The rain window
When each job runs
Paint needs dry boards, a dry day to go on and a dry day or two to set. In Seattle the longest run of those is usually early summer to early fall. The bars show our usual pattern; the forecast decides each day.
Estimates and color consults
All year. We book the next summer's exteriors from winter.
all year
Moss and mildew wash
On roofs, decks and north walls, before it can dry out for paint.
Apr-May
Siding and sill repairs
Carpentry and patching, in dry spells and under cover.
Apr-Oct
Exterior painting
The main season for siding and trim.
Jun-Sep
Porch floors and decks
Several dry days between coats to cure.
Jul-Sep
Interior painting
Winter work: rain doesn't matter inside.
Oct-Mar
Built-ins and woodwork
Slow, careful work that suits short days.
Nov-Mar
Dates move with the weather. We never promise a calendar date for an exterior.
A rain day
How a rain day works
No one on the crew decides this alone. It's the same rule for every job.
- 01
Step 1: The evening before
We check the forecast for the next two days and text you what we plan to do.
- 02
Step 2: 6 a.m.
We check again. If rain is coming before the paint can set, we don't start that wall.
- 03
Step 3: If it rains mid-day
Wet boards and wet caulk don't get paint. We cover what's open, clear the site and leave.
- 04
Step 4: The next dry day
We text you the new day. The written scope doesn't change because the weather did.
Your part
What helps us on a dry week
A short list for the week before we start.
Move the cars
Clear the drive and the curb in front, so ladders and scaffold can go where they need to.
Turn off sprinklers
Walls dry slowly if a sprinkler hits them. Turn them off the week before.
Tell us about the yard
Gates, pets, beds you love. We'd rather know than guess.
Questions we get most
What happens if it rains?
We check the forecast the evening before and again at 6 a.m. Wet boards and wet caulk don't get paint. If rain starts mid-day we cover what's open, clear the site and text you the next dry day. Rain moves the schedule; it doesn't change the written scope.
How long does an exterior take?
Most two-story houses take one to two weeks of working days, spread across dry weather. A three-story Victorian with a lot of trim takes longer. We write a range into the estimate, not a promised date, because the forecast sets the calendar.
Can you paint over moss and mildew?
No. We wash it off first, let the wall dry for a few days and then prime. Paint over moss peels, and so does paint over wet wood.
Ask about a dry-week slot.
We book the summer's exteriors from winter. Walk-throughs run all year.