Case Study Summary
A long-term client retained Shearer Painting to restore a cedar shingle roof and repaint the full exterior of their single-family residence in Seattle’s Laurelhurst neighborhood. The project addressed delayed maintenance including mildew growth on the roof, significantly faded siding, and open water entry points at windows and fascia. The result was a fully restored exterior with upgraded paint quality, a preserved cedar roof, and sealed water intrusion points throughout.
Project Specs
| Project Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Service Type | Cedar Roof Restoration + Full Exterior Repaint |
| Location | Laurelhurst, Seattle, WA |
| Property Type | Single-Family Residence |
| Surfaces | Cedar Shingles, Wood Siding, Wood Trim, Wood Windows, Door Casings, Soffits |
| Primary Products | Benjamin Moore Aura, Armstrong Clark Non-Drying Oil, Fine Paints of Europe Oil-Based Primer |
| Key Challenges | Mildew growth on roof, faded siding, open water entry points at windows and fascia |
| Timeline | 14 Working Days |
| Crew Size | 3 Technicians |
The “Why” — Owner Intent
The homeowner had retained Shearer Painting 14 years earlier for their previous residence and sought the same standard of work for their current home. The exterior had experienced prolonged deferred maintenance — the cedar shingle roof had accumulated mildew and organic growth, the siding paint had faded significantly, and water entry points had opened at window-to-siding junctions and select fascia board areas. The goal was full restoration and protection, not cosmetic painting over deteriorated surfaces.
Scope of Work
- Roof restoration: Remove mildew and organic growth from cedar shingles; apply Armstrong Clark non-drying preservative oil to stabilize and protect wood substrate
- Surface prep: Scrape all surfaces to sound substrate; standard surface profiling throughout
- Spot priming: Apply Fine Paints of Europe oil-based primer to all bare wood areas exposed during prep
- Water intrusion repair: Seal open gaps at window-to-siding junctions and compromised fascia board areas
- Paint application: Apply Benjamin Moore Aura to siding and trim
- Sheen upgrade: Present client with low luster option for siding; higher sheen set for trim — both approved
- Final inspection: Touch-up and quality review across all surfaces
Application & Products Used
- Primer: Fine Paints of Europe oil-based primer — spot applied to bare wood areas
- Siding & Trim: Benjamin Moore Aura — upgraded from the contractor-grade Benjamin Moore line used by the previous painter
- Roof: Armstrong Clark non-drying preservative oil — applied after restoration to cedar shingles
Note on product upgrade: The previous painting contractor had used a lower-grade Benjamin Moore product. Shearer Painting recommended and applied Benjamin Moore Aura — the top of the Benjamin Moore line — providing significantly better adhesion, coverage, and long-term durability.
→ [Internal link placeholder: “Benjamin Moore Aura vs. Contractor-Grade Paint” or Services page]
Color Palette & Finish System
- Color selection process: The contractor matched colors from the previous paint job using codes from existing cans, then guided the homeowner through a formal color selection process
- Siding finish: Benjamin Moore Aura — Low Luster
- Trim finish: Benjamin Moore Aura — Higher sheen set
- Roof: Armstrong Clark Non-Drying Oil — natural cedar tone preserved
Timeline & Crew Execution
The project was completed over 14 working days with a 3-person crew. The extended timeline reflects the scope — full cedar roof restoration, comprehensive surface preparation, water intrusion remediation, and a full exterior repaint across siding, trim, windows, door casings, and soffits.
The Result
The cedar shingle roof was restored, treated with Armstrong Clark preservative oil, and stabilized for continued service life. Water entry points at windows and fascia were sealed. The siding received a full repaint with Benjamin Moore Aura at a sheen level the homeowner approved, replacing faded, contractor-grade paint from the previous job. The trim was finished at a higher sheen, creating clean visual contrast consistent with the character of the home.
Client Testimonial
“John, you did a very thorough job 14 years ago, and I appreciate the options and the explanations that you gave us.” — Homeowner, Laurelhurst, Seattle
