What paint is better to paint a wooden house outside. What color to paint the outside of the house? Professionals in secret. How to choose a color for the facade

29.11.2020 Drugs

The traditional building material in Russia is wood and wood products - beams, boards, sheet materials. But to extend the service life of wooden buildings and wooden parts, they must be protected from external factors - moisture and wind, temperature changes and mechanical impulse loads - shocks and scratches, from insect pests and fungal diseases. To do this, use a technique such as painting. wooden house outside and inside with antiseptic, flame retardant and paints and varnishes. And the better to paint a wooden house outside, consider below.

Features of wooden houses

Positive qualities of a wooden house:

  1. The weight of a wooden building is almost 3 times lower than a brick house of the same size. This means that the foundation can be made lightweight and shallow, and the house itself can be built on any soil with savings in finance and labor costs;
  2. Wood passes air well (breathes), therefore, the house will always have a microclimate favorable for living, no matter what colors the facade is painted;
  3. Wooden walls keep heat well, even if the house is painted from the outside and / or from the inside. So, walls of 20-cm logs have the same thermal conductivity as brick walls 32 cm thick with double-sided plastering with a layer of 1.5-2 cm.It does not matter what to paint a wooden house - with acrylic paint or varnish, oil or.

Disadvantages of wooden buildings:

  1. Any house made of wood must go through a shrinkage process, which is 1-3 years. At the same time, living in the house is not prohibited, and you can move in within 6-8 months after the end of construction;
  2. Due to the fact that wood "breathes", wooden surfaces cannot be finished with tiles, stone and other hard natural materials. For this, additional steps are taken, for example, the installation of the battens. But you can paint a wooden house at any time - there are no time or technological restrictions for this;
  3. A wooden house is a fire hazardous structure, therefore, all surfaces must be impregnated with flame retardants;
  4. Wood is easily damaged by insects. To avoid this, use hard wood and special impregnations.

Considering all of the above, the decision on which paint is best to paint a wooden house outside is taken separately for each house. But any paint is applied in several layers - from 2 to 5.

Outdoor paints

Paint for indoor and outdoor use has different characteristics, since outdoor surfaces must withstand exposure to direct sunlight, wind loads, snow and rain, positive and negative temperatures. Therefore, oil, acrylate and alkyd-acrylate compositions are most often used for a wooden house.

Oil paints are distinguished by deep penetration into the structure of wood, increased resistance to atmospheric factors, and can be of any color.

Disadvantages of oil paints:

  1. Mandatory application in several layers, followed by annual renewal of the last layer;
  2. If you do not know how to properly paint a wooden house outside, remember: oil paint burns out faster than alkyd paint, so it is better to paint the shadow sides of the house with it;
  3. The time for complete drying of such a composition is up to a day.

Acrylate paints are the most optimal option for wood, since, unlike the oil layer, the wood continues to breathe, when the board or timber is deformed, the paint layer does not crack, the composition itself does not fade in the sun.

The covering antiseptic is an alkyd-acrylate paint that perfectly adheres to any, even old wood, and is able to maintain its appearance for more than ten years.

It is better to cover solid surfaces with all of the above paints, and for calibrated logs, beams and uneven surfaces, glaze and colorless varnish are used on wood. If the varnish is colored, then even a few layers will only slightly change the shade of the surface, but will not change the overall tone.

NameRecommendationsAdvantages
Tikkurila (Finland)Tikkurila - best composition for coloring, common in RussiaGood frost resistance and moisture resistance
Senezh (Russia)The paint is suitable for baths, wooden houses and outbuildings, a wide range of colors (16 colors and shades)Fireproof, insect proof, high moisture resistance
Drevoplast (RF)Acrylic based emulsion creates a durable coating with a liquid plastic effect on wood surfacesHigh degree of protection against any precipitation, long-term operation
Tex (RF)Cheap external composition, after drying creates a durable polymer surfaceHigh vapor permeability, resistance to sunlight
Pinotex (Estonia)Polymer facade paint for outdoor useProtection against fungal diseases, mold and insect pests, resistance to temperature extremes
Olimp (RF)Emulsion linseed paint with elastic dry coating surfaceThe ability to strengthen the structure of wood, strength, resistance to cracking, protection from atmospheric precipitation, mold, insects and fungal diseases

  1. The varnish or paint for the primary layer is selected based on the preferences of the master. Subsequent layers should have the same composition as the primary layer: oil paint is applied to the oil composition, etc .;
  2. To clarify the composition of old paint or varnish on wood, you need to make a cut. Dried oil paint breaks easily, acrylic sample can be bent;
  3. When staining outside surface the walls of the house should not be directly illuminated by the sun, so as not to get islands with different shades;
  4. It is not recommended to use expired varnishes or paints;
  5. Before painting, any wooden surface must first be impregnated with an antiseptic and flame retardant substances, as well as primed;
  6. The paint or varnish must have good parameters resistance to UV radiation and moisture.

