Tips on How to Paint Outdoor Wood Features

Could the external wood features outside your home do with a face-lift? If so, you need to prepare properly before you take out your paint brush and can of paint and start painting. Below are some tips that will ensure that the next time you paint the outdoor wood features outside your home, the whole process will run as smoothly as possible.

Weather Conditions

Before you take on this type of DIY project, make sure you have favourable weather conditions. There's very little point in painting your fence panels, sheds and other wooden based features if the weather forecast predicts rain or other adverse weather conditions. It's also advisable to paint early in the day so that the paint on the outdoor feature you have worked on has dried by evening or night time, when weather conditions can change.

Get the Proper Advice

This type of work may seem to be straight forward. However, if you have not carried out this type of paint work before, it pays to get some good advice from people who know what they are doing. The shop where you buy your paint and primers should be able to give you sound advice and you should also take note of the manufacturer’s recommendations that come with these types of products.

Exterior Paint Quality

In most cases, you get what you pay for and this is particularly true when it comes to external paints. Cutting corners can be a costly exercise because cheaper, poorer quality paints won't last as long as higher quality alternatives and you will end up having to repaint again sooner than you would like.

Preparation

Like any DIY project, the more you prepare, the better your results will be. A wide range of issues can affect outdoor wooden products and these problems need to be addressed before you decide to cover these items in paint.

Rotting wood, rusty nail marks, dampness and fungus are just some of the problems that you need to remove. In most instances, you can sand where necessary, add a primer and then finally apply the paint to the wooden feature in question.

Don't Paint on Damp Surfaces

Ideally, the surface you paint on should be as dry as possible. If you frequently have poor weather conditions and it rains a lot, it may be worth your while bringing the wooden feature indoors to dry out thoroughly. Once you are satisfied that it has fully dried, you can prepare it and then paint it with more confidence, and you can be sure that everything will turn out fine.

Use the Right Painting Methods

When you are preparing and painting an exterior wood product, take your time. You should begin at the top of the item you are working on and paint downwards. You should also complete this type of work in one go. These steps will ensure that you get an even finish when the paint you apply finally dries.

Before you decide to paint any outdoor wood features, make sure you follow the tips and advice above. Doing this will guarantee that you do a much better job and that you won't have to repaint the same wooden features for a long time to come.

You should also take the time out to choose the right kind of paint, which should largely be determined by the specific needs of the building and your budget. From cheap polyester resins and SMPs to reflective finishes and expensive granular coatings; there are a lot of options to consider while choosing the right type paint for a metal building.