How to repaint outdoor wood: How To Paint Outdoor Wood Furniture

How To Paint Outdoor Wood Furniture

Your step-by-step guide to painting outdoor wood furniture like a pro and make it last a long time in the rain and shine! Just follow these simple tips and tricks!

If you have old beaten-up wooden patio furniture, it is super easy to turn them around into gorgeous outdoor furniture that lasts for lots more years! 

All you need is a little bit of paint...

And primer and a few other things…

I’ve got you covered with all the details you need to totally take outdoor furniture and turn it into the perfect pieces for your patio!

 

Table of Contents

• The before
• What Kind of paint to use on outdoor furniture
• Supplies needed to paint outdoor furniture
• How to paint outdoor furniture
• The final reveal
• How durable is outdoor painted furniture
• Download Printable Instructions
• Pin this project to Pinterest

Painting Outdoor Furniture – The Before 

One VERY lucky Saturday morning (which was Valentine’s Day), I found a bench and 2 chairs on the curb at the end of our block! 

They had excellent bones!

The bench and chairs were very sturdy and strong but looked very beaten up!

There was no way, I wasn’t going to pick them up! 

Especially because we had been shopping for patio furniture 🙂

***This post contains affiliate or referral links. It is a way for this site to earn advertising fees by advertising or linking to certain products and/or services.  Please read my full disclosure here ***

What kind of paint to use on outdoor furniture?

• I highly recommend starting with a stain-blocking primer to paint outdoor wood furniture, followed by 3 coats of latex outdoor primer and multiple coats of exterior latex paint.
  Outdoor latex paint usually has ultraviolet protection that protects the color and finish of the paint in the bright outdoor sun during the summer months.
• This technique will work for outdoor metal furniture as well. But in that case, your first coat of primer needs to be rust-inhibiting.  Spray paints are a great option for painting outdoor metal furniture.
• However, for plastic furniture, you will need paint specifically designed to stick to plastic. 

Supplies needed to paint outdoor furniture

• Soap and scrub brush
• Power Washer or a hose with a pressure attachment
• Fine sanding sponges
• Tack Cloth
• Zinsser oil based primer
• Disposable Paint Brushes
• White Water-Based Primer
• Exterior semigloss paint ( I used Behr Marquee color-matched to “Whisper White” by Glidden)
• Exterior polyurethane in semi gloss
• Homeright finish max paint sprayer
• HomeRight Large Spray Shelter (optional but recommended)
• Drop Cloth or Cardboard to protect the floor

Be sure to download the printable instructions below – 

DOWNLOAD PRINTABLE INSTRUCTIONS 

How do you paint outdoor wood furniture

Step 1 – Clean the furniture

Give it a good cleaning to get all the dirt and grime out.

• Start by vacuuming off any old spiderwebs and their inhabitants and any loose dust.
• Use dish soap and a scrub brush to scrub down the entire piece of furniture.
• Finish by washing off the soap with a high-pressure attachment on a hose or a power washer. This is the power washer I have.

At the end of this step, I could already see that the furniture looked so much better! 

It’s amazing what a good clean can do 🙂

But of course, it was pretty worn out to be used. 

STEP 2 – Fix and make basic repairs

• Tighten any exposed screws 
• If you have dents or holes, you could fill them with wood putty at this time too! 

The chairs I had were a little wobbly and were very easily able to locate a couple of screws that needed to be tightened. That made it absolutely solid! 

STEP 3 – Sand 

• Using a sanding sponge, go over the entire furniture to give it a light sand and remove any old finish. 

Depending on the original finish, you might need heavier sanding.  

Mine was pretty worn out and a light sanding worked perfectly. 

Be sure to remove all the sanding dust using a tack cloth.

Step 4 – Pick the paint color

This might as well be the hardest decision I made! 

I got about a dozen paint chips and taped them to the bench and try them in the setting.

I was leaning more to the red but I was not sure.

While I deferred the decision on the color, I got to work on getting everything ready to be painted.