Preparing the walls of the house for painting

To create a surface prepared for painting, you must:

  1. Remove dust and dirt from the wooden surface. This can be done dry or wet;
  2. Destroy traces of mold with special means;
  3. Destroy traces of tree resin, paint over this place with varnish;
  4. If there are nails, screws, staples and other metal hardware in the wall, their surfaces are covered with a metal primer;
  5. After all these measures, the wooden surface should stand for two weeks to dry completely.

Painting a wooden house

After figuring out which paint is best to paint the wooden house outside, you can start painting the house. The process begins with the application of a primer. After the wood has completely dried from the primer and other compounds, the walls can be painted. The paint is applied to dry walls in 2-4 layers, each layer must be dried.

Important: It is imperative to apply a layer of primer so that the paint does not begin to peel off over time. The primer is applied after the wood has been impregnated with an antiseptic and fire retardant compounds.


Paint is applied to wooden walls as follows:

  1. During the dyeing process, the paint must be constantly mixed;
  2. It is better to apply paints and varnishes with a brush - this way the composition will be distributed over the surface more evenly;
  3. To obtain a uniform and saturated color, use a primer color;
  4. The tree should not be painted in direct sunlight. Coloring is carried out at a positive air temperature, in calm and cloudy weather;
  5. All compounds (primer, paint, fire retardants, antiseptic) must be applied along the fibers;
  6. The end surfaces of logs or timber must be impregnated with preliminary compounds several times with complete drying of each layer. Each end should be painted from top to bottom, without smudges.

Staining old wood

Before painting, wooden surfaces are inspected for damage and repair. Most often, the western and southern walls are damaged due to the influence of natural factors. When repairing, you can paint only those areas that are worn or damaged more than others. When fully painting the walls, use paint of the same composition and approximately the same color or shade.

If you do not know what paint the house was painted with earlier, you can determine its type visually, on your own:

  1. Acrylate compounds are tactile and visually similar to a layer of thin skin. Dried acrylate paint can only crack along the grain of the wood;
  2. Oil paints lose their gloss if you run your finger over the surface, leaving a chalk mark on it. Oil formulations crack across the fibers, and cracks can also look like small rectangles;
  3. Glazing antiseptic compounds become thinner with prolonged use. A wooden wall can be impregnated with an antiseptic of the same color or darker. In addition, oil paint can be used instead of a new layer of antiseptic. If the tree has not been previously impregnated with an antiseptic, you can immediately use an acrylate-based paint.

What paint is better to paint a wooden house outside? The most popular building and finishing material is wood and its "derivatives".

However, in addition to its remarkable qualities, the material also has disadvantages that impose requirements on the exterior decoration of such buildings. The main enemies of the tree are moisture and insects that sharpen it. What paint and how to properly paint a wooden house outside, the article will tell you.

Features of a wooden house

Wooden houses are often used in modern construction. This is due to many of the positive characteristics of the material.

These include:

  • The weight of such a house is almost three times less than a similar brick building., which allows you to significantly save money when erecting the foundation for a building, and to build wooden houses, even if the soil is relatively soft.
  • The tree breathes, has excellent oxygen permeability, it is easy to sleep in a wooden house, especially in comparison with concrete buildings, which have a very negative effect on the health of residents.
  • The tree has excellent thermal insulation properties, which is due to its low thermal conductivity. A building made of rounded logs, whose diameter is 20 centimeters, is better thermally insulated than a building with walls made of 32 centimeters thick bricks, faced on both sides with a layer of plaster 1.5 centimeters. And this saves money on heating the house.
  • Cheaper wooden dwellings cost their owner from a material point of view. It's related:
  1. with a cheaper foundation;
  2. decorative wall cladding is optional;
  3. relatively lower cost of material - the cost of transportation and assembly at home;
  4. during operation, the house will consume less energy to heat it;
  5. wooden walls look more aesthetically pleasing inside and outside the building.
  • A wooden building, if necessary, you can always dismantle, transport and install in a new place... The lightness of such structures makes it possible to transport them assembled.

Along with the advantages, there are also disadvantages of wooden buildings compared to the construction of brick and concrete buildings:

  • The building requires standing, up to three years, until its complete shrinkage occurs, but you can move into the house in about six months.
  • The tree breathes, it tends not only to decrease in volume, but also to increase, which can lift the structure. Because of this, many types of interior decoration cannot be done, for example, laying tiles, without additional solutions, which means that costs increase.
  • Fire hazard.

