Everett, Washington

Paint That Lasts in Northwest Weather

When it is dry enough to paint, how to prep for mildew and old lead paint, what cedar needs, and how to hire a registered painter, from NOAA, the Wood Handbook, the EPA and Washington’s agencies.

Read the three coats Check paint life →

A paint job in Everett is mostly a question of timing and preparation. July and August average under an inch of rain at Paine Field, and siding needs time to dry after a wet spring. A local painting contractor can check the wood with a moisture meter before the first coat.

The rest is prep: cleaning mildew, sealing end grain and knots, and lead-safe work on homes built before 1978. If you are buying or selling an older house, a local real estate agent or home inspector can tell you what the paint has been through.

Paint life check

How Long Will Your Finish Last?

Pick your siding and the finish. The check shows the expected service life and suitability from the U.S. Forest Products Laboratory’s Wood Handbook.

1Your siding

Cedar or redwood siding

Pine, fir or spruce siding

Shingles

2The finish

Choose your siding and a finish to see how long it is expected to last.

Source: USDA Forest Products Laboratory, Wood Handbook (FPL-GTR-190), chapter 16, Table 16-4. Estimates for an average U.S. location, not a guarantee; follow your product’s label.

Three coats

Twelve Guides, Built Up Like a Paint Job

The first coat is timing and weather, the second is prep and repair, the top coat is the wood, the cost and the painter. Every stroke is one guide.

Coat 1 · PrimerWhen & WeatherWhen Everett is dry enough to paint, working around rain and dew, how long paint lasts and choosing colors.

01The Best Time to Paint a House in EverettWhen to schedule exterior painting in Everett, based on NOAA’s 1991-2020 climate normals for Paine Field and the U.S. Forest Products Laboratory’s guidance on wood moisture, dew and drying.4 min 02Painting in Pacific Northwest WeatherHow Everett’s wet climate affects exterior paint, from NOAA’s monthly rain figures to the Wood Handbook’s warnings about dew, wet wood and end grain, with practical ways to protect a paint job.4 min 03How Long Exterior Paint Lasts in Washington, and What Makes It Last LongerExpected service life of exterior paint and stains from the U.S. Forest Products Laboratory’s Wood Handbook, why the south side wears first, and the prep, coats and maintenance that add years in Everett’s climate.4 min 04Choosing Exterior Paint Colors for a Pacific Northwest HomeHow to choose exterior colors that look right under gray Northwest skies and hold up over time: paint versus stain, how color and sun exposure affect wear, testing samples, and what to check for older homes.4 min

Coat 2 · BodyPrep & RepairMildew and moss cleaning, the full prep checklist, older homes and lead-safe rules, and trim, doors and windows.

05Mildew, Algae and MossHow to tell mildew from dirt and wood stains, the Wood Handbook’s bleach-and-detergent cleaning method, safe rinsing, what to do about green algae and moss, and why the EPA says never to paint over mold.4 min 06Exterior Paint Prep Checklist for Everett HomesA step-by-step prep checklist for exterior painting in Everett, built on the Wood Handbook and EPA guidance: lead check, washing, repairs, end-grain sealing, priming, moisture checks, coats and cleanup.4 min 07Painting an Older Everett HomeWhat the EPA’s Renovation, Repair and Painting Rule means for painting a pre-1978 house in Everett: certified contractors, plastic sheeting, banned methods, the 20-square-foot exterior exemption, DIY practices and why children are most at risk.4 min 08Painting Trim, Doors and Windows in the NorthwestHow to paint exterior trim, doors and window frames so they last in Everett’s wet weather: end grain, caulked joints, knots, primers, sheen, dew, and lead-safe work on older window sills and door frames.4 min

Coat 3 · Top coatWood, Cost & HiringCedar siding, decks and fences, what drives the price of a paint job and how to hire a registered painter.

09Painting or Staining Cedar SidingHow to finish western redcedar siding in the Northwest, from the U.S. Forest Products Laboratory’s Wood Handbook: why cedar stains paint, stain-blocking primers, back-priming, the cost of leaving cedar bare, and paint versus stain.4 min 10Finishing a Deck or Fence in the Pacific NorthwestHow to finish decks, porches, railings and fences so they survive Northwest rain, based on the Wood Handbook: penetrating stains versus film finishes, why solid stains peel on decks, sealing end grain, treated wood and how often to recoat.4 min 11What Exterior House Painting Costs in Everett, and What Drives the PriceWhy exterior painting quotes in Everett vary so much: labor costs from BLS wage data for the Seattle area, prep and repairs, lead-safe requirements for older homes, number of coats, access and how to compare bids fairly.4 min 12How to Hire a House Painter in EverettHow to hire an exterior painter in Washington: checking registration, bond and insurance with Labor and Industries, written bids, EPA lead-safe certification for older homes, what to put in the contract and the door-to-door scams the Attorney General warns about.4 min

Colour chips

What Everett Homeowners Ask About Exterior Paint

Chip 01When is the best time to paint a house in Everett?

July and August. NOAA’s normals for Paine Field put July at 0.84 inches of rain and August at 0.98 inches, with about 2.3 and 2.5 rainy days. June and September can work in some years. Let a moisture check of the siding make the final call; see The Best Time to Paint a House in Everett: Reading the Calendar and the Siding.