RELATED: See how I created a cozy and colorful corner in my new patio

Step 5 – Prime outdoor wood furniture

Primer needs to be applied in 2 steps on this old wood furniture –

• Start with applying one coat of Zinsser oil based primer using a disposable chip brush. This is needed to block any old stains seeping through.
• Next, apply 2 coats of White Water-Based Primer.

For the 2 additional coats, you could use the oil-based primer with a brush, but I like to use my paint sprayer to make it faster. Washing out the water-based primer from the paint sprayer is a lot easier.

It only took me about 1 hour for one coat of primer using the paint sprayer on all the 3 pieces instead of a whole day to paint the oil-based primer with a brush! 

Here is the bench after the first coat of oil-based primer.

When I saw the white primed bench and chairs in the backyard, I knew I had to go with white paint!

I just loved the freshness of it!

Step 6 – Paint

• Apply 3 coats of paint to the furniture using the paint sprayer.  The three coats are essential to achieve a durable finish. 

I used Glidden’s “whisper white” color-matched to Behr Marquis Exterior semigloss paint.

Step 7 – Final Finish

• Finish with 2 coats of exterior polyurethane in semi-gloss sanding lightly with a fine sanding sponge between coats.

I like using my paint sprayer for this as well but you can use a good quality brush.

That is it! 

Don’t forget! You can download the printable step by step instructions to save and take with you below –

DOWNLOAD PRINTABLE INSTRUCTIONS 

After Painting – The Reveal! 

Here is the final patio set.

Love the fresh look and having a spot to hang out and enjoy summer evenings!

RELATED: How to build a $15 outdoor coffee table 

We all love a good before and after so here it is – 

How Durable is outdoor painted wood furniture?

In one word – VERY!

We used this patio furniture for almost 4 years before changing it out. 

Here is what it looked like the day we replaced it –

This painted patio furniture stood out in the Southern California sun and rain in an uncovered patio for 2.5 years, followed by a covered patio for about 18 months. 

Over time, it got washed down many times! 

At the end of the 4 years, the back of one of the chairs had a crack, but the paint looked as good as the day it was painted. 

PIN THIS TO PINTEREST

Obviously, I had to build a matching outdoor coffee table to go with my patio set. It only cost $15 and I have the plans available for you! 

More outdoor projects you will love – 

• How to stain concrete floors
• DIY outdoor towel rack with shelves
• DIY hammock stand

Materials

• Soap and scrub brush
• Power Washer or a hose with a pressure attachment
• Sanding sponges
• Tack Cloth
• Zinsser oil based primer
• Disposable Paint Brushes
• White Water-Based PrimerExterior semigloss paint
• Exterior polyurethane in semi gloss
• HomeRight Large Spray Shelter
• Drop Cloth or Cardboard to protect the floor

Tools

• Homeright finish max paint sprayer

Instructions

1. Start by vacuuming off any old spiderwebs and its inhabitants and any loose dust followed by a good scrub using soap and water with a pressure washer.
2. Fix and make basic repairs like any loose screws and hardware.
3. Using a sanding sponge, go over the entire furniture to give it a light sand and remove any old finish.
4. Start with applying one coat of Zinsser oil based primer using a disposable chip brush. This is needed to block any old stains seeping through.
5. Next, apply 2 coats of White Water-Based Primer.
6. Apply 3 coats of paint to the furniture using the paint sprayer. 
7.  Finish with 2 coats of exterior polyurethane in semi-gloss sanding lightly with a fine sanding sponge between coats.

Notes

Always sand with a fine sanding block between coats.

Be sure to remove all the sanding dust using a tack cloth!

How to Paint Outdoor Wood Furniture

DIY

by:Rachel Paxton
posted:May 26, 2021March 20, 2023

updated:March 20, 2023

Looking to refresh your outdoor furniture? Get a step-by-step tutorial to find out how to paint outdoor wood furniture so it will last.

When I shared how to paint outdoor metal furniture, I was pleasantly surprised by two things: 1) how many of you needed the tutorial! and 2) how many of you were ready for its companion post on how to paint outdoor wood furniture. Fortunately, I’m ready today with my tutorial for painting wooden patio furniture, just in time for summer to begin.