Tip: To reduce this unpleasant phenomenon, all wooden parts should be treated with special compounds.

  • Harm to wood by bark beetles and rotting wood. In this case, you must initially use high-quality raw materials and reliable processing tools.

Such features of wooden houses also require a special solution to the question of what paint to paint a wooden house from the outside?

What types of paints can be used for outdoor woodwork

The difference between paint for indoor and outdoor use is quite large.

This is due to the fact that external walls are influenced by:

  • The sun.
  • Winds.
  • Rain.
  • Snow.
  • Large differences in pressure, humidity and temperature.

Tip: When choosing a paint and varnish material for the exterior walls of a wooden house, these factors should be taken into account.

To paint a building with your own hands, you can use the paints shown in the photo.

They may be:

  • Oil.

The advantages of such paints include:

  1. on the basis of drying oil, the agent penetrates deep into the structure of the material;
  2. resistance to changes in atmospheric conditions.

The disadvantages of coverage are:

  1. the painted surface needs to be renewed every four or six years, depending on the local climate;
  2. it fades quickly enough, especially when applied on the sunny side of the building;
  3. long drying time, which is several hours.

Their advantages are only in cost, compared to other types of paints.

  • Acrylate.

These are the optimal paints that have all the necessary qualities required specifically for wood:

  1. they do not form an airtight layer; after covering, the log or board does not stop "breathing";
  2. even after hardening, the paint has some elasticity, which protects the paint layer from cracking during deformation of the tree;
  3. retain their appearance for up to 8 years, which corresponds to approximate date performing cosmetic repairs for any building.
  • Covering antiseptic.

The basis of the composition is alkyd-acrylate. This is a relatively new type of paint. With its help, a respectable look can be given even to low-grade wood. This makes it possible to use cheaper materials in construction. Retains its appearance for over 10 years.

Tip: Any paint hides the texture of the wood completely. Therefore, you should not paint a house from an expensive material. Painting is done when finishing the building with a simple, smoothly planed board.

For calibrated logs, glued beams and other similar blanks, it is better to use azure, colorless varnishes. The gloss obtained on the surface will add attractiveness to the house. Colored varnishes will not affect the drawing of the tree, but will only change the shade of the walls.

Some helpful tips:

  • The paint and varnish for the initial painting of a new house is chosen at the discretion of its owner. And when recoating, it is recommended to use a product of the same composition that was used earlier: “oil” is applied to oil paint, only “acrylic” is applied to acrylic paint.
  • To determine the type of old paint and varnish composition, a small cut is made. If the "sample" breaks easily, it indicates oil paint. The acrylate layer rolls easily.
  • If the sun's rays fall on a wooden surface, it is not worth painting. In this case, the drying of the areas will be uneven, which can lead to the formation of "streaks" on the wall.
  • The instructions for the paintwork must indicate the year of manufacture.
  • The service life of wood will not be increased by any paint, if you do not pre-treat the wood with antiseptics, fire retardants and a surface primer.
  • When choosing a specific composition, pay attention to its approximate consumption and UV resistance.

How to prepare the walls of the house for painting

Before painting, it is necessary to carefully prepare all surfaces of the house in order to create the desired base, thanks to this, the adhesion of the paint to the surface will improve and the durability of the applied coating will increase.

In this case:

  • Using a garden sprayer and in addition a not very hard brush, dust and other small inclusions are removed from the wood. The dust is much better absorbed by water than simply walking over the entire surface with a brush.
  • If mold or blue is noticed on the tree, they must be removed with a special tool.
  • The resin, if any, is removed with a metal spatula, and the place where it was is covered with a varnish for knots, which will make the surface more even.
  • All metal parts, which may be the heads of nails or screws, and others, must be covered with a special primer for metal (see Why a primer is needed: technological nuances of finishing work).
  • The wood should rest for 10-14 days, covered with a film. In this case, you should leave openings for ventilation, and in warm weather, you can leave the surfaces uncovered.
  • In case of damp wood, and it is not possible to dry it, a priming tinted antiseptic should be applied directly to the damp surface and the house should be left until it dries.

How to paint a new wood house

After deciding the question of what paint to paint a wooden house outside, you can start painting a new house.

For this:

  • Primer is applied... Such an antiseptic will protect the wood from fungi, mold and blue discoloration.

Tip: Do not skip the surface primer. Otherwise, if you immediately start staining, then in two years, or even earlier, you can regret it. It is impossible to save on antiseptics, it will significantly extend the period of the new coating.

