House painters for Lakewood (98499) lakefront and mid-century homes
Lakewood is shaped by water. American Lake, Gravelly Lake, Steilacoom Lake and several smaller lakes are spread across the city, and some of the oldest and largest homes in the area sit along their shores, alongside places like Thornewood Castle and Lakewold Gardens. Away from the lakes, much of Lakewood filled in after World War II with ramblers, split-levels and daylight basement homes for families tied to what is now Joint Base Lewis-McChord. Fort Steilacoom Park offers wide open space on the west side, and Gravelly Lake Drive and Steilacoom Boulevard are main routes through town.
At a glance
- ZIP
- 98499
- County
- Pierce County
- Part of
- Lakewood, WA
- Best exterior window
- Late May to mid September
- Phone
- Answered 24/7
That gives us two very different kinds of Lakewood jobs. Lakefront homes are large, often with cedar siding, tall rooflines and decks or docks facing the water, and they need staging, careful masking and a lot of trim and stain work. The postwar neighborhoods have simpler homes that repaint quickly. Many of those are rentals for military families, so rental turnover painting on a tight schedule is common. On the lake homes, cedar siding staining and deck work are often the biggest parts of the project.
How do you paint a Lakewood lakefront home without harming the water?
We keep everything contained. Before washing, we lay ground cloths and set up barriers so runoff does not drain toward the lake, and we use cleaners that are safe for landscaping and water when rinsed. Paint chips from scraping are collected every day and bagged. We never wash brushes or sprayers near the shore or in storm drains. On older homes, where paint may contain lead, we use lead-safe containment and cleanup. Wash water is directed away from the shoreline and into landscaped areas or collected.
Decks and docks over or near the water get extra care. We use brush and pad application rather than spraying, so stain does not drift onto the water, and we choose products made for exterior wood near moisture. Large lakefront homes are often painted in phases, one side at a time, so staging and protection can stay in place while each section is finished and dries properly before we move on. We also check dock railings and posts for loose fasteners before staining. That way the whole shoreline side of the property is finished together and looks consistent from the water.
What we watch for here
- Lakefront homes with tall walls, big decks and lots of trim that need staging and careful planning.
- Moisture and mildew on walls and decks close to the water and under tall trees.
- Military moves on short notice that need fast, reliable rental turnovers.
- Lead paint on trim and windows in postwar homes built before 1978.
- Older cedar siding that has weathered gray and needs cleaning before a new stain.
Houses common in Lakewood and how we prep them
Large older lakefront homes
Big houses with cedar siding, tall rooflines and extensive trim. We use staging and lifts, mask windows carefully and stain or paint in phases.
1950s-1960s ramblers
Postwar one-story houses, often with board or lap siding. We wash, prime bare spots and repaint, and check fascia and sills for rot.
Daylight basement and split-level homes
Two-level homes on sloped lots. We stage the downhill side and paint brick or block lower levels only if they were painted before.
Military family rentals
Interiors are painted fast between moves with durable, washable finishes in standard colors kept on file for touch-ups.
Painting jobs we do most in Lakewood
Exterior House Painting
Exterior house painting in Tacoma means washing off mildew and dirt, checking that the siding reads about 15% moisture or less, scraping and sanding loose paint, fixing rot, caulking, priming bare wood, then applying two coats of exterior acrylic.
See exterior house paintingCedar Siding Staining
Cedar siding staining in Tacoma involves soft washing off mildew and gray fibers, brightening the wood, letting it dry to about 15% moisture, then applying one or two coats of penetrating semi-transparent or solid stain.
See cedar siding stainingRental Turnover Painting
Rental turnover painting in Tacoma means repainting a vacant unit between tenants: patching nail holes and dents, spot priming stains, and repainting walls, ceilings, trim and doors in a durable, easy-to-match color.
See rental turnover paintingDeck Staining
Deck staining in Tacoma means cleaning off moss and gray wood, sanding rough or failing areas, brightening, then applying a penetrating stain to the boards, rails and stairs once the wood reads about 15% moisture.
See deck stainingInterior Painting
Interior painting in Tacoma covers moving and covering furniture, filling nail holes and dings, sanding, spot priming, cutting in edges by hand and rolling two finish coats on the walls, with ceilings and trim as add-ons.
See interior paintingTrim & Molding Painting
Trim painting covers door and window casings, crown molding, chair rail, picture rail and window stools.
See trim & molding painting
Painting questions from Lakewood
Can you turn a Lakewood rental around before a military family moves in?
Yes. We know military moves can come quickly. If the unit is empty, we can often paint a typical rental in a few days. Using the same wall and trim colors each time keeps it fast and makes touch-ups easy. Call as soon as you have the move-out date so we can hold a slot.
My lakefront cedar siding has turned gray. Can stain bring it back?
Usually, yes. We clean the siding, then use a wood brightener to remove the gray and bring back the natural color. After it dries, we apply a semi-transparent or solid stain depending on the condition. Badly weathered or patched siding often looks best with a solid stain.
Do you paint daylight basement walls made of concrete block?
We do. If the block was painted before, we clean it, scrape loose paint, patch cracks and apply a masonry primer and paint made for concrete. If it has never been painted, we talk through whether it should be, since bare block can be sealed instead.
Neighboring areas we paint
Painting a home in Lakewood?
Call and tell us what you are painting. We answer 24/7 and set up a walk-through at a time that suits you.