Also AvailableASK US ABOUT THE REST.Seismic retrofit, radon mitigation, roofing, and property maintenance are all work we take on. They appear here as a list rather than as their own pages because we would rather point you at what we are actually known for. If one of them is what you need, call and ask. If somebody who does only that would serve you better, we will say so.
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Not sure which one you need?
Most projects cross two or three of these. Describe what you want to change and we will tell you what it actually is.
Licensed, bonded, and insured in Oregon. CCB 174033.
Siding
CLADDING THAT LASTS HERE.
Cladding in this valley has one job: shed water and let the wall dry. Material choice matters less than the assembly behind it. A rain-screen gap, a properly lapped weather-resistive barrier, and flashing at every penetration will outlast a premium product installed tight to the sheathing. We specify the assembly first and the finish second, which is the opposite of how siding is usually sold.
Windows
REPLACEMENT AND FLASHING.
A window leaks at its flashing, not through its glass. Replacement done properly means integrating head flashing, sill pan, and jamb detailing with the weather barrier in the right order, and that order is not negotiable. Insert replacements fitted from inside without touching the exterior are quicker, and they inherit whatever flashing was already there. Sometimes that is fine. Often it is why the window was wet.
Decks
OUTDOOR STRUCTURE.
Decks fail at the ledger and at the footings, in that order. A ledger fastened without proper flashing puts water straight into the rim joist of the house, which is a structural problem disguised as a rot problem. Footings sized and placed for actual soil rather than habit is the other half. The surface material is the part you choose. The connections decide whether it lasts.
We carry roofing as part of envelope work rather than as a standalone specialty. On a re-side, a window replacement, or an addition, the roof edge, the flashing, and the drainage all have to be handled together, and splitting them across two contractors is how the join gets orphaned. If you need only a roof, a dedicated roofer may serve you better, and we will say so.
Also Available
CAPABILITIES, NOT CAMPAIGNS.
Seismic retrofit, radon mitigation, and property maintenance are all things we do. They are listed here rather than given their own pages because we would rather be straight about what we are known for. Bolting an old Portland house to its foundation is worthwhile work and we are glad to do it. It is a capability, not a specialty, and the difference is worth being honest about.
Frequently Asked
EXTERIORS, ANSWERED.
What siding holds up best in Portland rain?Several materials perform well here, and honestly the assembly matters more than the product. A rain-screen gap, correct lapping, and flashing at every penetration will outlast a premium board installed badly. Pick the look you want and let us specify what goes behind it.Do you do seismic retrofits?Yes, as a capability rather than a specialty. Bolting an older house to its foundation and adding shear where it is missing is genuinely worthwhile in this region. We do it, usually while a crawlspace is already open for other work, and we will tell you if a specialist is the better call.Can you replace windows without redoing the siding?It can be done and it is not always the right call. Replacing from inside inherits whatever flashing already exists around the opening. If that flashing is why the window failed, you have installed a new window into the same problem. We look before recommending an approach.