  • Paint is applied. It should be applied on a dry surface in about three layers. Each of them should dry well.

On a wooden surface, the coating is applied according to the following rules:

  • The paint is mixed periodically to get the same shade.
  • It is better to apply the solution with a brush, which will allow achieving uniform coloring of the wood surface.
  • A better finish can be obtained with a primer color. In this case, the color will be perfect.
  • Wooden surfaces must not be painted in the hot rays of the sun. In this case, the paint will dry too quickly, which is not desirable. It is best to perform painting work in warm, cloudy and calm weather.
  • Paint, antiseptic should be applied in the longitudinal direction.
  • The weakest points of logs and boards are their end parts. Here the water will be absorbed very quickly. To prevent rapid destruction and possibly the beginning of rotting due to high humidity, the ends must be carefully processed in several layers of soil and covering material.

  • Each element is painted sequentially from top to bottom, avoiding smudges and "overlaps".

How to paint an old wood house

Before deciding what paint to paint an old wooden house outside, you can watch the video in this article.

Tip: If the house is not new, and there are traces of mold, paint peeling and other defects on its facade, you should update the color with fresh paint, which will improve the appearance of the building and allow the owner to experiment with the color.

Before painting, you need to carefully examine the surface of the house:

  • Maybe something has fallen off and immediate repair is required.
  • The western and southern parts of the house are the fastest to lose their attractive appearance; these sides most of all have negative impacts from natural phenomena.

In this case, you can restrict yourself to painting only the places that are most worn out, or completely repaint the entire building and change its color.

When repainting, you must adhere to the following rules:

  • Use the same paint.
  • Apply the same type of coating as last used.

If after buying a house it is not known what paint was used, you can independently try to determine its type visually:

  • Acrylate paint to the touch and on appearance resembles thin skin. It cracks in the direction of the fibers.
  • Over time, the oil paint acquires a matte look and, when touched, leaves a light chalk mark on the skin. The coating cracks across the fibers or small cells.
  • Glazing antiseptics become thinner over time. The glossy surface of the house can be painted with an antiseptic in the same color, darker or oil paint. In the absence of traces of antiseptic, acrylate paint is used.

How to paint a house with old paint:

  • With a metal brush, the surface of the wood is cleaned to the base.
  • When painting a house with acrylate paint, the house will be painted with it, or with oil paint, but after preliminary cleaning the surface from the old paint (see How to remove old paint from a tree without problems).

To prepare a wooden facade for painting, you must:

  • Remove hanging pieces of old paint from wood, remove dirt and dust with a scraper or brush.
  • Rinse the facade with water, spraying the walls with a spray bottle. In the presence of mold, it is removed with a special solution, and to improve the adhesion of the paint to the wood, it can also be treated with an alkaline detergent.
  • Uneven, rotten and old boards are replaced with new ones, otherwise they can ruin the whole work with their unpresentable appearance.
  • The paint can be removed with scrapers, wire brushes or chemical means but if it holds well and does not flake off, you can leave it.
  • Additionally, you can perform grinding, if necessary.
  • Further, the wooden surfaces are painted, as in the new house.

A high-quality coating of a wooden house will preserve its beautiful appearance for a long time.

Wooden house on summer cottages- a favorite vacation spot. The huts can serve for many decades, while retaining their warmth, creating a family atmosphere of comfort and coziness. It is very important that the house retains its properties. This is why it needs special care, both inside and outside.

The protection of the log house from the outside plays an important role, since it is necessary not only for the facade of the house to look well-groomed and attractive. Let's take a look at other reasons for renovating a wooden house from the outside and at the same time decide how best to do it.

Why take care of your home outside?

Most of the historical cultural monuments simply have not survived to this day, only because wood requires careful maintenance, and in those days there was no knowledge or experience for this. Wooden buildings stood for years without finishing or were simply treated with oil paints. Over time, the darkened facades resembled a very old and abandoned house, and then completely collapsed.

Now the log house is very popular because it is very comfortable to live in. The walls of a wooden house are able to regulate heat, distributing it evenly throughout the room. Thanks to this property, the housing can be operated both in winter and in summer, because in hot weather it is cool in it, and in cold weather it is cozy and warm. One cannot but agree that a log house has a unique property to remove unnecessary moisture from the room, which creates additional comfort in the absence of constant dampness. There is always a feeling of comfort and tranquility in a wooden house. Nevertheless, any home should delight not only with the interior, but also with the decoration on the outside.


