Choosing the right paint can make a big difference to your home.
When choosing paint for natural wood, you need to consider several factors. In particular, you should consider the type of wood you have, if it has a rough or smooth finish and the direction of the grain. All of these factors influence how well the wood will retain paint. Also, the type of paint you choose should complement your home's appearance as well as protect the wood. Once you identify the type of wood on your home, you will be able to choose the right paint.
Instructions
1. Inspect the wood you want to paint. Determine if it is in good or poor condition. Wood that is in good condition is attractive when a lightweight stain is used, since a light stain allows the natural wood grain to show through. If the wood is also rough-sawn, using a light stain will give your home a rustic, natural look.
2. Look for problems and defects in the surface of the wood. If you see damage, discoloration or other attributes that you don't want to highlight, a heavier, solid color stain might be a better choice. This type of stain still colors the wood but does not let much of the grain -- or the defects -- show through. You can also use paint if there are defects you want to cover.
3. Determine what kind of wood you have on your house. Heavy, dense woods such as yellow pine tend to be affected more by weather changes, shrinking and swelling due to heat and moisture. The changes in the surfaces of these types of wood will cause paint to fail. Stains are the best choice for such surfaces. Oil-based stains tend to have the same problems as paint, but latex stains will adhere well. Paint works well on lighter, less dense woods, including cedar and redwood.
4. Check for bands of light and dark in the wood. These bands are called summerwood and springwood, and are characteristic of some kinds of wood, such as Douglas fir. Wood surfaces showing these bands will not hold paint well and should be stained with latex-based stains or penetrating oil-based stains instead of being painted.
5. Identify the type of grain in the wood. The grain pattern is a result of how the wood was cut when it was made into lumber. Siding and trim are often flat grained, giving them a smooth, even surface that is heavily affected by climate changes and does not hold paint well. Latex or penetrating stain is better for such surfaces. If the wood is edge grained, it will be less smooth and also less susceptible to size fluctuations due to the weather. Paint or oil-based stain is good for this type of wood.
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