Experience Our Local Painter’s Craftsmanship

A century-old home in Alameda, CA, three stories of cedar shingles, eighteen days of work. The 100-year-old shingles had reached the end of their life, so the home was re-shingled and the new cedar was finished with a protective solid stain.

This cedar shingle staining project used Benjamin Moore WoodLuxe Solid Stain, an opaque finish that protects bare wood while letting the shingle texture show through. It suits a cedar-shingle home better than a flat coat of paint.

Beyond the shingles, the exterior wood staining covered the front entry, eaves, windows, columns, porch, steps, gutters, and railings, every surface across all four sides. Over eighteen days, the entire three-story exterior was renewed.

Background Story:

Gary and Laura bought this home around the time their children were born, and after decades it still wore its original cedar shingles, roughly 100 years old. Wood that age eventually stops holding a finish, so the shingles were replaced, and the real question became how to protect the new cedar for the long term.

A solid stain answered that. It lays down opaque, even color the way paint does, but it soaks into the wood and lets the shingle texture read through, which fits a cedar-shingle home better than a film of paint on top. WoodLuxe was the product chosen for the job, rated for cedar and built to resist sun and mildew.

Because the home is three stories with cedar on every side, the work was extensive. All four elevations were coated, along with the front door, frame, and sidelites, the eaves and fascia, windows and doors, columns, porch landing, wood steps, gutters, and railings. Eighteen days on site reflects the surface area and the care each stage took.

Scope of Services:

• Cedar Shingle Staining: The newly re-shingled cedar was finished in a solid stain across all four sides of the home.
• Front Entry: The front door, frame, and sidelites were coated to match the exterior.
• Trim, Eaves, and Fascia: The trim, eaves, and fascia were finished for a consistent look and added protection.
• Windows and Doors: Windows, doors, and their frames were coated throughout.
• Columns, Porch, and Steps: The columns, front porch landing, and wood steps were finished as part of the project.
• Gutters and Railings: The downspouts, gutters, and right side railing were coated to complete the exterior.

Paint Products Used:

• Benjamin Moore WoodLuxe Solid Stain
• Finish type: Solid (opaque) exterior wood stain

Project Cost:

This exterior project came to $34,950, covering all four sides of the three-story home, the newly re-shingled cedar, and every entry, trim, and structural surface listed above. Cost on a project like this depends on the size and height of the home, the number of surfaces, and the condition of the wood.

Results:

The home now has a fully renewed cedar shingle exterior, sealed under a solid stain that protects the new wood on all three stories. Every surface, from the front door and sidelites to the gutters and wood steps, was finished as part of one eighteen-day project. For a century-old home the owners have kept since their children were born, the exterior is set to hold up for years.

If your home has cedar shingles or aging wood that needs protection, a solid stain guards the wood while keeping its natural texture. Call us at 510-405-3279 for a FREE estimate today.