The main reasons for the constant destruction of the facade of the house can be pests and insects, external influences of the environment and natural precipitation. As a result, the walls of the log house become dark, "wet" shade, mold appears, putrefactive deposits, harmful insects start. Without constant care with the help of special means of protection and treatment, your hut will begin to collapse, and there can be no question of the durability of the building. Better finishing material than there is no special paint for the facade of a wooden frame. The paint carries out the protective functions of wood from pests, sunlight and atmospheric precipitation, and also has the property of decorativeness. Let's talk about it in more detail.

What form of painting is better to use when renovating the facade?

The choice of painting a wood structure should be taken seriously. The market for building materials and products has an extensive assortment, and it is easy to get confused when buying a particular product. Facade paints have their own variety.


  1. Oil coatings

The main component is drying oil. This paint is deeply absorbed into the wood, protecting it from external influences of natural factors. Of the advantages, cost can be distinguished, the option is also suitable for a small budget. However, this choice will not serve the home for many years. Multiple layers of staining will have to be changed due to poor adhesion to the wood material. A significant disadvantage in painting a house with such paint is the drying time: it will take several hours, during which time the painted walls will “overgrow” with dust and dirt particles. Because of the drying oil, the shade of the paint coating will always be yellowish.

  1. Acrylic paints

It is believed that this is the most popular choice in the choice of coating for a wooden facade. What owner would not be happy if his house “overwinters” without visible disturbances? The paint based on water and acrylic is frost-resistant, easily tolerates mechanical damage. The variety is in many ways better than oil paint products:

  • allows the tree to "breathe" without plugging all cracks when covering;
  • the property of elasticity prevents peeling;
  • the service life is up to 8 years, which allows you to forget even about cosmetic repairs for a long time.
  1. Water-borne coating preservative

The paint contains an alkyd and acrylate base.


A modern looking, colorful product that can be used to cover even the cheapest wood, making it great for any type of wood. The composition of the paint has been in operation for 10 years. It should be noted that the antiseptic covers the entire wood texture, that is, it should not be used if the wood or beams from which the house is built is a high-quality and expensive material. An excellent choice in terms of protection: due to the deep penetration into the structure of the tree, the antiseptic material prevents the appearance of putrefaction, mold and harmful insects.

Paint the façade: what is the best way to do it?

First of all, you should plan the process of painting the structure from the outside in several steps:

  • prepare wood for painting walls;
  • apply the required layer of emulsion composition;
  • paint the surface of the facade

What time are you going to paint a wooden blockhouse? This plays an important role in the choice of coverage and preparatory actions. If the wood is very fresh and the house was built very recently, then most likely the wood is still damp.

You will have to wait a while before you start painting the walls outside. However, do not wait until the log house is completely dry, this can lead to negative consequences for the structure and quality of the wood material.

Preparatory stage for painting the house

You cannot start painting until you are sure that the wood is clean and well-groomed. So the paint will have good adhesion to the surface, and the appearance of the facade will seem much more attractive and better. Stock up on water and a medium-hard brush. Remove the dirty layer from the wood surface. If mold or mildew is found, you should get rid of them with the help of special tools.


It is imperative to go with a primer either locally in places where reliefs are noticeable, or completely along the entire facade. Before you start painting, it is better to wait until the protective emulsion layer is completely dry (about 2 weeks).

What kind of covering is best for my log house?

For your wooden structure, you want to take a quality selected material. This is undoubtedly correct. But how do you choose it?

Country and cottage houses from the last century have been painted with a colorful varnish-based coating. This option is no longer relevant, since there is a better alternative: paint, which contains acrylic, alkyd and water. It is more profitable to paint the facade with alkyd paint, since the wooden material is reliably protected from low temperatures and external influences. Acrylic coatings are well suited for interior decoration, as they are not particularly durable.


The quality of colorful products can be divided into several classes:

  • "Economy class" - good protection against environmental factors, it is used without applying an emulsion layer.
  • Classics - antiseptic solutions with the property of protection from external factors and elasticity. It is not necessary to prime the wooden surface before painting. The service life of such a coating is about 5 years.
  • Premium class is better suited for harsh climates. The semi-glossy shine creates a noble look for the home for a long time. The service life of this kind of paints is about 10 years. An emulsion layer is applied for the durability of the coating, but it is also possible not to apply it.

Operation of a wooden structure after painting

It is important to know that both old and newly built log cabins need to be painted for long-term practicality. In this case, the service life depends directly on the type of painting. If a glazing antiseptic was used for your facade, it is necessary to renew the layer with a fresh coating after three to five years.


