A log house attracts people due to the naturalness of the material. However, the owners of such a structure must carry out protective finishing. Typically, painting a house made of timber is used. It helps improve external characteristics, and external paints for timber can create a protective coating from the effects of negative environmental factors. The dyeing process will be described in detail below.
General painting rules
Painting the outside of a log home may seem like an easy job. However, in order to get a high-quality and durable result, you should know the general rules of operation. The following points can be noted when painting a wood surface:
- The surface is sanded, it is more convenient to use a grinder, the process will go faster. Even fresh material should be sanded a little. Afterwards, the dust is removed with a vacuum cleaner, paying special attention to the seams;
- Apply protective agents - antiseptic and fire-fighting. You should make 2-3 layers;
- After priming, when the layer dries, they proceed to painting the timber. For best results, apply at least two layers.
The paint and varnish material can be applied to completely dried timber; they usually work in the summer.
Even fresh material should be sanded a little.
Features of the harmful effects of the environment
It is recommended to paint wood due to the need to protect the surface from many harmful natural factors to which the façade of a house is constantly exposed. The following impacts can be identified:
- Water has a destructive effect on a wooden structure; over time, the material becomes covered with unsightly stains and stains appear. The result will be darkening and deterioration of integrity;
- Ultraviolet radiation also leads to a change in surface color;
- Insects and pests destroy the tree;
- Humidity can lead to biological formations.
You need to move on to coloring faster; usually you can wait no more than 3-4 months.
It is recommended to paint wood due to the need to protect the surface from many harmful natural factors to which the façade of a house is constantly exposed.
Walls
Wooden houses are still popular today. They are environmentally friendly, relatively inexpensive, and thanks to modern protective compounds, they are also durable. It does not matter what type of building materials the building is constructed from - timber, logs or laminated veneer lumber, external facades require protective coating and treatment with antiseptics. This applies not only to new houses, but also to old ones that require renovation. This article will discuss how to properly paint the outside of a wooden house.
Content:
Next, we will consider in detail the reasons why it is necessary to restore the paint and varnish coating of a wooden house on the outside, the types of compositions that are suitable for external work on wood, and the technology for painting the outside of a wooden house with your own hands.
Causes of wood aging
Wood is a material with a living structure. Even a growing tree ages and becomes rotten over time, but in a felled tree these processes occur much faster. Untreated material loses its original luster in just one season, becoming gray. Therefore, to maintain an aesthetic appearance and to protect the wood itself, such houses require regular treatment.
- Atmospheric influence . This is sun, rain and temperature changes. They make the structure of the wooden facade rougher, reducing elasticity and changing its color from yellow to gray. Due to frequent expansion and contraction with changes in humidity, cracks appear, aggravating the aging process.
- Rotting and mold . They appear in places where the greatest amount of moisture accumulates - in cracks, over time, spreading to the entire surface. Mold is easy to notice even in the initial stages, since most often it is a different formation of gray-blue color, sometimes black. These stains do not greatly affect the quality of the wood structure, but are harmful to health. But the further decay caused by them is already dangerous and requires immediate intervention in the form of painting with special compounds.
- Bark beetles . They can even appear in new houses if the wane was not properly removed during construction or if low-quality material was used (for example, for roof sheathing). They can spoil wood unnoticed for many years. It is very difficult to get rid of them.
Advice: it is especially important to take care of high-quality protection of the facade of a wooden house if it is located near a large body of water or near highways with heavy traffic.
Choosing a paint color for your home's exterior
This is an important question, because the chosen color will affect the mood and satisfaction from the work done. The most convenient way to do this is directly in the store, where samples of wood painted in different shades are presented. When ordering paint online, the monitor may distort the actual color.
Looking through the options for painting wooden buildings in a magazine, a feeling of delight often arises, however, when choosing a color for their home, most people reach a dead end, not knowing what exactly to choose. A few tips will help here:
- First, you should decide whether the entire house will be repainted or just its individual elements. In the latter case, the color of the dye should be in harmony with the existing tone;
- some cottage communities require that the houses be similar in appearance, which means that the coloring must match the neighboring houses;
- the color of the composition applied to the wood may differ greatly in the artificial lighting of the store and in street light. Therefore, many consultants recommend purchasing a small jar of dye (often, upon request, I can tint a very small volume especially for the customer) and paint some element on the facade. This will allow you to accurately decide on the option.
Varieties of painting compositions for exterior use
Before painting the outside of a timber house, you need to study the range of products offered by manufacturers. There are two types of substances suitable for this purpose - impregnation and paint.
Before painting the outside of a timber house, you need to study the range of products offered by manufacturers.
Antiseptic impregnations and solutions
Antiseptic impregnations help create a barrier against the formation of mold and fungi on the surface of wood. They penetrate deeply into the wood structure, creating a protective layer.
