COLUMN: Exteriors that shine, by Debbie Travis
Dear Debbie; This is the year we paint our house. It’s a big job and we are calling in a professional, but want to do our research first. Our house is a 10-year-old new build, white siding, with shutters and garage set back. What’s the best paint to use? Does the paint sheen matter? Any tips on colour? Thank you. — Andrea Dear Andrea; There are some general guidelines that will help you choose how you want your exterior to look.
What’s around you? Your own neighbourhood is a consideration. No need to match up, but it’s wise to stay within a colour range that doesn’t jump out and clash with other houses.
The architecture of you house is a good place to start. You’ll find information and colour palettes for treating an historic building, or one with a distinct style such as Victorian, Cape Cod and Arts and Crafts on corresponding websites.
Choose your paint sheen for its durability as well as its looks. Any colour painted in a high sheen will stand out, and it’s the most durable of all finishes. The glossy finish is good for entry doors, shutters, some metal accessories including lanterns, lights, and railings. A flat or matte sheen is very forgiving, it hides small surfaces irregularities and is a good choice for the body of the house. A satin sheen works like flat but is easier to clean, a most popular choice for trim, window frames, and shutters.
Today we are in a transitional phase; the bold, clean lines of modern design are being softened up with a few rounded edge details and muted colours.
An example from Benjamin Moore’s Exterior Collection shows a pleasing contrast of Killarney, which is a soft olive green, against the White Diamond siding. The porch’s ceiling is Harbour Haze, a gentle blue reminiscent of a summer sky. All the sheens are satin or low lustre,
Always go with a high-quality paint designed for exteriors. Water-based paint is best for exterior work as it breaths, which is important for durability during climate changes. You save in the end with a superior result that will withstand the elements and clean easily. Make sure that you hire a professional who does thorough prep work.
If you are unsure of a colour you have chosen, apply a small amount and see how it reacts to the change in light. Make up a colour board if you are going with three or more colours. Enjoy the process.
Dear Debbie, I am restoring a few weathered wood signs. I’m sticking to the original paint colours. Once I have scraped and sanded and filled in cracks, what’s the best primer to use? Also, what do you suggest for the sheen of the paint? — Kurt
Dear Kurt; Restoring anything including signage is a great project. Since you are scraping back to the original wood, apply an exterior water-based primer to seal the wood. This makes a perfect base for the new paint. Sheen comes from the last coat that you apply to the surface. The most durable is paint or varnish that has the highest sheen, and if the sign is open to the weather this would be your best choice. You could opt to paint the background in satin and use high gloss paint for the words, decoration or numbers on the sign. The gloss will stand out.