The service life of each product depends on its quality, type and composition, reacting mainly to environmental influences. A covering antiseptic can serve your wood for about 7 years. Despite the decline in the popularity of oil paints, the property of their durability is not inferior to modern counterparts- five to six years. "Long-livers" based on acrylic can be safely operated for 10 years.

The choice of colors for the facade

It is very important not to miscalculate with this question, because the appearance of the structure depends on it, which awakens special impressions. It is most important to paint the log house in the color that will not only ennoble the country or cottage house, but will also bring you comfort and positive emotions. To do this, it is necessary to choose a color scheme, while combining the colors of window frames, doors, roofs and other details of the building, so that all this looks harmonious, and only the advantageous sides of the facade stand out.

How to properly paint a wood surface?

In order to paint the facade evenly and correctly, you should follow some rules:


If the blockhouse has already been painted before, and it is time to renovate the facade, take a closer look at the surface defects. If they are absent, determine the previous type of ink product. The acquisition of the necessary stock of high-quality and suitable material will allow the preparation of the surface for repair. Washing off dirt and dust with water, it is necessary to clean the surface from the previous layer of staining. To do this, you need a scraper or brush of medium hardness. If old rotten boards are found, they should be renewed in order to avoid the spread of mold and mildew throughout the façade.

If a timber construction has just been completed on your suburban area, do not rush to fill it with paint rather. Fresh wood should be allowed 2-3 weeks to dry. Next, apply a layer of emulsion coating and be patient again. When applying paint, it is important to avoid smudges, blackouts and curved lines. To do this, treat all the convex parts of the facade with several coats of primer.


Make every effort to make your house “the envy” of neighbors. Agree, it is very comfortable and cozy to live in a house that looks well-groomed, modern and attractive not only from the inside, but also from the outside. The main thing in your beloved home is harmony, warmth and comfort. Correct painting of the facade, amazingly accurate combination of all details, spacious interior and cozy atmosphere will make you love your nest even more. You are trying only for yourself and your family, which means that you should not feel sorry for either the funds or the time to maintain the duration of the operation of the log house. We assure you all the tips will be helpful.

Environmental cleanliness in the construction of private cottages is gaining more and more popularity. For this reason, wooden facades are no longer a rarity. Everyone knows that wood is beautiful in texture and, at the same time, a very capricious material to use. In this article we will tell you how to preserve the strength of natural wood, to protect it from the harmful effects of the external environment. Let's figure out why impregnations are required and what paint is better to paint a wooden house. We will describe the technology of carrying out measures for the processing of a wooden facade, taking into account the previous operation.

It does not matter whether the house is clad with a building board according to the curtain facade system or is completely assembled from a bar, the wood used in street decoration requires protection. There are objective reasons for this, any wood material has the following unattractive properties:

  • easy flammability and excellent flammability;
  • porosity and, as a consequence, moisture saturation;
  • deformation under the influence of various temperatures;
  • exposure to fungus and mold, as well as pests.


Unprotected wood dries up over time, loses its attractive texture and color (turns gray), becomes loose, and therefore not strong. That is why the tree on the facade should be protected from the following factors:

  • action of UV rays;
  • high humidity;
  • insect pests.

In order to enhance the natural excellent characteristics of wood, and at the same time reduce the risk factors for unpleasant situations, the wood is impregnated with special compounds and treated with paintwork materials (paints and varnishes).


Impregnations

Priming solutions or impregnations can be used as a preparation material for painting, and can also be a finish. There are 3 types of primers:

  • antibacterial (against fungus and mold);
  • fire retardants (from the action of fire);
  • water repellent.

Since it is difficult to give preference to only one method of protection, fire-retardant compositions have been developed, which include 2 mechanisms. Water-repellent primers generally protect against UV rays and strengthen the wood.

On a note! All primers have a short lifespan as a topcoat. Therefore, without further staining, the facade will have to be processed regularly every 2-3 years.


Impregnation treatment will not only improve the appearance, but also increase the life of the wood. For facade work, you should choose deep penetration compositions on an organic basis. Such solutions are usually toxic and have a characteristic unpleasant odor. When working with them, PPE (personal protective equipment) is used: gloves, glasses, respirator.

On a note! Most primers have a transparent base, which means that processing with such a composition will preserve the natural texture and color of the wood.


Prices for glazing impregnation for wood

Glazing impregnation for wood

Facade paints

Any paintwork material used for work on the facade must have a certain set of qualities. But in the situation with wood, this list increases, in view of the natural vulnerability of the tree.

Characteristics that any facade material should have:

  • resistance to atmospheric precipitation of various temperatures;
  • resistance to temperature extremes;
  • color stability of the coating;
  • abrasion resistance;
  • resistance to mechanical and physical stress;
  • chemical inertness.