Wooden outdoor furniture can be hard to maintain, but the good news is that painting wood furniture is easy! I’ll show you step by step how to do so as soon as I answer a few FAQs.

Painting Wood Furniture FAQs

What is the best paint for outdoor wood furniture?

The most common question I received when sharing this project on Instagram was what kind of paint to use on outdoor furniture. For outdoor metal furniture, I always recommend oil-based paint, but for outdoor wood furniture, I think that high-quality exterior latex paint is acceptable, as well.

I actually chose to use the leftover trim paint from our exterior makeover so that the pieces I painted would coordinate perfectly with our home. Whatever type of paint you choose, be sure it is an exterior paint. And remember that generally the shinier/glossier the finish, the more durable it will be, so satin, semi gloss, or gloss is probably best.

Do I need to prime?

Generally speaking, primer is important for furniture that will be outside. Remember, you are not just painting for looks, but also for weather protection. Primer can help seal the wood and protect it from taking on moisture, which is the enemy when it comes to patio furniture’s longevity.

Can I spray paint my outdoor furniture?

Yes! And no. I have often spray painted outdoor furniture (get my step-by-step tutorial here), but I will be the first to admit that a spray paint job simply doesn’t hold up as long as a high-quality hand painted job. Spray painted furniture is better for covered porches and lower-traffic outdoor furniture.

Can I paint something that wasn’t painted previously?

Absolutely. For painting unfinished bare wood, you will want to be sure to use a high-quality primer that is for raw wood. For painting something that was previously oiled (like that brown acacia finish that is so often used for outdoor furniture), you’ll want to make sure the entire piece gets a light sanding to even things out and a high-quality primer that will adhere to the old finish. If there is any build-up of the old oil finish, you might even want to clean the piece with mineral spirits before priming.

This post contains affiliate links. Click here to read my full disclosure.

How to Paint Wood Outdoor Furniture

For this project, I painted two little wooden benches that had been painted previously and were very badly chipped. I also painted some old directors’ chairs that had that brown wood finish (though it was very badly worn). Both were probably 15 years old and had sat outside in the rain and sun for most of that time.

And now they look good as new!

Here are the materials you’ll need to repaint your wooden outside furniture:

• palm sander with variety of sand paper
• old rags for cleaning
• exterior primer
• high-quality exterior paint (I used SW Super Paint in Satin, leftover from this project)
• trim roller + tray, paint brush

Looking to refresh your outdoor furniture? Follow these simple steps for a beautiful, quality finish!

1. Sand

   Give the entire piece a light sanding with a palm sander. Be sure to remove any flaking paint or mildew-y build up, and smooth the old finish to receive the new one.

   Note: if your piece is particularly muddy, moldy, or gross, you may want to add an extra cleaning step BEFORE sanding. You will still need to clean again after sanding. You’re welcome. 😉

2. Clean

   Remove all sanding dust. You can pressure wash, wipe with an old rag, use a cleaner, whatever you like… Just make sure that in the end, there is no dirt, no mildew, no sanding dust, and the piece is DRY before you start priming and painting.

3. Prime

   Tip: First, turn the piece upside down. Always prime and paint the underside first.

   Using a brush or trim roller, apply a coat of high-quality exterior primer. Kilz 2 or Zinsser 1-2-3 are good latex primer options, but Original Kilz or Zinsser BIN primer, both of which are oil based, will cover up imperfections in the previous finish better. In short, you can prime with any exterior primer, but use an oil based one if your piece’s previous finish was in particularly bad shape.

4. Paint

   My favorite way to paint small furniture pieces is with a trim roller. You will also need a brush to get narrow spaces and seams. As with primer, start by painting the underside of the piece, then flip it over to paint the top. You will need two coats of paint, but be sure to follow the drying times on the back of the paint can between your base coat and top coat.

All paint, even latex paint, takes several days to a couple of weeks to fully cure. If rain is in the forecast, keep the paint inside if you can. Once the paint is fully cured, put the pieces outside and enjoy!

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What kind of paint is better to paint a wooden house and how to do it

In order for a wooden house to serve faithfully, you need to properly process the wood inside and out: prime, paint and cover with protective agents and varnishes.

