Which paint for outside? A guide for frames and woodwork
Opaque or transparent, water-based or solvent-based, light or dark: the choices you make with your painter — and what they mean for maintenance.
The first choice is opaque or transparent. Opaque paint lays a closed, coloured layer over the wood and protects longest; transparent stain shows the grain but weathers faster and therefore needs more frequent maintenance. For window frames and other exterior woodwork an opaque paint system is the standard choice; stain is mostly seen on cladding and fences.
The second choice is the system: water-based (acrylic) paint dries fast, barely yellows and has become the norm for most exterior jobs; solvent-based (alkyd) paint flows out beautifully and is still favoured for sleek trim work. Which combination of primer and topcoat fits depends on the surface and the existing paint system — leave that judgement to the painter and ask in the quote which system will be used, so you also know what to touch up with later.
Colour is more than taste. Dark colours get considerably hotter in the sun than light ones, which makes the wood and the paint layer work harder — on the sunny side a light or muted shade is the maintenance-friendly choice. Changing colour also often means extra opaque coats; factor that into the price of exterior painting.
The cost stays manageable: the paint system is part of the per-m² price, and the price index shows how the bands per service are built up. More important than the brand on the tin is the preparation: sanding, degreasing, priming and sealant work determine how long the system lasts — exactly the part you should be able to read back on a quote.
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