Outdoor paint is a great way to protect your wood from the elements. It can help prevent the wood from rotting or warping. But, not all outdoor paints are created equal. There are many different types of paint that you can use to protect your wood. Some of these may be better than others depending on your needs and where you live. But what kind should you use?
When it comes to a good exterior house painting, you want it to last you several years down the line. And when you’re thinking about the best outdoor paint for wood, you want to go for the quality. After all, your exterior wood is exposed to a number of different things which it needs protection from. You have the blistering sun, especially in the hot summer months. Also, the rainy weather doesn’t do exterior wood much good either. Plus, with the fluctuating temperatures and seasonal changes, your exterior paint for wood needs to withstand a lot.
Also, it’s good to remember that the exterior of your home is under a bit of scrutiny in terms of curb appeal. So, don’t be afraid to look into having a professional house painting company do the painting work for you.
Let’s dig into the best outdoor paint for wood!
Exterior Paint For Wood
When thinking about the best outdoor paint for wood, it’s important to consider your materials and where they exist. For example, where are you painting exactly? If you have wood siding and it needs some painting done, that can make a difference over painting a wooden fence.
When you’re thinking about deck painting, porch painting or fence painting, it’s nice that you have some flexibility when it comes to the best exterior wood paint. You can go with either oil-based paint or latex (water) exterior paint. In terms of the best paint for wood siding, you can go either way as well. If you want to go the easy route though that can be maintained nicely, opt for latex paint for your wood siding. And if you’re thinking about your exterior front door, again — you have the option to go either route with your exterior wood painting. Talk about options, right?
It’s All In The Prep With the Best Outdoor Paint For Wood
When you’re doing an exterior painting of any kind, but most especially when you’re thinking about exterior paint for wood, you have to do the prep. Sure, sometimes you’re starting fresh on a wood surface that has no paint or primer on it. But a lot of the time, you’re performing paint maintenance. Here are a few things to remember:
- If you’re able to, pressure wash your exterior wood surface prior to painting. This will ensure that you pick up on any cracks or knicks.
- If you don’t have access to a pressure washer, give your wood surface a cleaning with soap and water.
- With that, be sure to fill in any cracks with filler or wood caulking.
- Use a paint scraper to get off any peeling paint from your wood surface as well.
- Once you’ve disposed of any surface imperfections from peeling paint, then you can go in with your sanding.
- If you’re painting wood siding, be sure to protect any surrounding bushes or trees or plant life. Also, take down your house numbers as well.
- Lastly, be sure to prime any bare wood that you’re working with prior to painting. This will ensure the best outdoor paint for wood that you choose will have something to really adhere to.
Best Outdoor Paint For Wood
The best outdoor paint for wood depends on what you’re painting and how often you’ll need to repaint that surface over time. The key is finding something that will hold up against the elements and not fade or chip easily. Here are some of the best options:
- Acrylic latex exterior paint is the best option that will hold up well against the weather. It’s also very easy to find, and if you’re looking for something with a nice finish, this is probably your best bet. The downside is that it will require more frequent touch-ups than oil-based paints or enamels do. Acrylic latex paint is perfect for painting fences, decks, and siding. It also works great on wood furniture if you’re looking to update its look without making it too glossy or shiny.
- Oil-based paint is another great option for exterior painting, especially if you want something that will last a long time without needing touch-ups. It’s also easy to find and can be found in many different types of colours. This type of paint dries slowly and takes longer than acrylic latex paint does to apply, but it’s worth the extra effort because it lasts so much longer once applied.
So, let’s go through some of the options you have for the best exterior wood paint. After all, you want your outdoor paint for wood to withstand the climate and weather for years to come!
Fence or Deck Painting:
If you’re starting from scratch and want to go with oil-based paint, Behr’s Premium Plus Exterior Oil-Based Primer is a good pick for the primer.
You can also use Diamond Brite Oil Base Enamel, which has a high-coverage alkyd finish and will not grow mildew.
Also, it is made of durable gloss enamel that protects surfaces from repeated abrasion, rust, fading, cracking, peeling, and a number of common household chemicals.
Furthermore, this is a fantastic product for coating basement and garage floors, as well as patios and other outdoor areas. This product works best on surfaces like wood, drywall, plaster, masonry, metal, well-glued wallpaper, brick, stucco, aluminum, and cinder blocks.
If you want to go with a latex primer and paint for your deck or fence painting, Sherwin Williams Exterior Wood Primer is a quality choice. When choosing the best outdoor paint for wood, Benjamin Moore’s Regal Select High Build Paint is a great choice. It’s thick and easy to apply and also works to bridge small cracks during application.
Wood Siding Painting:
When it comes to choosing your exterior paint for wood siding, Benjamin Moore’s Aura Exterior Paint is one to check out. Not only does it go on smooth, but it has a special formula to prevent cracking and peeling.
You may also want to check out Rust-Oleum Latex Paint, which can be used on wood, metal, wicker, and crafts of all kinds.
The durable gloss finish is very resistant to chipping, cracking, peeling, and fading, and it keeps its sheen for a long time —even after being exposed to the elements.
Exterior Door Painting:
Do I need to prime wood for exterior paint?
Of course, prior to painting your exterior wood front door, you want to be sure to prime it. Doors see a lot of wear and tear over the years due to weather and the sheer fact that you’re coming in and out of your house several times a day.
Sherwin Williams’ Extreme Bond Primer is a good pick to start. From there, the best outdoor paint for wood is FlexTemp Acrylic Latex Paint. Or you could also go with Benjamin Moore’s Aura Grand Entrance, which is specially made for exterior door painting.
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