Painted and Stained Surfaces

Painted Surfaces

The overall beauty of your home as well as its value can be best protected by regularly repainting exterior painted surfaces. All exterior wood materials require repainting periodically. Wood trim boards may pull away from one another and from other materials and will require caulking with a good exterior type caulk before repainting to prevent the possibility of leaks and to also improve the appearance of your home. Make sure the area to be caulked is clean from dirt, grease and debris. Exterior paint is particularly subject to fading or chalking caused by the sun and weather. Wood trim will develop minor cracks and raised grain as it ages and dries. Much of this aging will occur during the first year. Raised grain can result in peeling paint; however, this is not due to a defect in materials or workmanship. Paint maintenance of the wood trim and gutter is a much-needed part of homeowner maintenance.

Reminder: Lighter colors will usually require repainting sooner than darker colors. Make sure the area to be painted is clean of dirt, grease and debris.

Stained Surfaces

Certain wood finishes are intentionally stained rather than painted. Stain provides a protective finish that penetrates and protects the material, yet allows a natural grain and weathering process that in no way shortens the life of the material. The change in appearance brings out the beauty of the wood as time goes by. If you don’t like the weathered look, you may want to restain the material every two to three years. It is relatively simple to apply with either a brush or spray. Moreover, restaining does not require the skill of repainting.

If there are surfaces on your home that are stained, rather than painted, a natural process of aging and weathering will occur. Stained surfaces will eventually need to be restained and sealed. Natural finish doors require more frequent recoating than painted doors.

Varnish applied over the stain protects a stained finish but may crack or peel as a result of weather conditions, especially on a door exposed to the sun for long periods of time. Varnish may need sanding and resealing several times a year and is part of homeowner maintenance.