Painters for Ballard (98117) bungalows, cottages and townhomes

The weather comes in off the water near the Ballard Locks and Shilshole, bringing damp air and salt to the west side of the neighborhood. Small lots mean houses sit close together, which leaves narrow side yards that rarely see sun. We spend a lot of time on cedar siding staining and painting shingles on older bungalows, and on interior painting for small homes where every room needs to feel bigger and brighter. We schedule Ballard projects ahead and drive up I-5 with everything needed for the tight setups.

Should Ballard cedar shingles be painted or stained?

It depends on what's already on them. Shingles that have been painted before usually stay painted, since stain can't soak into wood that's sealed under old coats. We scrape loose spots, spot-prime bare wood with a stain-blocking primer so cedar tannins don't bleed, and topcoat with a flexible acrylic. Shingles that have only ever been stained, or were left natural, can take a solid or semi-transparent stain. That keeps the wood grain and texture visible and is easier to refresh later, since stain fades rather than peels.

On many Ballard bungalows, the answer ends up mixed: painted trim and porch, stained shingles on the body. That look suits the neighborhood's older homes well. Cupped or split shingles get replaced before any finish goes on, and porch floors get a deck-grade coating through our porch floor painting work. During the walk-through we'll test a spot on a hidden wall and tell you which way makes sense for your house and budget. Call (253) 478-2745 to set it up.

What we watch for here

• Narrow side yards between closely spaced houses rarely dry and grow mildew.
• Cedar shingles on old bungalows split and cup when the finish wears thin.
• Damp, salty air near Shilshole and the Locks wears down paint on west walls.
• Mixed blocks of old and new homes make color choice part of fitting in with the street.
• Pre-1978 bungalows usually carry lead paint, so scraping needs containment.