Together with Nikita Merezhin, a specialist in lumber and construction, we figure out what needs to be taken into account and where not to make a mistake.

Why paint a wooden house

Wood is an organic material that is sensitive to precipitation, temperature changes, air humidity and ultraviolet radiation. In a wooden house, in which people live all year round, which means they are heated in winter, there is a significant difference between the temperature and humidity inside and outside. From these vibrations, unprotected wood swells or dries out, and may crack over time. The environment affects the profiled beam or log house especially strongly, although more durable and reliable glued beams can also crack.

In order for the material to retain its properties and appearance for as long as possible, the walls of a wooden house are treated with protective compounds and painted. Treatment helps to protect the wood from rot and mold, as well as sunlight, from which the wood burns out and delaminates. How to paint a house outside? In Moscow and the Moscow region, suitable weather can be established already in April.

The optimum temperature is +15-20°C. At temperatures below +5 ° C, it is not recommended to use antiseptics and primers.

If you plan to paint the house outside, then do it in dry weather: the humidity of the air should be no more than 80%. Do not paint immediately after rain, because the wood must dry out. Strong wind and bright sun are also undesirable: in the first case, a lot of dust and small debris can stick to wet paint, in the second case, the paint layer dries too quickly and unevenly and smudges and stains may appear. Choose a calm day with little cloud cover.

If you choose to paint the inside of your house, make sure the room is warm. If a warm frame is built and work is carried out in winter, then it is possible to create conditions suitable for painting inside the house with the help of heat guns and fan heaters.

Nikita Merezhin

A house made of wood, especially from logs and timber, is not immediately painted. This is a living material, so you need to wait until the shrinkage of the wooden frame passes and the resin comes out (we will talk about this in more detail below). This process is most active in the first three months after installation. If you paint the facade immediately, then after shrinkage, unpainted areas will appear at the junctions of the frame elements.

So it is better to paint the house a year after the assembly. For this period, before painting, the walls must be coated with a bio-treatment agent.

But the imitation of timber, logs (block house) and wall paneling must be painted before installation. In this case, cover the front and back sides with a biotreatment agent, and paint only the front side (the back will still not be visible) and the junction – spike – groove .

How much paint you need

To properly plan how many cans of paint you need to buy, do this calculation:

1. Calculate the area of ​​each wall and add up all the values.
2. Calculate the total area of ​​doors and windows and subtract this value from the area of ​​the walls.
3. Divide the resulting number of square meters by the paint consumption per coat. This expense is usually indicated on the can of paint. For example: “consumption – up to 160 sq. m from a can in one layer. The resulting value is the number of cans that will be required to paint all the planned surfaces in one layer.
4. You will have to paint at least two layers, so multiply the resulting number of cans by two or even three if you decide to play it safe and paint three times.
5. In any case, purchase 15-20% more material than the result of the calculations, because the porosity of the surface and the complexity of the design, various moldings and trims will add expense.

How to calculate the area of ​​​​a room for repair

Find out more

Choosing a paint for the facade

You can paint a wooden facade with covering (opaque) paints, translucent (translucent), glazes and oils for wood. The most practical and durable option is covering paints. They protect the wooden surface from precipitation, temperature changes, air humidity, ultraviolet radiation, give color and / or shine.

Based on composition, paints are divided into:

• Water-dispersion paints in which water acts as a solvent. A common type of such paints is acrylic: they are resistant to sunlight, oxygen, water, dilute alkalis and acids.
• Alkyd paints based on organic solvent – kerosene or white spirit. Such paints do not spread when applied, dry evenly and have an antiseptic effect.
• Oil paints based on drying oil and organic solvent. They increase the resistance of the painted surface to fire, acids, precipitation and decay.

Nikita Merezhin

For painting a wooden facade, it is better to choose water-dispersion or oil paints based on drying oil. I use water-dispersion ones more often: they fit perfectly on the surface, dry quickly, and it is convenient to work with them. Before painting on the facade, apply an adhesive primer. It will improve the adhesion of the paint to the wood and help to apply subsequent coats of paint more evenly.