Fireproofing solutions are also commercially available that reduce the flammability of wood, which is known to burn quickly. They are called fire retardants.
Antiseptic impregnations help create a barrier against the formation of mold and fungi on the surface of wood.
The best manufacturers
When choosing what to paint your country house for a long time, you should pay attention not only to the composition of the paint, but also to its manufacturer. Drugs from well-known brands, as a rule, are longer lasting and of higher quality than others.
Good, world-famous paints are produced by the following brands:
- Rhenocoll (Germany);
- Düfa (Germany);
- Tikkurila (Finland);
- Teknos (Finland);
- Dulux (Netherlands);
- Beckers (Sweden).
Among the domestic brands there are also high-quality and reliable ones:
- "Tex";
- "Svyatozar";
- "Yaroslavl Paints";
- "Optimist".
Types of paints for timber houses
The modern market offers a huge number of paints and varnishes that can create not only a decorative coating on wood, but also serve as protection against natural factors. The options differ in their properties and may be suitable for different situations.
The modern market offers a huge amount of paint and varnish materials.
Latex
This type is suitable for working with wood. They obtain a reliable coating that is distinguished by a high level of adhesion, protection against mold and mildew, safety, vapor permeability, mechanical protection, and elasticity.
However, they do not withstand exposure to low temperatures.
They receive a reliable coating that is distinguished by a high level of adhesion, protection against mold and mildew, and safety.
Acrylic
A popular type that has an affordable price. High levels of protection against various phenomena, as well as the durability of the coating, distinguish this product from others. The surface can be washed with abrasive agents. The composition dries quickly, but this can also be called a disadvantage. The composition in an open container must be applied within 5-6 hours for it to remain of high quality.
They receive a reliable coating that is distinguished by a high level of adhesion, protection against mold and mildew, and safety.
Oily
The protective properties of oil paints are high, and the color palette is varied. But they emit a pungent odor, take a long time to dry, are also not resistant to ultraviolet radiation, and the coating does not last long.
The protective properties of oil paints are high, and the color palette is varied.
Alkyd
The alkyd composition helps protect the wood from moisture, frost and other external factors. But it is difficult to adhere to the base and does not allow air to pass through.
The alkyd composition helps protect the wood from moisture, frost and other external factors.
Rubber
A new type of paint that has a number of positive aspects and no negative ones. Excellent for wooden bases. They last a long time. The high price is probably the only negative, but it is justified by the resulting properties.
Excellent for wooden bases.
Why protect wooden facades
It doesn’t matter whether the house is clad with construction boards using a curtain wall system or is entirely assembled from timber, the wood used in outdoor decoration requires protection. There are objective reasons for this; any wooden material has the following unattractive properties:
- easy flammability and excellent flammability;
- porosity and, as a result, moisture saturation;
- deformation under the influence of different temperatures;
- exposure to fungus and mold, as well as bugs and pests.
Wood damaged by mold requires treatment
Unprotected wood dries out over time, loses its attractive texture and color (turns gray), becomes loose, and therefore not durable. That is why the wood on the facade should be protected from the following factors:
- effects of UV rays;
- high humidity;
- insect pests.
In order to enhance the natural excellent characteristics of wood, and at the same time reduce risk factors for unpleasant situations, wood is impregnated with special compounds and treated with paints and varnishes.
Painted wall of a wooden house
Impregnations
Primer solutions or impregnations can be used as a preparation material for painting, or can also be used as a finishing material. There are 3 types of primers:
- antibacterial (from fungus and mold);
- flame retardants (from fire);
- water-repellent.
Since it is difficult to give preference to only one method of protection, fire-bioprotection compositions have been developed that include 2 mechanisms. Water-repellent primers generally protect against UV rays and strengthen wood.
On a note! All primers have a short lifespan as a topcoat. Therefore, without further painting, facade treatment will have to be carried out regularly every 2-3 years.
Primer treatment is a simple and mandatory process when processing a wooden facade.
Impregnation treatment will not only improve the appearance, but also increase the service life of the wood. For facade work, you should choose deep penetration compositions on an organic basis. Such solutions are usually toxic and have a characteristic unpleasant odor. When working with them, PPE (personal protective equipment) is used: gloves, goggles, respirator.
On a note! Most primers have a transparent base, which means that treatment with this composition will preserve the natural grain and color of the wood.
Prices for glaze impregnation for wood
Glaze impregnation for wood
Main stages of painting
To get the desired result you need to do some preparatory work. It will help improve grip. The next stage is directly applying the selected composition.
To get the desired result you need to do some preparatory work.
Preparing for painting
The house is prepared for processing by first grinding. After which it is necessary to thoroughly vacuum the surface. They polish the walls and clean them of dirt. Next, primer mixtures with antiseptic properties can be applied. They must be completely dry before the next step.
