Exterior painting and deck staining for West Slope (98406) homes
West Slope sits on the hillside at the far western end of Tacoma, looking across the Narrows toward Fox Island and the Kitsap Peninsula, with the Narrows Bridge just to the north and Titlow Beach at the bottom of 6th Avenue. Most of the houses went up from the late 1940s through the 1960s, so the streets are lined with ramblers, daylight basement homes and split-levels, many with big picture windows and decks built to catch the view. Lots are generous, with tall firs and established hedges.
At a glance
- ZIP
- 98406
- County
- Pierce County
- Part of
- Tacoma, WA
- Best exterior window
- Late May to mid September
- Phone
- Answered 24/7
West Slope exteriors take the wind off the Narrows, and decks here work hard. We see a lot of faded west-facing siding, chalky trim and weathered deck boards. Our usual West Slope job is a full exterior house painting on the siding and eaves, paired with deck staining on the view deck. For homes with 1970s plywood siding added on later wings, we check the bottom edges carefully, since that is where T1-11 soaks up water first. We also clean the picture-window frames and reglaze where the old putty has cracked, because those frames are the first thing visitors see from the street.
How often do West Slope decks need restaining?
Decks facing the Narrows get sun, rain and wind from the same direction, so they wear faster than most. A semi-transparent stain on the walking surface usually needs a fresh coat every two to three years, while rails and posts can go a little longer. Solid stains last longer on floors but can peel if moisture gets underneath. We look at the boards, how they drain and how the deck sits before recommending one or the other. We also check the ledger board and flashing where the deck meets the house, since that joint is where rot starts on many West Slope decks.
The process is the same either way: clean and brighten the wood, let it dry to a safe moisture level, replace split or soft boards, then apply stain by brush or pad so it works into the grain. A typical West Slope view deck of moderate size runs about $1,340-$3,180 for restaining, which is a typical range and not a quote. Your price is set after a walk-through, and it can be paired with a fence staining job on the same visit.
What we watch for here
- West and south faces that fade and chalk quickly from afternoon sun and wind off the Narrows.
- View decks where horizontal boards wear out long before the railing does.
- Tall firs that drop needles in gutters and keep north faces damp and mossy.
- Large picture windows with old wood frames and failing glazing.
- Plywood siding on later additions that swells at the bottom edge if left unsealed.
Houses common in West Slope and how we prep them
1950s ramblers
Long, low homes with wide eaves and lap or board siding. We wash, scrape loose paint, prime bare wood and repaint, with extra attention to the fascia.
Daylight basement homes
These have one story on the street side and two on the back. The downhill side needs taller ladders or staging and often has the most weather damage.
1960s split-levels
Mixed siding is common, with brick or stone on the lower level and wood above. We clean the masonry gently and paint only the surfaces meant to be painted.
Later additions with T1-11 siding
Plywood siding on additions gets its bottom edges sealed and primed, and soft panels are replaced before painting.
Painting jobs we do most in West Slope
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 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 stainingSiding 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 paintingPressure Washing & Soft Washing
Pressure washing in Tacoma covers siding, decks, fences, driveways, walkways and patios.
See pressure washing & soft washingFence Staining
Fence staining in Tacoma involves cleaning mildew and gray fibers off the boards, brightening the wood, letting it dry, then spraying and back-brushing a penetrating stain on one or both sides.
See fence 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 painting
Painting questions from West Slope
Is the wind off the Narrows a problem for spraying?
It can be. On windy days we switch to brushing and rolling or wait for calmer hours, usually mornings after the dew burns off. We also mask cars, windows and neighbors' property more thoroughly on the downwind side. We would rather slow down a day than send overspray across the street. Calm, dry mornings in July and August are often the best spray windows here.
Can you repaint my 1950s rambler in two colors?
Yes, and that is the most common scheme here: a body color on the siding and a contrasting trim on fascia, windows and doors. Some owners add a third color for the front door or garage door. We can paint large samples on the house so you can see them in daylight.
My daylight basement wall is cracked stucco. Can you paint it?
Usually, yes. We clean the stucco, open and patch the cracks with a flexible filler, prime with a masonry primer and apply a breathable finish. Larger cracks that move with the seasons can be bridged with elastomeric coatings. We tell you upfront if a crack looks structural. Stucco that is painted correctly can look fresh for many years.
Neighboring areas we paint
Painting a home in West Slope?
Call and tell us what you are painting. We answer 24/7 and set up a walk-through at a time that suits you.