When it comes to painting a wooden facade, the paint requirements are complemented by the following criteria:

  1. Plastic. Wood is a breathable movable material. Logs and boards can change volume depending on temperature and humidity levels. Therefore, the decorative coating material must also be flexible and not crack.
  2. Water vapor permeability. The decorative material should not create a barrier for moisture to escape from the body of the wall in order to prevent the start of decay.
  3. Fire safety. The material itself should not only protect the wood from burning, but also be non-flammable.


On a note! When choosing a paint for working on a wooden facade, you should pay attention to the antistatic properties of the material. A paint coating with a high given indicator will less accumulate dust and fine dirt, which means that the facade will be much easier to maintain.

Prices for various types of paint for wooden facades

Paint for wooden facades

Classification of paintwork materials for facades

In fact, when choosing a paint, the type of future surface is selected, which will be obtained after applying the material to the wood. For outdoor use, all paints are classified according to the type of solvent, the resulting texture and the quality of the gloss.

Gloss

The dullness or sheen of the surface is not only beauty. Glossy finishes are more durable because they contain more resins. Matt surfaces are usually obtained from breathable decorative compounds. In addition, the glossy finish is more resistant to moisture and less prone to abrasion.

Manufacturers indicate on the can the degree of gloss of the final coating in a number in the range from 0 to 100. It is customary to divide the degree of gloss into 6 main groups.


Table 1. Degrees of gloss.

Solvent

All types of paints are diluted with 3 types of solvent:

  • water, the compositions are called water dispersion;
  • organic chemistry, such as white spirit, acetone, solvent;
  • inorganic compounds.


White Spirit

Paints diluted with inorganic compounds are used very little in everyday life. For wooden facades, materials are usually used that are diluted to the desired consistency with water, as well as enamels, varnishes, alkyd and oil paints. The specificity of organic solvents - bad smell.

On a note! Water-dispersible materials can only be applied at positive temperatures. Paints diluted with organic compounds can be used even with a slight minus.

Texture

Facade paints are textured (volumetric) and forming material for smooth surfaces. Textured compositions are not used for processing wood, since wood initially has a rich texture and does not need additional decoration. Smooth formulations can be transparent, such as varnishes, or dense, such as enamel.


Types of paints

Before you start painting a tree, you should decide on what quality facade you plan to get as a result. Modern paints and varnishes allow you to process wood and at the same time get surfaces that are different in appearance:

  • natural in color and texture, with varying degrees gloss;
  • matte with a touch of color, but with the preservation of texture;
  • opaque and glossy.


Consider the most popular formulations, their positive qualities and some disadvantages.

Oil

The most famous formulations and the most affordable. The material completely covers the natural color, creating a dense film on the surface. It is this layer that perfectly protects the wood from moisture, the coating has almost zero absorbency of any solutions. Oil paints based on varnish are produced.

This paint has a very short life, fades quickly and begins to crack under the influence of temperature. The reverse side of hydrophobicity is the lack of vapor permeability, that is, the layer does not allow moisture to pass through, but also does not allow the tree to breathe, which can lead to rot inside the mass of the tree.


Among other things, such compositions dry for a very long time, about 10 -12 hours. They are more suitable for the current repair of low buildings, fences or sheds, as they require regular updating.

Alkyd

Compositions based on resins with the addition of oils. The PF labeling is more understandable to a wide circle. The composition does not penetrate to a sufficient depth, forming a strong film on the surface. It dries faster than oil formulations, but has a very unpleasant odor. They form a hydrophobic durable layer that does not fade from moisture and temperature. It is this combination of qualities that makes alkyd paint very popular for the treatment of wooden facades in regions with high humidity.


The paint loses color when exposed to direct sunlight, and the surface loses its gloss over time. If it happens that the paint has been applied to damp wood, the layer will begin to bubble.

Silicone

Compositions based on organic compounds or resins. Well proven in humid climates. The silicone (or latex) paint finish is durable even after one coat. The surface has high degree chemical inertness, the facade can be washed by almost any means. The paint does not fade in the sun and does not fade. In addition, the coating is resistant to mechanical stress and abrasion. The main drawback is the very high price.


Let's talk in detail about the advantages of silicone paint for the facade, and also consider the technology of painting.

Prices for popular brands of waterproof silicone paint

Waterproof silicone paint

Acrylic

Popular paints for finishing wooden facades. Water-based acrylic paints are commercially available, that is, they are diluted with water and compositions in an organic solvent. They have excellent adhesion, form a vapor-permeable layer that is resistant to moisture and ultraviolet radiation. That is, the coating does not fade, the color is not washed out by rain, and the wood breathes at the same time. Paint has no bad smell and dries quickly. The protective layer is abrasion resistant and has a long service life.