The house is prepared for processing by first grinding.
Impregnation and painting
It is recommended to paint in dry weather. Keep the surface dry. The substance can be applied with a brush, roller, or spray gun. It is more convenient to work with the latter; the process will not take much time. Usually several layers of paint are applied. Each layer must dry before the next.
Paint consumption can be calculated; the average is indicated by the manufacturer on the packaging. You need to know how many square meters will be painted.
It is recommended to paint in dry weather.
Compositions for interior painting works
When working indoors, the main thing is the safety of the equipment for humans. Therefore, when purchasing, pay attention to the manufacturer’s instructions to determine whether they are suitable for this painting. In rooms with high humidity, it is important to create protection against moisture.
When working indoors, the main thing is the safety of the equipment for humans.
Wax and mastic
You can treat the wood with wax to provide a protective function. It may be colorless or slightly change the tone of the surface. The shade will be known only after drying. Therefore, it is advisable to test the product by applying a small amount to the surface.
You can treat the wood with wax to provide a protective function.
Required materials and tools
Before you start painting your house, prepare all the tools you may need in advance. This will allow you not to be distracted while searching for the right item.
- Protective work clothing, rubber gloves, safety glasses;
- brush, roller, spray bottle;
- container for liquids (primers, drying oils, impregnations, paints and varnishes);
- sandpaper or angle grinder (angle grinder) with a replaceable disc for grinding;
- consumables (antiseptic, primer, paint and varnish);
- stepladder, scaffolding or sawhorse;
- paper (masking) tape.
If you plan to paint your house with a spray gun, you will need electricity to connect it. Also, electric current will be needed to turn on the angle grinder.
Lucky
Varnishes leave the natural color of the timber, creating a glossy or matte effect. Serve as a protective option. There are many types of varnishes; the choice should be made based on operating conditions. Apply the same as paint.
Varnishes leave the natural color of the timber, creating a glossy or matte effect.
How to choose a color for a timber house
The color of the coating should be chosen to match the style of the room. It is not difficult to choose the appropriate option in order to get a good combination with other buildings and structures, because the range is huge. There are any colors from black, chocolate to green, red, gold. Classically, the natural color of the wood is left by applying transparent compounds.
The color of the coating should be chosen to match the style of the room.
Technology of painting a house made of timber
The stages of painting indoors and outdoors are slightly different. Before painting the outside of a log house, you need to learn the rules of the job.
Outside
On the outside, they begin by preparing the surface, cleaning it and sanding it. The surface is primed to improve adhesion and save coloring agent. After the primer layer has dried, paint is applied. The process is carried out as standard, paying attention to the ends and seams.
The surface is primed to improve adhesion and save coloring agent.
Inside
They immediately begin by cleaning the surface, then eliminate surface defects, apply antiseptic compounds, and carry out grinding. When the surface is vacuumed, paint is applied. It is important that each layer dries.
It is important that each layer dries.
Painting a house made of profiled or laminated timber
Glued and profiled timber has a higher cost. The grinding stage will be easier to carry out, and the base will be of better quality. It is advisable to apply antiseptic impregnation to the timber itself, before construction. Priming is necessary; it is better to paint the surface with oil, acrylic paints or varnishes.
It is prohibited to use water-based dyes due to the poor resistance of the material to moisture.
It is advisable to apply antiseptic impregnation to the timber itself, before construction.
Painting the timber is necessary to obtain reliable protection from natural influences. It is better to choose high-quality compositions; saving will lead to the paint peeling off quickly. And the material will last less. Painting can only be done after preparing the base.
Choice of paint coating
The timber is sanded using a grinder with a special attachment.
In order for the façade of a house built of timber to be aesthetically pleasing and protected from negative factors, you should choose a suitable composition for painting. Below are the characteristics of coatings from different manufacturers that can help you make your choice.
Thus, the German manufacturer Zobel presents compositions for timber that are environmentally friendly, have excellent adhesion to wood and are inexpensive.
These compositions are also chosen because they are water-based and do not have an unpleasant odor. After application, these varnishes are able to retain their original color for a long time, but they also have a drawback, which is the need to periodically renew the coating every 5 years.
Spray gun device for painting timber.
But the compositions of the German manufacturer Osmo, on the contrary, have a very high cost, but they have a lot of additional qualities that deserve attention, among them: ease of application and subsequent removal if necessary. These paints are oil-based, environmentally friendly and are able to hold color well while maintaining the wood texture.
If you want to save money, you can also prefer varnishes from the Finnish manufacturer Tikkurila; spending money on external painting of log houses is often impractical, since most coatings need to be renewed again after 5 years.
The Russian manufacturer Termika does not offer such a wide range of products for painting laminated veneer lumber; moreover, the varnishes of this manufacturer require even more frequent (every 3 years) updating.
