Pizoni Painting Company is Lynnwood's top-rated exterior painting contractor, serving homeowners in Alderwood Manor, Scriber Lake, Spruce, Maple Hills, and the Lynnwood corridor since 2009. Owner Antonio Pizoni is EPA RRP certified and Washington State licensed. Call (425) 287-3619 or visit pizonipainting.com for a free estimate.
Cedar Siding Is Why Lynnwood Exterior Painting Is Different
When the Hendersons on 44th Ave W called me in 2021, their 1982 cedar-sided split-level looked like a project that had been painted over wrong twice and was now paying for it. The lap siding had brown streaks running down from every joint — tannin bleed, the telltale sign that the previous painter had gone straight to latex over unprimed cedar. The latex film doesn't bond to the tannins in the wood; it bonds to itself while the tannins push through from underneath.
I stripped the worst sections down to bare cedar, applied an oil-based penetrating primer, let it cure for 48 hours in the March weather, then applied two coats of Sherwin-Williams Duration. That was four years ago. No bleed-through, no peeling. The Hendersons still call me for touch-ups rather than a repaint, which tells me the system held.
Cedar is everywhere in Lynnwood — the housing boom of the 1970s–1990s built a lot of it, and most of those homes are cycling through repaints now. The painters who know cedar and the painters who don't is the difference between a paint job that lasts 10 years and one that needs to be redone in 3.
Cedar Siding Signs That Need Attention
- ⚠ Brown streaks running down siding = tannin bleed from improper primer
- ⚠ Paint lifting at lap joints = moisture trapped under film
- ⚠ Gray silvering on bare wood = UV oxidation, needs oil prime before painting
- ⚠ Peeling on south/west faces = wrong paint or skipped primer step
- ⚠ Moss on north face = needs biocide treatment first, not just pressure washing
Lynnwood Neighborhoods and What Each Presents
Alderwood & 164th–196th Corridor
Dense 1970s–1980s residential. Cedar lap siding dominates. Heavy tree canopy on north-facing sides creates persistent moss that returns every 3–4 years if not treated at the root. I apply Spray & Forget or Wet & Forget biocide at the start of every north-facing exterior job in this area, not just power-washing off the visible growth. The spores stay in the wood and regrow fast if not treated chemically.
Scriber Lake & West Lynnwood
Higher moisture environment from proximity to Scriber Creek and the wetland corridors. These homes get more consistent humidity than the eastern part of Lynnwood — I check moisture readings before priming (must be ≤15% on a pin meter) and schedule painting for the driest weather windows. Late June through August when we get those dry weeks is ideal for this area.
Spruce & Maple Hills
Mixed-age housing, some 1990s–2000s builds with Hardie board or vinyl mixed in with the older cedar. Each substrate needs a different primer system — I identify what's there on the estimate walk and spec the primer system explicitly in the written quote. Clients sometimes discover their "wood" siding is actually Hardie board that the previous painter treated as wood — mismatched primer causes visible peeling within a year.
Mountlake Terrace Border Area
Older homes from the 1960s–1970s, many with original aluminum or early steel windows that corrode at the glazing line and transfer rust to the paint. I treat any rust spots with Rust-Oleum Stops Rust primer before painting and recommend replacing glazing putty that's cracked — paint over cracked glazing cracks again within one winter.
Exterior Painting Process in Lynnwood
Moisture check and substrate assessment
Before I price any Lynnwood exterior job I take pin moisture readings at multiple points on each wall face, paying attention to north sides and areas under gutters. Anything above 15% and I want to know the moisture source. Painting over wet wood traps moisture under the film — the paint will bubble and peel within one rainy season regardless of what you apply.
Biocide treatment on moss/mildew areas
Pressure washing removes visible growth but doesn't kill the spores in the wood grain. I apply a diluted biocide solution and let it dwell before washing. On heavily affected north sides I may apply a second treatment after washing before priming. This step is what separates a surface that's clean versus one that's actually ready for new paint.
