This is the third and final blog in our series all about the best exterior wood paint. Originally it was only meant to be a two-parter, but even we underestimated how versatile exterior wood paints can be and wanted to make sure every use had some time in the spotlight.
In part three we’ll be talking about doors and window frames, two surfaces we often neglect when decorating outside. If you haven’t read parts one and two yet, please do, as it will determine how much paint you should pick up – exterior wood paint can be used on a number of surfaces so more paint gives you more decorating opportunities!
But for now, strap in and enjoy our final deep dive into the benefits of painting wood.
Best Exterior Wood Paint For Front Door
Your front door is one of the first things visitors see when they approach your home. It deserves to look its best.
If you have an older property, you may have a wooden door. These look fantastic if you like the rustic look, but there are some disadvantages. Older wooden doors are at risk of insect and fungal attack. You may think that this is only something to keep in mind for your fences and sheds, but your front door can be just as susceptible.
By using a quality wood paint on your front door, it’ll repel any bugs and fungi. This means it’ll look great for a long time, and you won’t have to worry about it being eaten from the inside.
The most important thing for your front door is durability. Naturally you also want it to look great, but if the bold colours and sheen don’t last long enough, it’s not worth it.
This is why an oil-based wood paint is the way to go. It’s more durable than a water-based equivalent, and the higher sheen is often a better look for a wooden door, but lower sheen options are available.
If you do have your heart set on a water-based paint, or if you absolutely want a matte finish, our acrylic based satinwood is almost as durable and provides the boldest colours.
We have multiple paints that are perfect for front doors. The first is our oil-based undercoat, which guarantees a streak-free finish on any wood surface. Apply an even layer onto a clean and sanded surface (more about that in a moment) and your next layers will look fantastic. Even the best oil-based undercoat should never be used on its own, it’s a complement to other paints.
Speaking of other paints, we have two that are perfect for that final layer. If you prefer a high sheen, look no further than our oil-based gloss paint. It’ll catch the light just right, and makes your door shine all times of year. If you’re looking to paint your door frames, this is the perfect paint for that job too.
There’s also our oil-based satinwood. This is the exterior wood paint we’ve mentioned the most in this series of blogs, and for good reason. It’s designed from the ground up to be perfect for wooden surfaces – your front door will suit it just as well.
Tips for Painting a Wooden Door
Just having the best paint isn’t enough, you also need to know how to use it. Most of this advice will be applicable for all painting projects, so don’t skim over them just because your door isn’t your next job.
The most important thing to do before you start painting is to prep the surface properly. In the case of a wooden door, you need to remove all hinges, handles, pet flaps, and letterboxes before you get started. This can be a pain, and it will make your home a little draughtier for a while, but it’s essential if you want to get at every millimetre of the wood surface and want to avoid ruining the metal and/or plastic you aren’t painting today. You could cover up these areas with masking tape, but you risk missing parts of the door.
You should also sand the door down if it’s made of wood. This will remove all previous paint and the dirt and grime that has built up over the years. For the best painting results you need the perfect canvas, a smooth, unblemished door is a great one to work with.
In a similar vein, make sure the paint brushes or rollers you’re using are right for the job. If the bristles are stuck together or the roller is lumpy, you won’t get the ideal finish.
Our last tip is always test your paint out before you commit. Until the final layer is dry you won’t be 100% sure how it will look, so try a streak on an inconspicuous area first.
Best Exterior Wood Paint For Windows
Painting exterior windows is a relatively quick painting job but the results speak for themselves. This includes both the windows of your home and shed windows, although if you have a more modern home the latter might be the only wooden windows you’ll find outside.
Thankfully, the types of paint we listed for your front door are also excellent choices for windows and painting window frames. As a reminder, that’s:
We won’t mention all their benefits again to avoid repeating ourselves. Instead let’s talk about…
The Best Colour for Exterior Windows
When choosing the colour for your windows or window frames, you have a big decision to make. Do you want your windows to stand out, or blend in with your walls?
A colour that complements your walls, without standing out too much, is what we’d usually recommend for exterior windows, but if you want to be bolder, don’t let us stand in your way!
All the paints we’ve recommended today are part of our colour system. You can enter a British Standard or RAL code, and we’ll mix the perfect colour for your windows. This allows you to perfectly match a different surface, such as your walls or front door, or create the colour you picture in your head.
If this is too much choice, here are some of the most popular colours, not just for windows, but for all exterior wood surfaces:
- Black external wood paint (Creosote)
- White external wood paint
- Grey external wood paint
- Red external wood paint
- Grey external wood paint
- Brown external wood paint
- Clear external wood paint
The Best Exterior Wood Paint
Phew! There are a lot of wood surfaces outside our homes that we can freshen up with some new paint. It can be tricky to know where to start, especially if your decorating time is limited by the weather and how available you are.
Thankfully, most exterior wood paints can be used on multiple surfaces. You could paint your fences on Saturday, then move on to your windows while each layer dries. This gets more decorating done in the same timeframe, and you won’t have to break the bank as you can just use a single tin of paint! Since we provide paint and painting accessories for both domestic painters and tradespeople, you can order large batches that suit your needs, at a price that won’t empty your wallet.
We hope this blog series has inspired you to get out in the garden this summer and paint your wooden surfaces. If you follow our advice, you’ll be the envy of your friends, family, and any nosy neighbours!
