The range of paints and varnishes today, as never before, is great, which cannot but complicate the choice in the eyes of an inexperienced user. Even with respect to wood coatings, manufacturers produce several categories of compositions, each of which is also modified with special additives and pigments. But the question of how to paint a wooden house is only part of the path to obtaining the expected result. Focusing on the criteria below, it will be possible to make the right choice of paint for a particular case. But even the right choice will not give the desired effect, if you ignore the advice from experts regarding the direct process of applying the product.
What colors are suitable for a wooden house?
Since Soviet times, the first thing they tried to paint wooden buildings and structures of the painter was oil paint. To this day, it remains relevant, being introduced to the market in new, improved versions. But by this time, other options had appeared, fundamentally different in composition. For example, what paint should a wooden house be painted so that, over time, dark spots do not form on it (a common sign of poor-quality oil composition)? Weatherproofing agent should be used. The solvent based alkyd compound is the best fit. The created coating can hardly be called optimal in terms of environmental and aesthetic properties, but it will cope with the protective functions.
One of the most popular indoor applications is acrylic paint. Its basis is water, so it is allowed for use in living rooms. But what paint to paint a wooden house to preserve the widest possible range of positive properties? There are no specific formulations with certain solvents and excipients for universal use, but manufacturers offer many combined and modified products. So, in the premium lines you can find paints with enhanced protective properties that form a dense film that resists even mechanical stress. Such a coating will contain a UV filter, antiseptics and biological additives against fungus and mold. The presence of natural oils will tell about environmental cleanliness. Now it is worth familiarizing yourself in more detail with the mentioned types of compositions that are most in demand on the market.
Oil paint for wood
As already mentioned, this composition continues the classic line of wood products. But even today, such paints have a number of disadvantages that should be borne in mind before buying. Among them are the following:
- Pungent smell.
- Long drying period (about 24 hours).
- Susceptibility to smudges.
- It is not recommended to combine with other coatings.
- Low resistance to mechanical stress.
- Some mixtures are environmentally harmful.
But are there such advantages in such paints? If there is a question about how to paint an old wooden house in a complex and with a minimum consumption of material, then the oil compounds can help out. Such mixtures have the highest absorption coefficient precisely because of the long drying time, but then you can count on saving finances when buying. The pluses include rust protection, so you do not have to separately paint the metal parts and structures with anti-corrosion agents.
Alkyd paints
In many ways, this is the opposite of oil paint. For example, alkyd mixtures have a high drying period (on average 10 hours) and a shallow penetration into the wood structure. But in terms of savings, the effect will be the same, since the paint itself is inexpensive and it is quite possible to count on high consumption. What paint to paint an old wooden house - oil or alkyd? If we take into account external factors of influence, in which the process of structural destruction will only intensify, then the second option is better. Alkyd compounds are not only resistant to atmospheric phenomena, but also endure prolonged contact with moisture, which is very important from the point of view of preserving wood. This composition is also suitable for residents of cold regions - the coating can withstand temperatures of about -30 ° C. In the process, experts recommend applying this paint only on well-dried surfaces. This will eliminate the risks of bubble formation, as well as prevent peeling of the paintwork.
Acrylic paint for wood
The most modern means for painting, but it is also the most expensive. The advantages of this paint include environmental friendliness, elasticity and the absence of pungent odors, since water is used as a solvent. But are these benefits justified in view of the increased cost of the product? If you plan to use the composition for facade design, it will be justified. The fact is that acrylic provides a whole range of protective qualities, including resistance to wind, frost, moisture, high temperature and UV radiation. Moreover, outwardly dense insulation does not at all create the effect of complete tightness - the wood base retains the ability to “breathe”. But it must be borne in mind that this material must not be kept at subzero temperatures.
Another question matters - what paint is better to paint a wooden house, if the stake is on the decorative component? In this regard, it is also the acrylic composition that shows itself well for many years, leaving juicy shades of the coating. According to various estimates, we can talk about 5-8 years of operation of painted wood. Moreover, experienced painters note the convenience in working with such a paint. The layers are laid easily, quickly dry and deeply enter the structure of the material. The composition mixes well, which also makes it possible to create a variety of shades.
How to paint a wooden house for its restoration?
Repair and restoration work often becomes necessary when painting especially old wooden houses. The restoration effect includes not only an increase in the expressiveness of the surface texture, but also a halt or prevention of biological destruction processes. How to paint a wooden house beautifully, and at the same time extend the life of its surfaces? To do this, use the following tools:
- Enamels and water dispersible compounds intended for wood. Effect - painting wood texture. Such compositions, as a rule, do not contain antiseptics, therefore, to prevent further destruction of the material, biological additives should be used in a separate order.
- Bleaching agents. The main emphasis is on maintaining external beauty, but with the support of the fiber structure.
- Textural compositions. You can achieve surface conservation for a long time, but the coating will have a dark tone.
- Soil antiseptics. Usually alkyd-based formulations with natural oils, but the main place in them is occupied by active coating and glaze resins. You can refresh the color of wood, strengthen the surface layers, as well as preserve the natural texture.
Indoor Tips
For the internal space in a wooden house, constant air exchange is especially important, so the paint should not clog the natural circulation channels. At the same time, it is important to preserve the natural texture of wood. For such purposes, it is recommended to use glaze colors with varying degrees of blackout. Alkyd varnishes that look a little yellow look good in rooms, but this even goes to the plus. And again, do not forget about the protective properties. Log, panel and board surfaces should receive a water and dirt-repellent film, which will also protect the material from mold and other factors of destruction.
Now you can move on to the question of how to beautifully paint a wooden house from the inside? First of all, the surface is prepared for work. In addition to stripping the base, it may require alignment. This operation can be performed with a special primer on wood. Directly painting is more convenient to produce a compact spray gun. Its tank should be filled with a prepared composition, then set the necessary settings and start the workflow. When spraying, the feed nozzle is held at a distance of 25-30 cm from the target surface. In this case, the layers are applied thin in order to exclude the possibility of smudges. The lack of thickness can be made up in the next pass, but you should not try to give the surface a finished look at a time.
Features of painting a wooden floor
The most demanding surface for mechanical protection. The floor of a wooden house is not always painted, but in any case it will require a special coating with a water-repellent effect, otherwise the structure will collapse or mold. How to paint a wooden house in this part? A win-win option would be water parquet varnish. It will act as the base coat for the type of primer. Behind it, you can apply several layers of acrylate polyurethane varnish. On the market you can find glossy and semi-glossy models of this product. Parkers do not exclude the use of conventional polyurethane varnishes for wooden flooring. For example, urethane-alkyd compounds based on white spirit show themselves well as wear-resistant and cleaning-tolerant coatings. With these compounds, you can paint a new wooden house in the part of the facade, if the operation involves strong physical influences. If the task is to maintain the most pronounced texture of the tree, then it makes sense to turn to enamels, also intended for wooden surfaces. It is advisable to choose from rulers for industrial or commercial use - garages, trading floors, warehouses, etc. Such enamels are resistant to chemical and mechanical influences, which is optimal for a wooden floor.
How and how to paint the facade of a wooden house?
The process of applying paint to external surfaces is also divided into two parts: preparation and direct application of a decorative coating. If the building is new, then surface cleaning from dirt and dust will suffice. This can be done with improvised abrasive products. The old walls will have to be rid of the previous paint layer, and then apply the base preparatory layer of the primer. How to paint an old wooden house outside in the first layer? Universal agents include deep penetration acrylic paints and two-component polyurethane compositions. In this choice, it is important to consider that for serious damage the use of putty may be required. The top coating should provide sufficient adhesion with the leveling cover and correspond to its chemical properties.
Then proceed to the application of decorative paint. The finish is laid after the base dries. New layers are impregnated with antiseptics, the enzymes of which are present in primers for old wood. What paint to paint a wooden house outside as a final decoration? It should be guided mainly by the protective properties. Alkyd-acrylic materials with molecules that penetrate deeply into the structure of the fibers are optimal. As for the application method, it is better to use a roller with large format brushes that will allow you to lay layers of sufficient thickness.
General guidelines for painting
When the type of composition has been determined, you can begin to purchase a specific product. How to paint a wooden house, choosing from a wide range of manufacturers? For facades, experts recommend firms Tikkurila and Alpina. High-quality universal mixes can be found in the Dufa, Beckers and Dulux families. Further along the way, it is advisable to adhere to the following rules:
- The composition is thoroughly mixed using an electric construction mixer.
- Paint should be laid only in warm, calm and dry weather. But the bright sun should also be avoided.
- Before applying the color, it is better to test on an unnecessary wooden blank close to the texture of the house.
- Topcoat must be applied in at least 2 coats.
- Particular attention is paid to complex sections of the facade. How to paint a wooden log house? More paint should flow to the lower crowns. In the same part, reliable biological protection of wood should be provided. The ends of the boards are necessarily covered with a primer.
- Especially for freshly sawn logs, acrylic copolymers are added, supplemented with indelible biocidal components. They should be used pointwise in areas of the saw to prevent cracking and decay.
Conclusion
Wood is a very capricious material in the decoration and subsequent care. Each stage of preparation and painting involves a high share of responsibility of the master, since the slightest miscalculation can cause a slow destruction of the material structure in the future. The most difficult part is the facade. How beautiful is it to paint a wooden house outside so that it retains its appearance and structure for as long as possible? A lot depends on surface preparation. It will not be superfluous to conduct a comprehensive troubleshooting before identifying weak parts of the structure. Only after this can you start the primer and laying of the finish coating. There are also nuances in painting the interior walls. In the premises, the emphasis is on creating a favorable environmental and microclimatic background. The selection of textured performance will be especially important. But even after completion of work activities, it is impossible to leave coatings without proper supervision. There are special mixtures and impregnations that will maintain the state of the applied paint layer during its further operation.