Making The Choice To Paint My Home

Posted on: 3 February 2023

Are you planning a painting project for your home's wood siding? If so, you must choose the right paint products for the projects. Unfortunately, selecting the right paint is not as simple as picking a color. You must consider the characteristics of the wood siding as well. Therefore, consider the wood properties below when picking paint products for your siding painting project.

Resistance to Weather Damage 

Various species of wood perform differently when exposed to these weather elements. For example, spruce and pine are prone to rot when exposed to moisture. They are also more prone to UV damage than other wood species used for exterior siding. On the other hand, redwood and cedar have excellent rot resistance and perform well when exposed to extreme solar heat.

You can use paint to improve the siding's resilience to weather damage. If your wood siding is made of spruce or pine, select durable paint finishes with excellent moisture resistance. Oil-based, alkyd, and acrylic paints are ideal choices due to their ability to withstand moisture infiltration and mildew growth. Thus, they can protect softwoods from rot and decay.

Water-based paints are easy to apply, have good color retention, and are low in volatile organic compounds (VOCs). However, they offer little protection against moisture, mold, and mildew. Therefore, they are suitable for softwood species that can resist weather damage, such as cedar and redwood.

Wood Texture

Textured wood, such as cedar and redwood, requires adequate priming to allow the paint to adhere to the surface. The number of coats needed to even out the textured surface depends on the type of paint you choose. Oil-based paints have a thick consistency; thus, they can provide a smooth finish with just one coat.

Water-based paints are lighter; therefore, they require multiple coats to provide complete coverage on a textured surface. Woods such as pine and spruce have smooth surfaces, which allows you to achieve an excellent paint job with fewer coats of oil-based and water-based paints. Therefore, you can preserve the natural color of the wood without compromising on coverage and protection against the elements.

Wood Porosity

Wood porosity determines how paint is absorbed into the timber and how it adheres to the surface. Highly porous wood, such as pine, absorbs finishes quickly, leading to a more uniform finish. Latex paint and water-based stains are suitable for porous wood as they are thin and lightweight. Conversely, dense or low-porosity wood absorbs paint slowly, which can lead to an uneven finish. Acrylic and oil-based paints require fewer coats to achieve a smooth, durable finish; thus, they work well with dense wood species.

These wood properties will help you choose the right paint for your exterior wood siding.

Contact a company like Beyond Exteriors to learn more.