Light carpentry, because paint does not fix rotted wood
On a coastal exterior, the first thing to go is almost never the paint. It is the wood underneath it. Fascia ends, window casing, garage door trim and the bottom of siding boards take water, hold it, and go soft. We replace what has failed as part of the paint job, so the finish goes onto sound material.
- CSLB #976750
- Fully insured
- Owner-operated since 2006
Written into the scope, not assumed.
Every line below appears on your estimate. If something is not listed, ask. We would rather over-explain than surprise you.
Dry rot repair
Soft fascia, rake boards, casing and siding cut back to sound wood and replaced with properly primed material.
Trim, casing and baseboard
Interior trim runs, door casing, window stool and apron, crown and baseboard, installed, filled and finish-ready.
Door and window trim
Exterior casing, brickmould and sill repair, sealed and flashed so the same failure does not repeat.
Fences and gates
Board replacement, rail repair and gate re-hanging, prepped for stain or paint.
Siding board replacement
Individual failed boards swapped and blended, rather than reskinning a whole wall you do not need to.
Primed on all six sides
Replacement wood gets primed including cut ends and back face before installation. Skipping that is why the last repair failed.
Step by step, start to walkthrough.
Fascia, casing, siding, trim, fences and gates repaired and refinished across Arroyo Grande, Nipomo, Pismo Beach and San Luis Obispo.
- 01
Probe and find it
We sound and probe suspect wood during the wash and prep stage. Rot hides under intact-looking paint.
- 02
Show you
You see every piece we intend to replace, and what it will cost, before we cut anything.
- 03
Cut back to sound
Replacement is scarfed or butted into solid material, never filling a structural void with body filler.
- 04
Prime all faces
New material sealed on every face and cut end before it goes up.
- 05
Install and seal
Fastened, caulked at the joints that need it, and left ready for primer and finish coats.
- 06
Paint it in
The repair is finished so it disappears into the surrounding surface.
People who already had us out.
“Gus did a terrific job on painting my exterior trim and garage door. Beautiful quality work!”
“Piñon Painting has been a great company to work with: professional, communicative and genuinely easy to deal with from the estimate through the final walkthrough.”
“I called and they were able to come within the hour. Responsive when I needed someone quickly, and the work held up.”
About light carpentry
Do you do carpentry without painting?
We take on light carpentry as part of a finishing scope. Trim, fascia, casing, siding boards, fences and gates are squarely in our lane. Framing, structural work and full remodels are not, and we will refer you to someone who does them well.
How do you find dry rot before painting?
During the wash and prep stage we sound and probe the usual failure points: fascia ends, rake board joints, window and door casing, garage trim, and the bottom course of siding. Rot regularly sits behind paint that still looks fine.
Can you just fill the rotted spot?
For a small, isolated, non-structural defect, an epoxy consolidant can be the right call. For a soft fascia end or a casing that crumbles when probed, filler is a cosmetic delay. You would be paying to repaint that wall again in a couple of years.
Is repair priced into the paint estimate?
Repairs are itemized separately, because we cannot see everything until the exterior is washed and prepped. You approve any repair line before we do the work.
What material do you use for replacements?
It depends on exposure and what is already there: primed finger-joint, cedar, or a composite trim where the location eats real wood. We will tell you what we are proposing and why.
Get a written estimate for light carpentry.
Tell us what you are working with. Gus will call to set up a walkthrough, usually the same or next business day.
Prefer to talk? (805) 234-0762
Mon–Fri 7am–6pm · Sat 8am–2pm
Light Carpentry across the Five Cities and SLO County.
- Arroyo GrandeHome base. Same-day estimate visits are usually possible.
- Pismo BeachAbout 10 minutes from our Arroyo Grande shop.
- Grover BeachAbout 8 minutes from our Arroyo Grande shop.
- San Luis ObispoAbout 20 minutes up the 101 from Arroyo Grande.
- NipomoAbout 12 minutes south of our Arroyo Grande shop.
- Shell BeachAbout 12 minutes from our Arroyo Grande shop.
Other services
Interior Painting
Straight lines, even sheen, and prep that holds up long after the drop cloths come out.
What’s included
Exterior Painting
Coatings specified for salt air, coastal fog and Central Coast sun, with the prep to back them.
What’s included
Cabinet Painting & Refinishing
A new kitchen finish for a fraction of replacement. Sprayed, cured and built to take daily use.
What’s included
Power Washing
Salt film, chalking and mildew off: the step that decides whether the next coat sticks.
What’s included
Decorative Finishes
Venetian plaster, limewash, glazes and distressed woodwork: the fine-finish side of the business.
What’s included
Tell us about your project
Send a few details or call and talk to Gus directly. You will get a written, itemized estimate, and a straight answer about what your home actually needs.