Oil primer on bare or weathered cedar
Any cedar that's been exposed — bare wood, gray-silvered surface, or areas with previous paint failure — gets oil-based penetrating primer. This is not optional. The oil penetrates the grain and seals tannins before the latex topcoat goes on. I use Zinsser Cover Stain or SW Exterior Oil Primer depending on availability. Minimum 24-hour dry time before topcoat in good weather, 48+ hours when it's damp.
Two finish coats of premium exterior paint
Sherwin-Williams Duration or Benjamin Moore Aura Exterior on all Lynnwood jobs. Both have flexibility additives that handle the wood movement through freeze-thaw cycles and the temperature swings we get. I maintain a wet edge wall-by-wall to avoid lap marks. I never accept "close enough" on edge work at trim and corner boards — those are where water enters when paint fails.
Exterior Painting Costs in Lynnwood (2026)
All exterior prices include pressure wash, caulk, primer (oil on cedar), two finish coats of SW Duration or BM Aura Exterior, and cleanup. 5-year warranty on all exterior work. Free written estimate within 24 hours.
Always Included
- ✔ Moisture reading before painting
- ✔ Biocide treatment (moss areas)
- ✔ Pressure wash + TSP rinse
- ✔ Full caulk on all joints
- ✔ Oil primer on cedar (if needed)
- ✔ Premium SW Duration or BM Aura
- ✔ 5-year workmanship warranty
From Lynnwood Homeowners
"The cedar siding on our 1979 home had brown staining from two previous repaints that used the wrong primer. Antonio explained the tannin bleed issue, stripped the worst sections, oil-primed everything, and the result is completely clean. Four years later, still no staining. Worth the extra prep cost — we'd wasted money twice before on cheaper approaches."
Tom & Karen H. — 44th Ave W, Alderwood
"North-facing side of our house grows moss almost immediately — previous painters just power-washed it and painted. Antonio used the biocide treatment and it's been three years with no regrowth. The difference is actually stunning. He also caught a failing gutter that was soaking the siding and told us to fix it before he painted — that's the kind of honest advice that saves money long-term."
Melissa & Gary P. — Maple Hills, Lynnwood
"Scriber Lake area, two-story with cedar lap siding. Antonio checked moisture on every wall face and told me the northwest corner needed two weeks to dry out from a recent gutter backup before he'd paint it. We waited. He came back and did the job. I respected that he wouldn't cut corners even when I was impatient to get started. The job is holding up perfectly."
Diane L. — 56th Ave W, Scriber Lake area
Other Lynnwood Painting Services
Frequently Asked Questions
Who does the best exterior painting in Lynnwood WA?
Pizoni Painting Company is widely regarded as the best exterior painting contractor in Lynnwood. Antonio Pizoni is EPA RRP certified, Washington State licensed, with 15+ years painting homes in Alderwood, Scriber Lake, Spruce, and Maple Hills. 4.9-star rating, 5-year warranty. Call (425) 287-3619.
How much does exterior painting cost in Lynnwood in 2026?
One-story homes run $3,800–$5,200. Two-story homes run $5,500–$8,000. Cedar siding that needs oil prime adds $400–$700. Heavy moss treatment adds $200–$450. All prices include pressure wash, caulk, primer, and two finish coats of SW Duration or BM Aura Exterior.
How do you handle cedar siding on Lynnwood homes?
Raw or weathered cedar must be primed with oil-based penetrating primer before any latex topcoat — skipping this causes tannin bleed-through within one season. We apply full-coverage oil prime, let it cure 24–48 hours, then two coats of premium latex exterior. Properly done, this system lasts 8–12 years in Lynnwood's climate.
When is the best time for exterior painting in Lynnwood?
Late April through September is ideal — temperatures consistently above 50°F and lower rain chances. July and August are best. We also paint in May, June, and early October when weather windows permit. We never paint below 45°F or when rain is forecast within 24 hours of application.
Get a Free Exterior Estimate in Lynnwood.
Serving all Lynnwood areas: Alderwood Manor, Scriber Lake, Spruce, Maple Hills, 164th–196th Corridor, and Mountlake Terrace border.
Request Free Estimate (425) 287-3619