House painting for Northeast Tacoma (98422) homes on the hill
Northeast Tacoma sits on the plateau above the Port of Tacoma and the tideflats, with views back across Commencement Bay to downtown and, on clear days, Mount Rainier. Most of the area filled in from the 1970s through the 2000s, so the houses are split-levels, two-story contemporaries and larger view homes, many on wooded lots cut by ravines. Marine View Drive runs along the shoreline below, and Douglas firs and maples shade a lot of the streets on the hill. Many neighborhoods here have HOA guidelines on exterior colors, so we often start with the approved color list.
At a glance
- ZIP
- 98422
- County
- Pierce County
- Part of
- Tacoma, WA
- Best exterior window
- Late May to mid September
- Phone
- Answered 24/7
Siding types vary more here than in older parts of Tacoma. A single block might have 1970s T1-11 plywood, 1980s cedar lap, and 2000s fiber cement, and each needs different prep. Our work here is mostly siding painting matched to the material, plus decks on almost every house. Under the tree cover, a gentle pressure washing and soft washing clears moss and algae from siding and roof edges before we paint, so the coating goes on clean, dry wood. We also check the soffits and fascia closest to the trees, where needles collect and hold water.
Does T1-11 siding in Northeast Tacoma need special prep before paint?
It does. T1-11 is grooved plywood, and once water gets into the edges, the outer veneer starts to swell and peel. We look closely at the bottom edges, the grooves and the seams between panels, especially near the ground and under decks. Panels that are soft or layered apart get replaced. The rest are cleaned, sanded where rough and primed on any bare wood before two coats of paint. Panels hidden behind shrubs or decks are often in worse shape than the ones you see, so we check those too.
The bottom edge of each panel is the most important spot. If it is not sealed, water wicks up into the plywood and the paint fails from the bottom up. We prime and paint that edge whenever we can reach it, and we make sure there is clearance above soil and decking. Caulk goes on the vertical seams only where water could get in, never on the bottom edge, so the siding can still drain. Done that way, a T1-11 repaint can last as long as paint on lap siding.
What we watch for here
- Heavy tree cover that keeps siding damp and grows moss and algae on north and east faces.
- T1-11 plywood siding from the 1970s that delaminates at the bottom edges and seams.
- Tannin bleed on cedar siding if bare spots are not primed with a stain-blocking primer.
- Lots that slope into ravines, which complicate ladder placement on the back of the house.
- Large decks with mixed-age boards and railings that wear unevenly.
Houses common in Northeast Tacoma and how we prep them
1970s split-levels with T1-11
We clean, seal the panel edges and grooves, replace delaminated sheets and repaint with a flexible acrylic. Bottom edges near the ground get extra attention.
1980s cedar lap two-stories
Cedar gets a stain-blocking primer on bare spots to stop tannin bleed, then two coats of acrylic or a solid stain, depending on what is on it now.
1990s-2000s fiber cement homes
Hardie siding holds paint well. We wash, caulk butt joints and trim, and repaint with a high-quality acrylic made for fiber cement.
View homes with big decks
Tall decks facing the bay get their boards stained and railings painted, with lifts or staging for upper levels.
Painting jobs we do most in Northeast Tacoma
Siding Painting
Siding painting in Tacoma means matching the prep and paint to the material: fiber cement gets cleaned and primed at cut edges, T1-11 plywood gets its bottom edges sealed, vinyl needs a vinyl-safe color, and wood lap needs scraping and spot priming.
See siding paintingExterior 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 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 stainingPressure Washing & Soft Washing
Pressure washing in Tacoma covers siding, decks, fences, driveways, walkways and patios.
See pressure washing & soft washingCedar 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 stainingWood Rot Repair
Wood rot repair in Tacoma means probing fascia, trim, sills, corner boards and siding for soft wood, cutting out the decay, then replacing boards or rebuilding small areas with epoxy filler.
See wood rot repair
Painting questions from Northeast Tacoma
How do you clean moss off siding without damaging it?
We use a low-pressure soft wash with a cleaner made for siding, let it sit, then rinse. High pressure can force water into wood and fiber cement seams, so we avoid it on most siding. Heavy moss on decks may need a scrub brush. The siding then dries for a day or two before paint.
Can you paint my house if the trees stay shaded all day?
Yes, but we time it carefully. Shaded walls dry slower, so we check moisture before priming and paint those faces later in the day once dew has burned off. In late summer, most shaded siding in Northeast Tacoma is dry enough. We do not paint wet wood. If a stretch of siding never dries properly, we may suggest trimming back branches for airflow first.
Is fiber cement siding a good candidate for a color change?
Very much so. Fiber cement holds paint well and can go from light to dark or dark to light with a good primer. Dark colors on south faces can fade faster, so we sometimes suggest a slightly lighter shade. We use paints with good fade resistance on sun-facing sides.
Neighboring areas we paint
Painting a home in Northeast Tacoma?
Call and tell us what you are painting. We answer 24/7 and set up a walk-through at a time that suits you.