Cedar Mill Property Repair fixes houses in Cedar Mill, Timberland, Marlene Village, Terra Linda and Mortondale, roughly 11 to 16 minutes by car from our base. Here most calls start with water: fir needles packing the gutters, soft fascia, a deck going spongy. Portland-area rot repairs mostly cost $500 to $4,000, about $1,500 for a typical one, materials included (market figures, Nov. 2026) .
Which places does this page cover, and how far away are you?
Five places: Timberland, Cedar Mill, Marlene Village, Terra Linda and Mortondale. By road they're 3 to 5 miles out, so 11 to 16 minutes in ordinary traffic.
Washington County's community plan calls Cedar Mill an unincorporated area about five miles west of downtown Portland, with some pieces annexed into nearby cities over the years. Most addresses answer to the county; a few answer to a city. Our neighbours Cedar Hills, West Slope and Beaverton get pages of their own.
What are Cedar Mill houses like, and what wears out first?
The plan says that by 1983 the land south of Highway 26 was mostly built up, while big parcels north of the Sunset Highway still sat empty. So: older houses south, newer streets north.
The ground matters more than the age. The county lists silt loam soils and high water tables, and says this poorly drained mix needs careful drainage. Cedar Mill, Johnson and Willow Creeks all wind through. On a house that means damp crawl spaces, deck posts standing in wet dirt, and downspouts that must throw water well clear of the foundation.
The plan also counted about 650 forested acres, mostly north of the highway. Douglas firs shed needles and cones all year, gutters choke and spill over, and the boards behind them soften.
Services people here ask for
Rot in fascia, trim, sills and siding. Spilling gutters and soggy soil are the usual culprits. Start with rot and siding fixes; a soft door jamb or threshold goes to door frame rot.
Gutters under firs. One big fir can fill a gutter in a single autumn.
Decks on soggy soil. Low boards and joists stay wet from October to spring. Loose treads, rails and soft boards: deck fixes. Starting over: new decks, which around Portland cost $10,000 to $30,000, near $16,000 for an average one, materials included (market figures) . County rules let a deck built at grade go up without a building permit, setbacks aside.
Seismic bolting and tank straps. The county warns that pre-1980 buildings probably won't survive a big quake, and it asks no permit for seismic upgrades. Seismic retrofit covers sill bolts and bracing; straps for the tank sit under water heaters.
Fences with rotted posts. In this soil, posts give out at ground level first. Fence fixes handle boards, rails and posts; a new run is fence installation, commonly $1,700 to $7,500 for roughly 150 feet, about $3,200 typical, materials included (market figures) . The county only wants a permit past seven feet tall.
Old windows and entry doors. A new window runs $450 to $1,800 apiece, about $825 typical, and an entry door $724 to $5,098, about $2,890, both materials included (market figures) . On pre-1978 houses Oregon guidance treats swapping a window as renovation; the lead section below explains.
Portland-area market figures, Nov. 2026, until Slava sets our own:
| Job | Low to high | Usual | Basis |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gutter cleaning | $175 to $450 | about $285 | labour only |
| Trim and sill rot | $500 to $4,000 | about $1,500 | materials included |
| Soffit and fascia | $600 to $6,000 | about $1,800 | materials included |
| Deck boards | $500 to $4,000 | about $1,200 | materials included |
| Deck joists, stairs, railings | $949 to $3,605 | about $2,251 | materials included |
| Foundation bolting | $2,800 to $10,000 | about $5,000 | materials included |
| Tank strapping | $150 to $400 | about $250 | labour only |
| Fence boards and rails | $275 to $1,200 | about $625 | labour only |
Do I need a permit in Cedar Mill, and who issues it?
That turns on whether the lot is county or city. The Washington County Building Services FAQ covers unincorporated land only; inside a city, the city rules. Since parts of the old planning area were annexed, check the address before any job that could need a permit.
On county lots, a deck at grade needs no building permit (mind the setbacks), while a fence above seven feet or a retaining wall above four feet does. Seismic work needs none, though the county issues a voluntary one on request.
My house was built before 1978. What changes?
Oregon assumes lead paint in any home older than 1978 unless testing proves otherwise. Windows, gutters, siding, floors and painting all count.
That kind of work isn't ours. The full list lives on jobs we turn down.
Is Cedar Mill Property Repair the only "Cedar Mill" business?
No. Cedar Mill Property Repair has no link to other companies with "Cedar Mill" in their names. Electrical work is a separate trade, also on that turn-down list.
Is there a minimum charge for a small job here?
Rates sit on pricing, hourly handyman rates explains how time gets billed, and small jobs lists quick fixes worth stacking into one visit.