Deck & Fence Staining Interior Painting Exterior Painting About Contact
Home / About
Our story

Two brothers.
One reputation.

We are Erik and David Schafer. Brothers from Glenview running High-School Helpers. Over 200 jobs since we started, and every one of them with our name on it.

Erik and David Schafer
The story

How we got here.

Erik started High-School Helpers in high school. Doing odd jobs for neighbors, making gas money, figuring out what it took to run something real. David joined as he got old enough to carry his weight on a jobsite.

What started as summer work has turned into something bigger. Over 200 jobs later, we have narrowed our focus to what we are actually great at. Deck and fence staining, interior painting, and exterior work on single story homes. We still take the occasional odd job for people we have worked with before, but the core is painting and staining. That is where we put our best work.

We are not trying to be a big contracting company. We are trying to be the local option that does better work than the pros, for fair prices, with real accountability. So far, it is working.

The brothers

The two of us.

Every job starts with one of us on site. You always know who is working on your project.

Erik Schafer
Founder

Erik Schafer

Age 19. Indiana University sophomore, studying finance.

Erik started High-School Helpers in high school. He runs the business side. Quotes, scheduling, customer communication. Still does the work on every project. Huge history buff. If you catch him on a jobsite, ask him about something historical and brace yourself.

David Schafer
Co-Lead

David Schafer

Age 17. Junior at Glenbrook South High School.

David joined the business once he was old enough to pull his weight. Now does most of the hands on work alongside Erik. Plays lacrosse for Glenbrook South (Erik played at GBS too). Outside of work he is into engineering and robotics. Knows three coding languages, which is not useful for painting decks but is a fun fact.

Capacity

How we handle bigger jobs.

For small and medium projects, it is just us. For bigger jobs like large fences, full exteriors, or multi room interior work, we bring in friends we have worked with before. We do not hire off Craigslist. We do not show up with strangers. Every person on your property has been vetted by us personally, and one of us is always on site running the job.

What we stand for

Four principles, no exceptions.

If we cannot keep these promises, we should not be in business.

01

Real responses

Every quote request gets a reply within 4 hours during daytime. Always. No auto responders.

02

Honest prices

We give you a real number before we start. No surprise charges, no mid project upcharges without telling you first.

03

Work we put our name on

Literally. Our name is on this. If something is not right when we finish, we come back and fix it.

04

Local matters

We live here. Our families live here. Hire us and you are hiring your neighbors, not a franchise from three towns over.

Ready when you are

Work with two brothers who care.

Tell us about your project. We reply within 4 hours during daytime.