North Vancouver receives the heaviest rainfall in Metro Vancouver — almost double what downtown Vancouver gets. Combined with the dense tree canopy in Edgemont, Lynn Valley and Deep Cove, that creates the perfect environment for mildew, moss and premature paint failure on the cedar siding common to West Coast Modern homes here.
Decide between stain and paint up front
Stain lets cedar breathe and ages gracefully but needs recoating every 3–5 years. Paint lasts 8–10 years but locks moisture in if applied to damp wood — which on the North Shore is most of the year. We always do moisture readings before recommending one over the other.
Strip down to bare wood for transitions
Going from a solid stain to a different colour, or from stain to paint, almost always means stripping. We use environmentally responsible chemical strippers and sanding rather than aggressive pressure washing that can blow out cedar grain.
Spec a tannin-blocking primer
Cedar bleeds tannin badly when wet. A pigmented tannin-blocking primer is non-negotiable on every North Van cedar exterior we paint, especially under light colours.
Schedule around the dry window
We do North Vancouver exteriors between mid-June and mid-September almost exclusively. Outside that window, surface moisture levels stay above the 16% threshold most coatings require.
Painting in North Vancouver?
North Van's heavy rainfall and tree cover make moisture-resistant coatings and proper surface prep absolutely essential.