So having saved £5k by not having my 3g windows factory painted two different colours inside and out my thoughts turn to the best coloured paint to the outside.

(The idea was grey outside and clear inside; looked at two colour paint, alu clad etc but so much cheaper to DIY).

So any idea what the best paint to use would be (not necessarily an eco paint...) ??

J

Try: osmouk.com , nice exterior finishes in colours both clear; ( mostly woodshades ) and opaque; ( bigger palette of brighter colours ). As a general rule of thumb I find clear type finishes easier and quicker to maintain. I haven't tried Osmo opaque finishes, but they seem to have a decent colour range. If you choose colours carefully you could possibly start with a clear finish then a few, hopefully long, years down the line when the wood may look a bit "tired" you could change to a similar shade opaque finish which will have a better blemish covering capacity.

Mike

Is it really really true that colourless clear 'stain' finish is inherently non-durable, and time between redecoration, protection of the timber etc is related to the amount of pigment i.e. diminishing 'natural' clarity? Having bought windows of quality softwood, it's v nice to see them finished in their own variegated natural colours, rather than 'light oak' or whatever, that just turns them an un-natural yellow, someone's artificial idea of 'wood colour'.

....I had wondered about the possibility of just getting the most bomb proof chemical concoction marketed as paint that money can buy; on the principle that it might last quite a bit longer than the warm and cuddly 'natural' paint.

If I was certain to be the custodian of these windows forever then perhaps I would lovingly re-apply some natural oily goodness every 3 years or so but I might move on at which point the likelihood is that all the following re coats will be of the aforementioned 'nasty stuff' any way, so if by applying 'nasty stuff' I put off the 1st repaint for say up to 10 years and prolong the life of the windows etc etc...

...any of this sound plausible...?

J

Posted By: James Nortonthe most bomb proof chemical concoction marketed as paint that money can buy

That AFAIK is linseed oil paint?

linseed oil or linseed oil based paint

I favour no paint at all!!!

(Tony may have already said that.)

James, being where I am in Italy my old softwood shutters get massive solar exposure and also similar rain fall to London. I tried v expensive colourless impregnators - result beautiful wood..... but for less than one year! I tried coloured stains - 2 years. Can't face re-doing gloss so have tried linseed oil paint - after one year no signs of ageing at all and colour can be re-instated with neat linseed oil after a few years then one coat of paint after a few more years, and repeat - only a light rub down needed each time. BUT - coverage was less than one quarter of what we allowed for and that was 70% of what was recommended after pre-coating with neat linseed oil first; 3 coats plus touch ups was needed; in perfect conditions (which we had) it was just possible to re-coat after 24 hrs (you must factor in 48 hrs in UK between coats) - even when recoatable it is still soft if placed on a surface (ie to do the other side for example). It is expensive stuff to start with but with the coverage it becomes ridiculous for us and it can't be got here - boo hoo I'm in a right mess.

I don't understand about your coverage problem, Gotanewlife. Bog standard paints do around 12 m2 per litre while linseed paint does over 20. You do need to brush it out very thinly but I've always thought it goes a very long way.

The most expensive paint is cheap paint.

no paint at all is cheapest!!!

I have seen unpainted pine on north and east elevations survive unpainted for 60 years

meanie