Exterior Painting in Seattle, WA
Repainting a two-story Seattle house costs $9,000 to $20,000, and a detailed Craftsman or Victorian with multiple colors $18,000 to $32,000. Most Seattle houses were built before 1978, so lead-safe practices apply to nearly every exterior repaint in the city's older neighborhoods.
Seattle exterior painting costs
| House | Typical Seattle range | Seattle factors |
|---|---|---|
| Bungalow, one and a half stories | $8,000 – $15,000 | Shingle gables, deep eaves |
| Two-story Craftsman, three colors | $14,000 – $26,000 | Brackets, rafter tails, trim |
| Tudor with stucco and half-timbering | $12,000 – $24,000 | Stucco patching, wood trim |
| Mid-century rambler | $8,000 – $16,000 | Large flat walls, flat eaves |
| Lead-safe prep, add | $1,500 – $6,000 | Containment and cleanup |
Seattle houses and paint
Craftsman houses have the most surfaces: lap siding, shingled gables, exposed rafter tails, brackets, porch columns and window trim, often in three or four colors. Rafter tails and fascia under deep eaves take longest.
Tudors combine stucco, which needs crack repair and an elastomeric or masonry paint, with dark-painted half-timbering and trim.
Old-growth cedar siding holds paint well if it is dry and properly primed, but decades of layers can fail together; heavily peeled walls may need stripping in sections.
Mid-century houses are simpler to paint but often have asbestos-cement shingles, which can be painted but must not be sanded or pressure washed aggressively.
Lead-safe painting in Seattle
Under Washington's lead renovation rules, painters disturbing painted surfaces on pre-1978 houses must be certified and follow lead-safe practices: plastic containment on the ground, no open-flame burning, controlled sanding with dust collection, and careful cleanup. This protects children and neighbors in Seattle's close-set houses and adds cost that honest quotes include.
Seattle weather and timing
Seattle's reliable painting window runs from late spring to early fall. North walls and walls under trees dry slowly; a moisture meter reading before priming is the sign of a careful painter. Mildew is common on shaded walls and must be washed and killed before painting.
Historic districts and color
Some historic districts and landmarks review exterior changes, which can include paint colors. Check before choosing a dramatic new scheme.
Seattle painting questions
Do I need lead-safe painting on my 1920s house?
Yes. It is required for paid work that disturbs painted surfaces on houses built before 1978.
How many colors suit a Craftsman?
Three or four is traditional: body, trim, accent on sashes or doors, sometimes a separate gable shingle color.
Can asbestos shingles be painted?
Yes, with gentle washing and no sanding. They hold paint well.
When should I book a Seattle painter?
Early in the year for a spring or summer slot; good painters fill their dry-season calendars quickly.