A craftsman front in cedar and near-black timber, North Vancouver

Area

North Vancouver

Surfaces

Gable timbers, brackets, window frames, porch posts and railings

What we found

Deep colours on exposed timber are the hardest part of a front like this to keep. Gable beams and brackets stand clear of the wall on every side, the porch posts take splash from the steps, and dark surfaces run hotter in summer sun, which is exactly where a lesser coating gives up first.

How this kind of work is done

Trim like this is where Mayda uses the best coating it can buy. Walls are different: a mid-to-high grade product is the sensible choice there, because a wall takes far less direct rain than an eave and using top-grade paint across the whole house raises the price considerably without adding the same years. Preparation is pressure washing first, then scraping back anything lifting and caulking the joints before the first coat goes on.

Photograph supplied by Mayda Painting. This page describes the surfaces shown and how work of this kind is carried out, not the history of this particular job; every property is assessed on site.