Always paint in the shade, never in the sun. Outside painting should only be done in temperatures between 10 and 40 degrees Celsius. In summer, the best way is to follow the sun around your home and paint only on the shady side. A hot sun will dry out the surface too quickly, which may cause the paint to wrinkle.

Checklist

• Primer or Undercoat


• Paint in the finish and quantity to suit your job


• Paint brushes - a selection of wider and smaller brushes


• Roller frame and roller tray to suit


• Roller covers to suit roller frame and paint finish


• Extension handle for roller frame


• Flexible sealant


• Filling blade (for applying filler)


• Heat gun or chemical paint stripper (for removing old paint)


• Sandpaper (for smoothing surfaces to be painted)


• Drop cloths (to protect driveways, paths, etc)


• Sugar soap, sponge and gloves (for washing down surfaces)


• Stepladder


• Flat paddle or ruler


• Masking tape

Types of Timber Stains and Finishes

There are a variety of surface finishes on the market that offer protection and enhancement to timber while preserving its natural look.

Interior Stains

Dye Stains give a beautiful result on pine and whitewood furniture, cupboards, doors and paneling. Pigment Stains add color without hiding the grain - they're available in decorator colors as well as timber tones. Clear Pine Finishes are intended for new, untreated pine.

Clear Polyurethane Finishes

These are commonly used to seal and protect stains, although the gloss, satin or matt polyurethane finish is attractive in its own right, especially on floors, bench tops and drawer units.

Waxes

Wax finishes offer the simplest of finishes, giving a natural sheen to bear or stained woods. Not hard-wearing but easy to maintain.

Scandinavian Oils

Exterior Oils are similar to Scandinavian Oils. These penetrating oils produce a soft, lustrous 'hand-rubbed' finish on doors, paneling and furniture. After waxes, they are the easiest to apply and maintain because the finish is in the surface and not on top of it. You may need to apply more coats of oil than you would have to apply of polyurethane.

Exterior Timber Stains

These are used for gables, weatherboards, windows, fascias, pergolas, decks and fences. These stains are lightly pigmented yet semi-transparent, allowing grain and texture to show through.

Acrylic Finishes

These are recommended for areas exposed to strong sunlight. The tough, flexible finish of a good product gives protection to a surface and needs less maintenance than a stain.

Pick your Color

When choosing stain colors, remember that the shade may be slightly different to that shown on the color chart. This is due to the color and porosity of the timber. As a general rule, the lighter the stain color, the more it will be affected by the color of your timber. Additional coats will intensify the color. Most stains darken as they dry.