We’ve been spending some time up in the mountains working on “Altitude Adjustment” – a custom home from Steven Daily Construction in the Talisker Club Home Development near Kamas, Utah.
Our part of the project: taking all of the home’s raw exterior timbers and giving them a rich black finish. Sounds straightforward enough right? To be honest this one definitely kept us on our toes.
Starting With a Year of Mountain Weather
The decorative timbers run through the soffits, gables, eaves, and corners of the home and had been sitting as bare wood for nearly a year. Once we got up close, we found quite a bit of sap that had worked its way out of the timber. Before any stain could go on, all of that had to be sanded away so we could start with a clean surface.
We also had plenty of installation details to clean up, including cracks, gaps, and roughly one-inch bolt holes left throughout the timber. For those larger repairs, we used a structural epoxy that we’ve found holds up much better than traditional fillers through Utah’s snow, cold temperatures, and freeze-thaw cycles.
Dialing In the Black
The goal from the beginning was a deep black finish that would stand out against the rest of the home.
We worked with the general contractor and homeowner to match the look, had a custom product made through Jones Paint & Glass in American Fork, and put a sample directly on the home before getting the final thumbs-up. From there, it was prep, repairs, masking, and two coats of stain.
A Lot of Scaffolding
A big part of this job was simply figuring out how to reach everything. The home sits on uneven mountain terrain, including some pretty serious slopes and natural boulders. We had to build, level, secure, and move scaffolding section by section around the house.
The crew got into a good rhythm with what we call a leapfrog system. One group would finish staining while another started setting up the next section of scaffolding. Then everyone moved forward and did it again. For a few of the highest areas, even scaffolding wasn’t enough. Those spots called for ropes, harnesses, and some careful maneuvering around the roof.
Mountain Weather Had Other Plans
Of course, working near Kamas means the weather can shift on a dime.
One afternoon, a heavy rainstorm rolled in and shut down the exterior staining since wet timber is a no-go. Instead of calling it a day, we moved inside and started priming walls on the main floor. Wind was another factor, especially with tall scaffolding. Every setup had to be carefully anchored and braced before we could get to work.
Little Details Make a Big Difference
There was a lot happening around us by this point in the build, so protecting finished work was just as important as staining the timber.
We covered new pavers, protected flagstone steps and roofing materials, and carefully masked the home’s white stone veneer. There were also a few tight sections tucked between overlapping rooflines that required some creative positioning to reach.
Those details probably won’t be the first thing anyone notices when they see the finished home, but the end result should look clean, consistent, and like it was always supposed to be there.
Another Piece of Altitude Adjustment Complete
Projects like this are what we enjoy most. Custom homes usually come with unusual details, tricky access, changing conditions, and a few problems you have to solve along the way.
After more than 30 years in painting and refinishing, those are often the parts that make a project interesting.
The exterior timber staining at Altitude Adjustment is wrapped up, and we’re excited to see how the rest of this home comes together.
Have a custom painting, staining, or refinishing project coming up? Contact Thomas Painting & Decorating and request an estimate today!
