A homeowner faced steep maintenance challenges with an aging exterior featuring deeply textured cedar shakes and original wood windows. Wanting to avoid six-figure window replacement costs, they sought a craftsman-level painting contractor to preserve the home's historic integrity.
Revel Painting executed a comprehensive exterior restoration for a residential property near Interlachen Country Club in Edina, MN. The project encompassed specialized cedar shake coating, wood window refinishing, and full glazing restoration across the entire structure.
Key Takeaways
- THE CHALLENGEGranular cedar shakes with half-inch gaps and deteriorating original wood window glazing required meticulous preservation.
- THE COATINGThe team combined precision spray application, deep back-brushing, and hand-applied oil-based window glazing putty.
- THE RESULTThe home achieved a completely restored exterior shell while saving tens of thousands compared to full window replacement.
By prioritizing restoration over replacement, Revel Painting delivered an economical yet ultra-durable solution for the Edina estate. The specialized back-brushing techniques and flexible glazing compounds ensured complete weatherproofing against severe seasonal elements.
Project Summary
| Client Profile: | Retired Entrepreneur & Edina Resident |
| Project Location: | Edina, MN |
| Primary Objective: | Restore cedar shake siding and original wood windows through expert exterior house painting. |
| Coating System: | Back-brushed exterior wood coatings combined with flexible oil-based window glazing compounds applied by professional painters. |
| Measurable Impact: | Saved tens of thousands in replacement costs while extending window and siding life by 10–15 years. |
Cedar Shake and Wood Window Challenges
Cedar shake siding features distinct half-inch gaps and deep divots between shakes that standard paint rollers miss. Furthermore, cedar's natural granular texture soaks up paint unevenly, requiring controlled application to prevent heavy buildup that leads to peeling sheets.
Simultaneously, the home's original wood windows suffered from cracked, failing glazing putty. Replacing dozens of custom wood windows can easily exceed six figures, making specialized repair and painting the far superior financial choice.
Back-Brushing and Oil-Based Window Glazing
To coat the cedar shakes efficiently, the crew sprayed paint into the deep gaps from multiple angles, immediately following up with extensive hand back-brushing. This forced the coating deep into the granular wood grain rather than letting it rest on top.
"Cedar shakes have that half-inch divot in between every shake... we back brush everything for this particular substrate to let it soak in even further to all those little nooks and crannies that a roller just couldn't quite get to." - (Noah, Revel Painting)
For the windows, the team removed old brittled putty and hand-applied a premium oil-based glazing compound. This traditional putty remains permanently pliable underneath its cured surface, allowing the glass and wood frames to expand and contract naturally. Homeowners can browse our completed painting work or learn more about our comprehensive home painting services.
Preserved Integrity and Significant Savings
The meticulous prep work and dual spray-and-brush technique transformed the faded blue exterior into a crisp, refined light grey finish with clean white trim. The restored windows operated smoothly while regaining a weather-tight seal.
By repainting and reglazing the original wood windows for a fraction of the cost of new installations, the client secured another 10 to 15 years of operational life while retaining the unique architectural character of their Edina home.0
"Revel did a great job on painting our older house in Edina." - Russell, Homeowner
Restore Your Edina Home's Character
Our team brings traditional craftsmanship and modern coating technology to historic and luxury homes throughout Edina. From detailed window glazing to complex cedar shake painting, we handle every detail with precision.
Do you need expert cedar siding or wood window restoration in Edina?
Revel Painting3100 West Lake Street Apt. 721, Minneapolis, MN 55416
Call +16513766646 or Schedule Online
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is back-brushing necessary when painting cedar shake siding in Edina?
Spraying reaches behind gaps, but back-brushing actively works the paint into cedar's porous, granular grain. This prevents surface pooling and guarantees superior adhesion compared to standard rolling.
What is the purpose of window reglazing during an exterior painting project?
Glazing putty seals the glass panes to the wood frame, keeping out water and cold drafts. Replacing brittle, cracked glazing restores weather-tight performance and prevents wood rot around the window frame.
Is repainting old wood windows better than replacing them?
Repainting and reglazing original wood windows typically costs a small fraction of full window replacement while extending their life by 10 to 15 years, offering an outstanding return on investment.