Chip 02How long does exterior paint last?

The Wood Handbook estimates 10 to 15 years for paint on smooth vertical-grain cedar and 15 to 20 years on saw-textured cedar with primer and two top-coats. With only primer and one top-coat, expect about half. The paint life check on this site covers other siding and finishes.

Chip 03Why does one side of my house peel first?

Sun. The Wood Handbook says paint on the north side lasts twice as long as on the south side, so sides of the house do not need to be repainted on the same schedule. Repaint the sunny walls first and spread the cost.

Chip 04How do I tell mildew from dirt?

Put a drop of household bleach on the spot. Mildew turns pale in 1 to 2 minutes; dirt and wood extractive stains do not change. The EPA says paint applied over moldy surfaces is likely to peel, so clean it first; see Mildew, Algae and Moss: How to Clean Siding Before You Paint in the Northwest.

Chip 05Why is my new paint on cedar turning brown?

Western redcedar and redwood contain water-soluble extractives that can bleed through paint. The Wood Handbook recommends a primer labeled to block extractives bleed and, for latex stain-blocking primer, at least 24 to 48 hours of drying before the first top-coat. More in Painting or Staining Cedar Siding: Extractive Bleed, Primers and How Long Each Finish Lasts.

Chip 06My house was built before 1978. Can a painter just scrape it?

Not without lead-safe work. Under the EPA’s Renovation, Repair and Painting Rule, paid work that disturbs paint in a pre-1978 home must be done by a certified firm, with plastic sheeting at least 10 feet out from exterior work. Open-flame burning is prohibited.

Chip 07How do I check a painter before hiring?

Look the business up in L&I’s Verify tool, which shows contractor registration, workers’ compensation coverage, bond lawsuits and safety violations. Get several written bids, as Washington’s Attorney General advises, and compare them on the same scope; see What Exterior House Painting Costs in Everett, and What Drives the Price.

Chip 08What do I do with leftover paint?

In Washington, PaintCare drop-off sites take leftover house paint, primers and stains at no charge; containers need lids and original labels, and aerosols are not accepted. A PaintCare fee included in the price of new paint funds the program.

Data sheet

Painting a House in Everett, in Five Lines

What the climate record, the wood research and Washington’s rules say before you pick a color.

Exterior wood, Everett WASources: NOAA, USDA Forest Products Laboratory, EPA, WA L&I

1ClimateDriest: July and August

NOAA’s 1991-2020 normals for the Everett Snohomish County Airport at Paine Field show a sharp summer dip in rain: July averages 0.84 inches and August 0.98 inches, with only about 2.3 and 2.5 days a month of 0.10 inches or more. November is the wettest month, at 4.97 inches, with December and January close behind; May and September have more rain than mid-summer but far less than winter. Average July highs are 72.3°F with lows of 54.7°F, so cool nights and dew are the main threat to fresh paint even on a dry day. Plan with The Best Time to Paint a House in Everett: Reading the Calendar and the Siding.

2MoisturePaint near 12%, never above 20%

The Wood Handbook advises painting wood when its moisture content is about what it will be in service, roughly 12% for most of the United States, and warns that above 20% the risk of blistering and peeling rises. In the Pacific Northwest, outdoor wood averages slightly higher, 12% to 16%. Avoid painting late in the afternoon if heavy dew is expected; dew forms first on eaves, soffits and porch ceilings. Ask for a moisture meter reading on each wall before starting: north walls and areas under trees often lag behind the sunny side. More in Painting in Pacific Northwest Weather: Rain, Dew, Damp Wood and How to Work Around Them.

3Surface prepClean, seal, prime promptly

Most paint failures start with skipped preparation. A drop of household bleach turns mildew pale in 1 to 2 minutes, while dirt does not change; the handbook’s cleaning mix is 1 part bleach to 3 to 5 parts warm water with a little powdered detergent. Seal knots with shellac or a knot sealer, prime and paint all end grain, and do not leave bare wood to weather: cedar left bare for 16 weeks before painting peeled within 3 years in federal tests. For repainting, the handbook gives a typical coverage of about 400 square feet per gallon. Start with Mildew, Algae and Moss: How to Clean Siding Before You Paint in the Northwest.

4LeadBuilt before 1978? Assume lead

Lead-based paint was banned for residential use in 1978. In a home built before then, anyone paid to disturb paint must be an EPA-certified firm using lead-safe practices, including plastic sheeting on the ground at least 10 feet out from exterior work. On the outside of a house, lead paint is especially common in high-gloss paint on trim such as window sills, door frames and railings. Washington’s Department of Health says children six and younger are most at risk. Homeowners working on their own homes are generally exempt, but the EPA recommends the same practices. See Painting an Older Everett Home: Lead-Safe Rules, Prep and What to Ask a Painter.

5ContractorVerify with L&I first

Washington’s Department of Labor and Industries requires construction contractors, painters included, to register and to be bonded and insured; painting is one of 63 specialties that need registration. L&I’s Verify tool shows registration, bond lawsuits and safety violations. Specialty contractors such as painting contractors can work only in their specialty and cannot hire subcontractors. The Attorney General warns about traveling crews offering to paint with supplies left over from another job and advises getting several written bids. Read How to Hire a House Painter in Everett: Registration, Bonds, Bids and Red Flags before you sign.