- Wednesday 04 May 2022
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It's the perfect time of year to start thinking about doing some exterior painting.
Here are some practical tips on how to get everything ready before you actually start to paint!
First things first, check the weather forecast and pick a dry day to do these jobs, it'll make your life a lot easier in the long run. Also don't forget to think about safety and make sure you have google, mask, hard hat, harness etc if necessary.
Clear away any overgrowth or debris
- Remove items from the area such as trellises, hanging containers etc
- Remove moss, weeds, roots etc
- Ensure that walls are free of mould and mildew - ask our instore experts as we have plenty of options here to fully prep your walls before painting e.g. Colourtrend Fungicidal Wash
- Use a wire brush to remove any flaking paint
- Follow the instructions of any cleaners that you use and let them dry for the specified time before you start painting
- Protect areas that you aren't going to paint with masking tape
- Fill in any gaps on masonry, concrete or bricks with a filler that's suitable for outdoors
Choosing the Correct Exterior Paint
Apply a tough base coat suitable for exterior before you start. Consult with our in-store experts who will guide you on choosing the best base coat from our ranges for your project.
When choosing your paint, choose a masonry paint from our brands which include Dulux Weathershield, Colourtrend and Fleetwood.
Check out this really handy guide from Colourtrend about painting your exterior walls which helps you identify and solve many common issues.
When choosing your paint, make sure to consider breathability, fade-resistant technology and check that it's easy to apply with a brush, roller or spray. Also ensure that you leave insufficient drying time between coats of paint.
All Surface Exterior Paint
You may decide that your project requries a specialist paint offering supreme protection to certain surfaces. Generally some of these paints can be applied to many different surfaces. Types of specialist paint include gloss paint, bitumen, tar, varnish, creosote, timber paint, metal paint etc.
For a full list of specialist paints, check out our website.
Wood Protection
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For wooden exterior finishes, you'll need tough long-lasting UV protection which you'll get in products that are specifically designed for this purpose. These work perfectly on windows, doors and other wooden features.
Some good options here include:
- Ronseal 10 year woodstain which offers weather protection that is BBA approved for 10 years and dries in just 1 hour
- Ronseal Yacht Varnish - comes in gloss or satin
- Sikkens Woodcare - superior and long lasting wood protection
Fence/Shed Paint
When painting fences and sheds, look for water-resistant and dirt-proof qualities.
Ideally you would choose a product that can be used on rough sawn and even smooth planed wood also. These paints and typically also suitable for garden furniture.
If time (or weather!) isn't on your side, check for a quick drying paint.
A good product to choose for this type of job is Ronseal Fence Life Plus which will even stick to damp wood and gives colour protection for up to 5 years. It can be sprayed or brushed. In our Bandon store you will also find Cuprinol Ducks Back in a range of colours with similar protection to Ronseal Fence Life Plus.
Choosing Colours
Check out this booklet by Colourtrend with amazing insprational photos and colour combinations. It's well worth checking out some guides before you start choosing colours.
Alternatively Dulux have an excellent gallery of photos to browse online for some great ideas.
Also check out our Instagram page for some great ideas
Accessories
Don't forget to pick up your heavy duty brushes which are made specifically for outdoor painting and are extra durable. Full range of items available in store at Bandon, Kinsale and Enniskeane. Browse online here
We hope you get great satisfaction out of completing all your painting this Summer. Feel free to share your photos with us on Facebook or Instagram
