Painting exterior woodwork....
Discussion
About a year and a half ago, I paid to have a 'professional' painter come in and give the exterior woodwork on the house a decent coat of paint. I specifically said that I wanted the window frames rubbed down and then glossed properly....After a week and a half the job was done and the place looked good.
Now, I have just had a carpenter spend a good day making and replacing the beading on 4 first floor due to the paint flaking off and the wood rotting....
On climbing the scaffolding the carpenter has used, it is clear the painter just glossed over the exisiting paintwork on the cappings and windowframes...
I have just had another couple of painters come and quote..
1st one said 'Yeah mate £300 a day for me and my mate' and he wouldnt quote for the job just the day rate.....
2nd one has posted his quote and its £3400 and doesnt include the cost of scaffolding....
So my question, I plan to take a week or two off work and do it myself.
I intend to sand down the frames and give the woodwork a decent couple of coats of primer and then a couple of coats of gloss.
Anyone got any recommendations on what paint to go for that will last for at least 4-5 years without needing to be redone......
Also going to repaint the woodwork on the exterior of the conservatory in Litchen Green. The previous owner has used Farrow and Ball, but I am guessing it aint cheap and it doesnt seem to have lasted well (although preparation is key)so any better stuff to use here too...
jas xjr said:
dulux weathershield with their undercoat and primer
My personal preference too. New paintwork will only be as good as what it is going over, so make sure that any flaking or loose paint is burnt off, preferably with a hot-air-gun. The Weathershield primer/preservative should be used on any bare woodwork. It is a very thin (think blue water) and goes on easy.Follow with two coats of Weathershield undercoat; they do a water base and a solvent based U/C, the water based does go on a tad easier than the solvent based, but the choice is up to you. Follow with one coat of Weathershield gloss.
Some years ago I renewed my outhouse door and used the above method (water-based U/C) and purposely left it for seven years to see how it would weather. The door being in direct sunlight for most of the day and, after seven years the paintwork dulled but showed no signs of blistering, flaking or perishing in any way. Good stuff and only a tad dearer than ordinary Dulux oil-based paint.
Sounds like Dulux it is then...The last painter mentioned using an oil based paint and basically said he'd guarantee the finish for 4-5 years and that I wouldnt need to touch it before then....
I think I'll do it myself and take it back to as clean a surface as possible...Only issue is we also have wooden cappings on the gable ends so will have to get access equipment in.....
Thanks for the advice guys..
Busamav said:
KevF said:
Only issue is we also have wooden cappings on the gable ends ..
They could be known as Barge boards 
I dont envy you getting up there , the ridge doesnt appear too high from the ground . Good luck
...like this...
although not as ornate. These are on four dorma windows plus we have both gable ends too so plenty of stuff at height.....not too bad at heights its just when the scaffolding starts to sway that it gets a bit of a ring clencher..
KevF
There is some sound advice in the previous replies, so is down to personal preference. For me dulux, crown, berger paints.I have found others-diy brands, etc a bit thin or wishy washy.Also don't trust these one coat wonders either-don't paint rolls royces with one coat do they!. Painting it is the easy part, it is all in the preparation, otherwise you are wasting your money. Without teaching anyone to suck eggs, make sure you do get all the flaking paint off and replace any damaged/rotting timber as this will continue under the paint surface. The top coat only gives it a shine (if you want that finish) and it is really the primer and undercoats which provide the body of the work. Don't be sparing with the primer especially over knots( and nail heads) (called knot/prime & stop)as these will bleed through the paint surface. Patch paint any patches first and try to build these up ( called bringing forward!)before going over the whole surface, dab plenty of undercoat in nooks and cranies where they won't be seen.2 good u/coats and 2 good top coats should see you right for about 5 years if done properly. One thing I have found, when people paint is a lack of organisation, don't do a bit or prep and paint, do it in sequence. Get all the prepaing done and then do the painting, otherwise rubbish gets everywhere-trust me.
Scaffolding is safer, but if you use a ladder make sure it is sturdy ie a triple, you will then relax more, rather than gripping for life. The only little corner cutting I might offer if needed is if you have really badly damaged timber cills, rotting/flaking away, fill them up with fibreglass solution. Although timber is a living breath material, it works wonders and lasts forever!
Final one, make sure you use good brushes, otherwise you will be picking the hairs out till domesday-nothing worse if you have done a good job and stir the paint well.