In what order to paint

Houses made of timber or log houses before painting must be covered not only with a primer, but also with a special liquid to neutralize the release of resin. This is important because the paint will swell in places where the resin is released, and the appearance of the facade will be spoiled. This is especially true for houses made of pine or larch. The tool does not give a 100% guarantee that the resin will not appear, especially on facades facing the sun, but it significantly reduces this risk.

Resin appeared on the walls of the wooden house. The reason is that the larch glued beam was not sufficiently dried before painting and was not coated with an impregnation to neutralize the resin.

It would be optimal to paint the facade in the following order:

• a layer of antiseptic primer that will protect the wood from fungus and mold, algae, mosses and woodworms
• impregnation layer to reduce tar emission
• adhesive primer
• 2-3 coats of covering paint – e. g. water-dispersion

We paint the facade of a wooden house

Step-by-step instruction

1

Wait for the wood surface to air dry. If you paint damp wood, the water will begin to evaporate and the paint may peel off over time. In addition, the resin will stand out more actively. A moisture meter will help determine the level of humidity – most often they use an electronic one. In the input field, you need to enter the name of the wood – indicate what exactly you are measuring (see the instructions for the device). Then you need to bring the device close to the surface of the tree and wait a few seconds. The result obtained is deciphered according to the table in the instructions. It is important that the moisture content of glued laminated timber does not exceed 10%, and that of sheathing material, imitation of timber, imitation of logs and lining – 14–16%.

2

Sand the surface of the walls with a grinder. This will open the pores of the wood so that the antiseptic and adhesive primer can better penetrate into its top layer.

3

Remove dust from the surface with a well-wrung damp cloth or sponge.

4

Remove the resin that has come out with turpentine or white spirit. Fill the resin pockets with wood putty. Treat the walls with impregnation from resin release.

5

Perform biotreatment: cover the walls with a layer of antiseptic soil.

6

Apply a layer of adhesive primer.

7

Cover the surface with paint. To apply covering paints, it is better to use a brush or roller. You can also use the spray gun, but it has a limitation: the paint that is filled into the spray gun should not be too viscous, pasty. Otherwise, the spray gun nozzle will quickly become clogged. For a rough surface, choose a roller with a long nap, for a sanded one – with a medium one. It is better to cover one wall in one go, then the paint will dry evenly and it will not happen that different areas will have different shades. Each layer of paint dries for about a day.

8

Apply a second coat of paint and optionally a third.

How to paint the house inside

Choosing the paint for the interior decoration of wooden walls

• Wood oils with natural wax. Such a coating is not paint, but wood is often treated with it to emphasize the natural texture of wood, protect it from moisture and make it denser and harder.
• Glazing paints are translucent colored coatings that change the tone of the wood, but retain its pattern, although in a less pronounced and contrasting form than when treated with oil. Glazing compounds can be tinted to the desired shade.
• Lacquers may be transparent or translucent. They also leave the natural beauty of the tree visible, giving it a shine or, conversely, dullness.

In what order to paint

The procedure for painting inside the house does not differ significantly from the exterior:

1. Thoroughly clean the surface. If there are bumps or cracks, apply a layer of wood filler to them. Wait for the surface to dry, then sand it.
2. Wipe with a damp sponge, remove dust.
3. Remove excess resin with solvent. Seal the resin pockets with putty. Treat the walls with impregnation from resin release.
4. Apply primer.
5. You can additionally cover the wooden surface with a glazing antiseptic, which will not allow bacteria and fungi to multiply.
6. If you are using glazing compounds, then apply them to the walls with a sponge or a special mitten.
7. If you decide to coat the wood with wax-based oils or varnishes, apply them with a brush.
8. If you decide to paint, then apply the paint to the surface in 2-3 coats with a brush or roller.
9. Within three days, moisture must not get on the surface, and the temperature in the room must not fall below +10 °C.

How to prolong the life of the coating

Inspect and wash the painted facade at least once every five years. If you suddenly notice that mold spots have appeared, immediately treat the surface with an antiseptic.

If the paint on the facade is cracked or dull, touch up the area. This is another reason to buy a little more paint than you need. The procedure for local repair is the same: clean, treat with an antiseptic, prime, paint in 2-3 layers. Just keep in mind that the paint fades over time, so even if you paint the surface with paint from the same can, you can still get different shades.

To preserve the interior finishes, maintain the optimum temperature and humidity in the house, avoid severe temperature fluctuations.

Surfaces coated with translucent paints can be washed one month after application. Do this with warm water and a sponge. Try to keep painted walls free of oils, solvents, and other harsh chemicals that can damage the paint layer or discolor it.

Find out more:

• How I built a cozy gazebo in just a couple of weekends
• How to clean the paint roller so that it is as good as new
• How to remove paint from a brick to keep it looking good

How to paint a wooden house outside with your own hands

Wood is an amazing material that retains its unique beauty even after extensive processing. Proper painting of a wooden house will help you emphasize the special structure of the wooden beams. And if you want to completely change the color of the facade, then it is enough to use opaque paints and varnishes. Whatever goal you set for yourself, you should figure out how to properly paint wood with a variety of materials. In this article, we will look at how to paint a wooden house outside with our own hands so that this repair does not cost a pretty penny.

What paint to paint an old wooden house on the outside

First, let’s deal with the abundance of materials offered by modern hardware stores. Theoretically, any paint is suitable for application to wood – this is a rather unpretentious material, unlike the same metal or plastic. But each type of paint has its own characteristics, and, consequently, its own service life, hue saturation and other parameters.

Oil paints

The simplest and most affordable material is oil paints. They are cheap, perfectly absorbed by wood and protect it from the harmful effects of the atmosphere. The paints themselves are not afraid of moisture, they create a fairly durable coating – the paint will not require renewal for 5-6 years. Rain, snow, hail and even slight mechanical damage will not spoil the appearance of the facade. Another advantage is the large selection of colors. If you are looking for an inexpensive way to paint a wooden house on the outside, with a very small budget on hand, choose oil paints – you can’t go wrong.

An important disadvantage is that oil paints fade in the sun. So they are ideal for houses surrounded by tall trees, but it is better not to use them on the sunny side – they will quickly become unusable.

Alkyd Enamel

These thick and bright paints form an impenetrable film when dry. On the one hand, this is good – they protect wood from various external factors. On the other hand, such a film is very short-lived and easily scratched at the slightest damage. Saturated shades are a serious plus of alkyd enamel. If you choose how to paint a wooden house on the outside so that you get a very bright color, choose these enamels. In addition, they require a minimum of wood processing to work.

Alkyd enamel will have to be renewed as needed – when there are too many scratches and chips, cover with a new layer of enamel on top. As a rule, the service life of alkyd enamels is about 2-4 years.

Acrylic

Do you like oil paints, but want to paint your house on the sunny side? Use acrylic paints. This material is perhaps the most common now, and therefore such paints are sold in a wide variety of colors. The abundance of the range allows you to choose acrylic paint according to your wallet. Now it is these paints that are considered the standard for processing wooden facades – for example, in Europe, more than 80% of buildings are painted with them.

Choose special exterior acrylic paints. They are somewhat more expensive than usual, but are more resistant to precipitation and other factors that can reduce the life of the facade.

Exterior acrylic paint can last up to 10 years. After that, it may fade – one additional coat of fresh paint will correct the situation.

How to choose an exterior paint color for your house

Once you’ve chosen how to paint your old wooden house exterior, it’s time to choose a shade. Of course, you can paint the house in any color you like – yellow, brown, purple, pink … But which one will look harmonious and aesthetically pleasing?

When choosing a color for a wooden façade, the color of the roof is usually taken into account. Use the following table to determine the best option for painting. The best combinations are marked with two plus signs on it; one plus sign – acceptable, one minus – not the most successful, and two minuses – the most unfortunate, which should be avoided.

A word of advice: Before painting, get shade samples from the manufacturer of the paint you have chosen. You can print a color chart or get one from a hardware store. Look at the roof and the selected paint shade in sunlight, at dusk and at dawn. This will help you choose the shade that will look perfect at any time of the day.

