Old weathered boards staring you down?
Our piece on how to paint old exterior wood the right way walks through stripping loose junk, killing mildew, filling gaps so new paint doesn't crack later.
Folks always wonder about longevity too. Done smart, quality acrylic latex holds up 7 to 10 years on outside wood, sometimes pushing 12 if you stay on top of maintenance.
Fixing the peeling disaster before it ruins everything
Peeling drives people bonkers. We put together six real fixes that actually stick: thorough scraping, orbital sanding, bleach-and-scrub for mildew, crack filler, solid primer, then flexible topcoat.
Pressure-treated stuff is sneaky. Read the pressure-treated wood guide first. Moisture has to drop below 15% or you're basically sealing a wet sponge inside the wood. Blisters guaranteed.
Picking paint that won't let you down
Paint choice matters more than most admit. Head to best outdoor paint for wood. Low-VOC acrylics usually win because they move with the wood instead of cracking rigid. Cleanup's just soap and water too, way kinder to the planet.
Cedar? Whole different animal. Check painting cedar wood special considerations. Tannins bleed like crazy unless you lock them down with the right primer.
Different surfaces, different moves
Siding behaves one way, fences another. Painting exterior wood siding gets into back-brushing after spraying, caulking joints properly. How to paint wooden fences and gates stresses hitting every cut end twice, taping off hinges, working top to bottom so runs don't wreck finished spots.
Dealing with weather and keeping it nice long-term
Rainy spells got you stalled? Exterior wood painting in rainy seasons shares canopy hacks, waiting for 48-hour dry forecasts, picking mildew blockers.
After the job's done, don't vanish. Maintaining painted exterior wood means soft washing once a year, eyeballing for early wear, touching up chips quick.
Speed tricks and traps to avoid
Time is money whether you're a pro or just sick of the project dragging. Peek at best tools for fast exterior wood painting projects. HVLP sprayers cover fast, angled sash brushes nail trim, reusable tarps save cash, and our Paintbrush Guard keeps bristles workable during breaks instead of crusting over.
Please, for the love of smooth finishes, skip the common mistakes in exterior wood painting. Painting in full sun, skipping primer, globbing on thick layers, all classics that end in tears.
