple large windows, some with flower boxes, surrounded by trees and garden plants.
A two-story house with gray siding, white trim, and a front porch with columns, set against a bright blue sky with the sun shining brightly in the top left corner. There are green bushes and a tree on the right side of the house.
Close-up of a white wooden window frame with visible damage and rot at the corner, with peeling paint and blackened areas indicating decay.
A wooden deck with a staircase leading down, showing peeling white paint and weathered wood, with a backyard, a tree, and water in the background.
View of a deck with wooden slats, some of which are weathered and chipped, overlooking a brick-paved patio, grass, and a shoreline with a body of water and rocks in the background.
Close-up of a house eaves and roof, showing a wooden pergola or trellis structure above with a blue sky and tree branches in the background.
Vines climbing on a trellis attached to a house wall with shingle siding and windows.
Close-up of a white wooden balcony railing with peeling paint and some wood damage, on a wooden deck.
Close-up of a white wooden chair with chipped paint and damage, on a wooden deck overlooking a body of water with greenery in the background.
View from a wooden deck looking down at a white railing with a zigzag design, overlooking a green backyard with grass, a garden, and outdoor chairs.
Looking up through a partially open roof with white beams at a blue sky with wispy clouds, and a pointed finial of a black outdoor lamp visible.
Looking up through a partially damaged wooden structure towards a blue sky with wispy clouds.
Open white wooden pergola with a damaged roof beam, blue sky with clouds visible.
Close-up of a corner of a house showing damaged or rotting wood trim around a window and siding with a section of the trim cut away, revealing deteriorated wood inside.
Close-up of house corner with damaged trim and wood rot near window and siding.
Close-up of damaged and rotting exterior window sill and frame on a house, with peeling paint and deteriorated wood.
Close-up of a damaged window frame with peeling paint and rotted wood, part of a house exterior, with a view of water and trees in the background.
A large house with grey shingle siding, multiple windows, a porch with a white railing, and a gated brick pathway leading to the entrance, with the sea visible in the background.
A multi-story house with white exterior walls, a screened-in porch with sliding glass doors, and decorative railings on the upper balcony. The house has a pergola on the top level and black guttering.
A light blue house with white trim and shingles, white picket fence gates, and a leafless tree in front. The house has several windows and the sky is clear with sunlight.
Multi-story house with gray siding, white trim, glass doors, outdoor patio area, and brick steps.
Large multi-story house with gray shingles, white trim, and multiple decks with white railings, outdoor chairs, and a brick patio.
Large house with gray siding, white trim, multiple windows, a porch with chairs, and brick steps leading to a grassy yard.