If you find it difficult to choose what color to paint your wooden house outside, get help from professional designers. Believe me, the money spent on a consultation is worth it – you will get a house with an elegant color scheme that will delight you for more than one year. And an unsuccessfully selected shade of paint will become a source of constant background irritation.

How to calculate the paint consumption for painting a house

The standard paint consumption is always indicated by the manufacturer on the packaging of the paintwork material. So if you have already chosen what paint you want to paint the wooden house on the outside, read the instructions on the package. Please note that the tree actively absorbs most paints (except alkyd), so the actual consumption will probably be 10-20% more than indicated.

In addition, the facade of a wooden house is often uneven – if you made a house from timber, then the painting area will be increased due to the protruding semicircles of the timber. A cobbled house will take 40% more paint than a house with a smooth facade.

You’ve probably already decided on the best paint for your wooden house outside, so take a look at the table below – here is an approximate paint calculation for each type of wooden house. The table shows the data for one coat of paint. In practice, it is better to paint a tree in two or three layers, so feel free to triple the amount of purchased material. Even if there is excess paint left, just keep it closed and use it in the future to update the painting.

If you have an airbrush, paint consumption is significantly reduced – by about 30%.

How to prepare wood for painting

So you stocked up on paint and paint brushes and you can’t wait to get started! But do not rush – in order for the coating to please the eye for a long time, you need to carefully prepare the wood for processing.

1. The first stage of preparation is the removal of previous decorative layers. If you have sheathed the facade, remove the siding. If you have painted wood, it is advisable to remove all the paint. Use a building hair dryer and a spatula for this.
2. Carefully inspect the entire surface of the façade. Be sure to remove any mold you can find. After that, clean the wood using a brush and rag.
3. Before you paint a wooden house outside, you need to treat it with an antiseptic – this is inexpensive, good antiseptic impregnations cost no more than a thousand per 20 liters, and this volume is enough to treat an average house. When treating with an antiseptic, pay special attention to the ends of the logs – these are the most vulnerable places for mold.
4. When the antiseptic is absorbed, treat the wood with a primer. It is advisable to use a primer with an antiseptic effect to increase the protection of the wood from mold.

You won’t be able to paint the exterior walls of a wooden house properly if you don’t know how to properly prepare the facade for painting. Be sure to follow all the above steps to achieve an even and beautiful finish.

How to paint the outside of the house: step by step instructions

When all the preparations are ready, you can proceed directly to painting.

1. Start painting from above. Most people find it more convenient to work from left to right. Paint over the entire side before moving on to the other wall. It is most convenient to work with several hands – one person paints one wall, the other – another. This makes the job go much faster.
2. Wait for the first coat to dry before applying the second. If you are working with alkyd paint, this will definitely be enough.
3. Oil and acrylic paints may require an additional third coat. Pay maximum attention to the last layer – it is its texture that will remain on the facade. Run the brush along the grain of the wood if you want to emphasize its structure. On the contrary, if you want to create a smooth surface, apply the paint perpendicular to the grain.

So now you know how to properly paint a wooden house outside. But before putting this guide into practice, get acquainted with a couple of tricks and tips that will help you in your work.

Tips & Tricks

Here are some tips to help you maintain a long lasting finish:

• Choose quality paint, don’t skimp. Cheap paints can fade and peel.
• If the wood is uneven in some places, it can be sanded down before painting. Similarly, you can do with places corroded by mold.
• Buy plenty of paint so that you have one or two cans left closed. Open paint is not stored for more than six months (and even then it loses some of its properties during this time), but when closed, it can last for several years. Use it to update the facade when it fades – one coat will be enough.
• Clear coat can be applied on top of the paint if you want to extend its life. However, the varnish will give the house a glossy look – decide for yourself whether you need such an effect.
• Apply the next coat only after the previous one has completely dried. Wait until there are no wet spots on the first layer, and only then proceed to apply the second layer.
• If part of the house is hidden in the shade and part is in the sun, you can save money and achieve an interesting visual effect at the same time. Paint the shadow side with a cheap oil paint and the sunny side with another acrylic color. Play with contrast or use harmoniously combined colors. The main thing – do not try to pick up identical shades, it is simply impossible.