When it comes to the best exterior paint for wood, each project has different needs. Some exterior siding that looks like wood, may not require as much care and attention. But with the real stuff, whether you are painting wooden doors, the deck, frames for the roof, or the entire house, so many factors may be bouncing around in your head that it can get confusing! Here are some things to consider.
Special Properties of Wood
While wood is a common building material, there are many types of wood to choose from. If you are building with raw, untreated wood, the most affordable kind will usually be what grows in abundance where you live. Because wood can rot or attract insect infestation, it is important to care for your wood exterior and treat it regularly – one to two times every ten years. It is also important to consistently take note of any holes or splinters. And repair them as soon as possible, to seal the area.
Wood is lighter than concrete or brick and more flexible. While wood is sensitive to moisture it is breathable and is good for insulation.
Painting Exterior
Painting the exterior of your home or a part of it is a big job. If you are painting exterior wood doors, exterior wood siding panels, or a porch or a fence, you still need durability. Adhesion is important because your paint job has to stand up to a variety of weather conditions and temperatures. Depending on where you are painting, it may also have to be resilient to foot traffic, animals, insects, and general scratches and dings.
Wood specifically needs to be treated and sealed so water doesn’t seep in and rot it from the inside out. This typically takes more primer and/or paint than other building materials. Because it will soak into the grain and take an extra coat or two, which is good for protection in the long run. This is why it is very important to leave lots of dry time once you have pressured-washed your wood exterior. In perfect weather conditions, it takes about 48 hours for the wood to dry completely but may take longer.
Benefits of Priming & Finishing
Once the wood siding or deck is washed, repaired, and completely dry, adding a layer of primer will help the paint job last longer. Primer will soak into the wood and act as a kind of seal so water can’t seep in as easily. If the primer doesn’t soak in and is left as surface paint on wood, sometimes water is able to seep behind the paint. But can’t as easily find its way out, which leads to mould.
Similarly, after the painting process, using a finish can go a long way. The finish will act as a water-repellent and stand up to varied weather conditions.
Staining or Painting
When it comes to preference, most homeowners stain if they want to preserve the natural look of the wood exterior but staining also takes less time. The best exterior wood stain will seep into the grain and will fade gradually before you need to stain again. Depending on the project, you will need to stain it every 2-4 years. For example, a deck will need to be re-stained more often than wood siding.
Painting exterior wood lasts a little longer but wood needs scraping and/or sanding before repainting, so it is a tougher project in general. What is great about wood, however, is you can paint it any colour you like. And paint adds a greater layer of protection from water damage and the sun.
Oil Based Or Water Based
However water-based paint or latex tends to be better for the environment and has a milder smell. And most general high-quality exterior paints are water-based.
Barn/Fence/Siding/Deck or Premium Exterior Paint
The best exterior paint for wood may become chalky, as wood-specific paints can have a less glossy finish. But because they are made for wood, they are meant to soak into the grain and last a long time. They are made to minimize mould, mildew, and rot with a matte finish. While many have a built-in primer, the can itself can be less expensive but painting wood usually takes extra coats to seal it properly.
High-quality premium exterior paint does a good job of minimizing mould and mildew also and is made to stand up to a variety of weather conditions. It will act as protection and ensure your wood lasts as long as possible before needing replacement. Especially if the painting procedure is followed and the exterior wood siding is treated with care.
Best Exterior Paint Brands
There’s a lot to consider when choosing an exterior paint brand.
Is it worth the extra cost? How long will it last? What are the pros and cons of each?
There are many reasons to use quality exterior house paint. While you may be tempted to save money by using less expensive paints, you’ll find that the long-term cost of using a lower-grade product is much higher than you might expect.
We’ve put together a list of some of our favourite exterior paint brands, and we’ll tell you what makes each one so great!
1. Sherwin Williams
This brand is known for its quality and durability in many different climates across the United States. It provides excellent coverage with minimal preparation time and can help your home look fresh and new after years of wear and tear.
Duration Exterior Acrylic Latex Paint is one of the most popular brands of exterior paint on the market today. It provides excellent coverage and durability, so you’ll have a long-lasting product that will look great for years to come.
2. Benjamin Moore
This brand has been around since 1883 and has been used on hundreds of thousands of homes over its long history as an industry leader in providing high-quality paints.
It also offers a wide range of colours, so you can find one that matches your own home’s exterior perfectly!
Their Aura Exterior Paint is extremely durable and has a unique technology that allows it to resist fading and cracking, even in extreme weather conditions. This is an excellent choice and the best exterior paint for hot climates or cold winters!
3. Behr
This brand is another long-standing industry leader in the paint world, and it offers a wide range of different paints for every type of project.
They have a great selection of exterior paints that are all extremely durable and easy to work with.
Their Ultra Premium Plus Exterior Paint has an impressive lifetime warranty that covers fading, cracking, and peeling.
So there you have it…the most important factors to consider when you are looking for the best exterior paint for wood. If you love to do things yourself, then a little research goes a long way. But if the steps and stages of painting your wood exterior are a little stressful (or a lot!) there is no need to worry – Home Painters Toronto is here for you!
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If you reside in Toronto and the GTA and need some help figuring out the interior painting costs per square foot, don’t hesitate to call us! We will help you pick the colours you want and show you the latest painting and home renovation trends. Our home painting services with the best pro painters have been around now for over 36 years. Call 416.494.9095 or email Brian@HomePaintersToronto.com for a FREE quote for your home painting needs. And don’t forget to check us out on our social media channels below!