On a note! There are acrylic compounds on sale that allow repair work even at low temperatures.


Water dispersions

Such paints can be silicone, silicate and acrylic, they are united by the fact that they are all diluted to the desired consistency with clean water. Depending on the base substance, the price of the product can vary greatly. The advantages of such formulations include:

  • absolute ecological cleanliness,
  • vapor permeability of the layer,
  • rich color palette,
  • inertness to chemicals,
  • long service life.

The paint dries very quickly and is very easy to apply.


Some disadvantages are still present. The water in the dye penetrates into the wood, so some surface mobility is assumed. The facade should be treated with a water-repellent primer before painting.

How to paint a wooden facade yourself

If there is a need to paint the facade in an already operated house, it is quite possible to do this work with your own hands. To do this, you need to take care of the availability of free time, you will need a lot of it. Purchase consumables in advance: primer and paint in the required amount, coloring pigment (color) and solvent as needed. The approximate consumption rates of the compounds and the service life of the coating are in the table below.

Table 2. Consumption rates of compounds and service life of the coating


In order to put the facade in order, in addition to materials, the following tools will be required:

  • stepladder or scaffolding,
  • brushes varying in width,
  • rags,
  • Angle grinder (grinder) with discs for grinding,
  • putty knife,
  • construction mixer with a nozzle for mixing paint.

Depending on the type of paint used, you will need different personal protective equipment: gloves, respirator, goggles.

Video - An example of improper painting of a wooden facade

Technology

The whole process takes place in 4 stages. At the same time, meticulousness and attention are required to complete the work. It is important to do everything carefully, without leaving untreated places.

Stage 1. Removal of the old coating. This procedure is performed if there is an old paintwork coating. It must be removed. To do this, you can use spatulas, a metal brush, sandpaper or a grinder with a nozzle. There will be a lot of dust, so you should work with glasses and a respirator.

All work is carried out in dry, not hot weather. You will have to protect the entire area of ​​the facade, including the joints of logs or boards. In order for the work to be done efficiently and without delays, dismantle the gutter elements, shutters and platbands from the facade in advance. In addition to old paint, dust and street dirt should be removed from the facade.

Important! Old paint should not be left on, even if the layer sits firmly on the surface. Its service life will expire and it will peel off along with the new coating.


Stage 2. After the facade is cleaned of paint, the wood is sanded and putty. If there are spots of darkening, or foci of fungal infection are visible, the top layer of the material should be removed to a clean texture. The rest of the surface is leveled. The existing defects on the surface are eliminated by filling. Before proceeding with the next steps, the putty must dry. The filler material should be matched with impregnation and paint.


Stage 3. A deep penetration impregnation is applied to the cleaned wooden surface, the composition of which is selected depending on the characteristics that require strengthening. Usually, the impregnation is applied with a wide brush along the grain in order to preserve and emphasize the natural texture of the wood.

Do not neglect priming, impregnation will not only improve the quality of the wood, but will increase the adhesion of paint to the surface, while reducing the amount of material used. Even in spite of the fact that primers for wood have a rather high price, their use pays off. Before applying the paint, the impregnation must dry; the period of complete drying is indicated by the manufacturer on the package.


Stage 4. Inquire about the long-term weather forecast before starting work. Rain is not suitable for coloring, as well as heat. In addition, work should be carried out in the daytime, when the dew has either already evaporated or has not yet settled, that is, from 10 to 18 hours. The paint is applied in several layers along the grain. Each next layer should be applied only after the previous one has dried.


Video - Technology of painting a wooden facade

Some nuances of staining

It would seem that the process is quite simple and transparent. But here, as elsewhere, there are nuances:

  1. If the facade has external metal fasteners, then before priming and painting, they should be filled with an oil or acrylic compound in the color of the tree. Such work will be especially relevant if the topcoat is planned to be made transparent.
  2. If you carefully approach the issue, then you can use several impregnating compounds, water-repellent impregnation is applied last.
  3. For the best surface quality, after the impregnation dries, the wood should be sanded to remove fine roughness and pile.


Conclusion

The choice of material for processing a wooden facade mainly depends on the desires of the home owners. But when choosing a paint, one should also take into account the climatic conditions of operation. For humid areas or areas with hot climates, different formulations should be used. At the same time, it is imperative to strictly follow the instructions for applying paint, as well as properly prepare the surface before starting work.