Painting Windermere (98105) lakeside and wooded homes
Windermere is a small, quiet neighborhood in northeast Seattle on the shore of Lake Washington, set between Laurelhurst and Sand Point near Magnuson Park. It's known for winding streets, dense tree cover and large homes on generous lots, many hidden from the road behind long driveways and hedges. Houses range from 1930s and 1940s traditional homes to mid-century designs with cedar siding and walls of glass, and newer custom builds that replaced older houses. Lakefront homes run down steep slopes to private docks along the water.
At a glance
- ZIP
- 98105
- County
- King County
- Part of
- Seattle, WA
- Best exterior window
- Late May to mid September
- Phone
- Answered 24/7
Large, wooded lots make a big difference to how a house wears. Cedar siding stays shaded and damp, so mildew and algae build up, and fallen needles collect in gutters and on roof edges. Lakeside walls deal with wind and sun reflected off the water. Many Windermere homes have natural wood siding that's stained rather than painted, so cedar siding staining is some of our most common work here. We also handle deck staining for the big decks facing the lake. We come up I-5 for scheduled projects and plan access around long driveways.
How often does cedar siding on a Windermere home need restaining?
On shaded walls under Windermere's tree cover, a semi-transparent stain often lasts three to five years before it starts to gray or grow mildew. Sunny, lake-facing walls may need attention a bit sooner, since UV breaks down the stain faster. Solid-color stains last longer but hide more of the grain. We look at how the current finish is wearing during the walk-through and suggest a schedule that fits your house rather than a fixed number. Keeping gutters clear of needles also helps the bottom boards last longer.
The prep matters as much as the stain. We clean the cedar with a wood cleaner, rinse gently, and use a brightener to bring back the natural color. Then the wood has to dry to the right moisture level before stain goes on, which can take a few days on shaded walls. Stain is brushed or back-brushed so it soaks into the wood rather than sitting on top. Our cedar siding staining page covers this in more depth. Call (253) 478-2745 to schedule.
What we watch for here
- Dense tree cover keeps cedar siding shaded and damp, feeding mildew and algae.
- Natural wood siding needs restaining on a regular cycle to avoid graying.
- Long driveways and hidden homes make equipment delivery and staging a planning step.
- Lake-facing walls take wind and reflected sun and fade quickly.
- Steep lakefront slopes make ladder setup and debris control harder.
Houses common in Windermere and how we prep them
1930s-40s traditional homes
Brick, stucco or clapboard homes with detailed trim. We protect masonry, scrape and prime wood trim, and repaint shutters off the house.
Mid-century cedar homes
Natural cedar siding and big windows. We clean, brighten and restain the cedar instead of painting it, keeping the wood grain visible.
Newer custom builds
Mixed materials like fiber cement, stone and wood. We repaint the painted parts and refresh stained wood soffits and doors.
Lakefront homes on slopes
Tall lake-facing walls above steep yards. We use scaffolding or lifts where needed and contain all work away from the water.
Painting jobs we do most in Windermere
Cedar 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 stainingExterior 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 washingInterior 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 paintingCabinet Refinishing
Cabinet refinishing keeps the wood visible.
See cabinet refinishing
Painting questions from Windermere
Can you paint a Windermere home at the end of a long, narrow driveway?
Yes. We plan deliveries ahead, use smaller vehicles when needed, and carry materials in by hand if that's what the site takes. Ladders and drop cloths get staged near the house each day. We'll talk about where to park and how to keep the drive clear for you during the walk-through.
What does restaining cedar siding on a Windermere home cost?
For a home with around 2,800 to 3,600 sq ft of cedar siding, typical totals run about $9,860-$18,420, depending on cleaning, the stain type and how much is shaded. Lakefront homes with tall walls run higher. That's a typical range, not a quote, and we confirm a firm price on site.
Do you refinish wood cabinets and paneling inside mid-century Windermere homes?
We do. Many mid-century homes here have wood paneling, built-ins and cabinets with a warm finish. Cabinet refinishing cleans, lightly sands and reapplies a clear or tinted finish, keeping the grain. If you'd prefer a painted look, we can do that too, with a bonding primer and a hard enamel topcoat that holds up to daily use.
Neighboring areas we paint
Painting a home in Windermere?
Call and tell us what you are painting. We answer 24/7 and set up a walk-through at a time that suits you.