Good luck
Hoggey
There is some sound advice in the previous replies, so is down to personal preference. For me dulux, crown, berger paints.I have found others-diy brands, etc a bit thin or wishy washy.Also don't trust these one coat wonders either-don't paint rolls royces with one coat do they!. Painting it is the easy part, it is all in the preparation, otherwise you are wasting your money. Without teaching anyone to suck eggs, make sure you do get all the flaking paint off and replace any damaged/rotting timber as this will continue under the paint surface. The top coat only gives it a shine (if you want that finish) and it is really the primer and undercoats which provide the body of the work. Don't be sparing with the primer especially over knots( and nail heads) (called knot/prime & stop)as these will bleed through the paint surface. Patch paint any patches first and try to build these up ( called bringing forward!)before going over the whole surface, dab plenty of undercoat in nooks and cranies where they won't be seen.2 good u/coats and 2 good top coats should see you right for about 5 years if done properly. One thing I have found, when people paint is a lack of organisation, don't do a bit or prep and paint, do it in sequence. Get all the prepaing done and then do the painting, otherwise rubbish gets everywhere-trust me.
Scaffolding is safer, but if you use a ladder make sure it is sturdy ie a triple, you will then relax more, rather than gripping for life. The only little corner cutting I might offer if needed is if you have really badly damaged timber cills, rotting/flaking away, fill them up with fibreglass solution. Although timber is a living breath material, it works wonders and lasts forever!
Final one, make sure you use good brushes, otherwise you will be picking the hairs out till domesday-nothing worse if you have done a good job and stir the paint well.
Good luck
Hoggey
Hoggey,
Many thanks for that.....some top tips there......
Hopefully the carpenter has gone around and replaced the rotten wood and he did put a small amount of undercoat on as a temporary stop gap until we get the stuff repainted...
As I am a bit OCD on the cleanliness of my cars, I understand the importance of proper prep work so have planned to burn of as much of the old paint and basically start again if need be....
As I have 10 double windows and 11 single windows plus the barge boards and cappings, I was going to try and the top half of the house in one hit whilst the scaffold is there. That way i can spend a bit more time with the luxury of having my feet firmly on terra firma on the lower frames...
thanks again
Kev
Many thanks for that.....some top tips there......
Hopefully the carpenter has gone around and replaced the rotten wood and he did put a small amount of undercoat on as a temporary stop gap until we get the stuff repainted...
As I am a bit OCD on the cleanliness of my cars, I understand the importance of proper prep work so have planned to burn of as much of the old paint and basically start again if need be....
As I have 10 double windows and 11 single windows plus the barge boards and cappings, I was going to try and the top half of the house in one hit whilst the scaffold is there. That way i can spend a bit more time with the luxury of having my feet firmly on terra firma on the lower frames...
thanks again
Kev
In fairness, depending upon the level of maintenace they have already had, it could be 18 months is about the life of exterior painting in some positions.
I have large south facing windows made up of those small Geogian style panes and the painters have to rub it down and repaint every 18-24 months because the sun just blisters it off. The north side lasts a bit longer but gets the green slime treatment and needs a rub down and recoat to make them presentable, but the paint vunderneath is usually sound and needs a full job every 2-3 years. The East side is fine for 3-4 years.
I found that by keeping at it and building up paint over 2 or 3 years even the southside now only needs doing every 2-3 years. They have just done the south side again and touched up the sills on the north side which didn't need a full repaint.
The exterior (3 bed, 3 reception house) takes the paint monkey about 3-4 days and costs me about £350 including restaining the porch. The two large south side windows (8ft x 4 ft), with a general spruice up elsewhere costs me about £240 and takes him 2 or 3 days.
You ought to move up north!
I have large south facing windows made up of those small Geogian style panes and the painters have to rub it down and repaint every 18-24 months because the sun just blisters it off. The north side lasts a bit longer but gets the green slime treatment and needs a rub down and recoat to make them presentable, but the paint vunderneath is usually sound and needs a full job every 2-3 years. The East side is fine for 3-4 years.
I found that by keeping at it and building up paint over 2 or 3 years even the southside now only needs doing every 2-3 years. They have just done the south side again and touched up the sills on the north side which didn't need a full repaint.
The exterior (3 bed, 3 reception house) takes the paint monkey about 3-4 days and costs me about £350 including restaining the porch. The two large south side windows (8ft x 4 ft), with a general spruice up elsewhere costs me about £240 and takes him 2 or 3 days.
You ought to move up north!
Gassing Station | Homes, Gardens and DIY | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff