With Ireland’s climate, paint work on the exterior surfaces of buildings often show the adverse affects of our cold wet winters and warm humid summers, making the best paint jobs look aged and worn out more quickly

Common signs of weather damage are: cracked and peeling paint, fading, water damage, mould, wood rot and noticeable damage to the surface underneath the paint.

1. Clean the surface using soapy water for wood trim and siding or a pressure washer for bricks and masonry
2. Removal of any loose paint, fill and sand smooth on surfaces to be painted.
3. Prime and seal surface with an appropriate primer

With today’s technologies, exterior paints and stains are always being reformulated and refined to make them more durable, colourfast and eco-friendly.

Oil vs. Latex
Traditionally, oil paint has been the first choice of painters due to its durability outside.

While oil (or alkyd as it is often called) is a good candidate for exteriors, it is not particularly good for the environment. The fumes from the paint release harmful vapours called VOCs (Volatile Organic Compounds)

With ever increasing demand for eco-friendly coatings and products, there are now good selections of exterior no-VOC latex paints that have both durability and are colourfast. These coatings exceed the previously used exterior oil paints in their application and endurance.