Edward Bailey/DIY Works
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Exterior wood paint that’s cracked, peeled or blistered can ruin the look and feel of your outdoor space. Luckily, it’s easy to put right and the best way to fix the defective paint is to rub it down and apply a suitable paint that provides long-lasting weather protection.
Whether you’re painting your fence, garden shed, cladding, windows or door, you’ll want it to be long-lasting to make it worth your while. Therefore, most brands state a weather protection guarantee to provide you with an indication of the paint’s durability.
To help you choose the right exterior wood paint, our hand-picked selection features top-performing paints chosen through our first-hand experience painting various exterior wood surfaces. We also thoroughly tested a variety of paints and carried out the latest research.
Best Overall: Ronseal Weatherproof 2-in-1
Best Colour Selection: Dulux Weathershield
Best Matte Finish: Cuprinol Garden Shades Paint
Best Value: Johnstone’s Garden Colours
Best Gloss Finish: Santex 10 Year Exterior Gloss
Best Chalky Finish: Rust-Oleum Garden Paint
How The DIY Works Team Tests & Rates Exterior Wood Paints
From painting front doors to planters, over the years, we’ve used a range of exterior wood paints to transform our outdoor space. Whether we are painting outdoor surfaces in our personal home, in the DIY Works office, our Airbnb’s or rental properties, we’ve had the pleasure of testing out a selection of paints.
As with most paints, exterior wood paint is available in satin or gloss finishes and they can also be applied by brush, roller or sprayer. Therefore, we tested the paints in each application method (where applicable) as well as testing them on both bare and previously painted wood. After the application, we assessed its finish and the time it took to dry.
Below is a recent project where we painted wooden garden furniture and as you can see, it made a huge difference.
Edward Bailey/DIY Works
Edward Bailey/DIY Works
To keep up our commitment to reviewing and testing the latest exterior wood paints (for this article), we are continually testing out the latest offerings from top brands. This means that when we notice a brand has released a new paint, we will attempt to test it out on various exterior wood surfaces (i.e. garden furniture, sheds, planters and much more).
Edward Bailey/DIY Works
Edward Bailey/DIY Works
As well as our testing and experience with a range of exterior wood paints, we also based our recommendations on the latest research and several factors. Some of the factors that we considered included the paint’s finish, durability, colour selection, the time it takes to dry, ease of application and value for money.
Exterior Wood Paint Buying Guide
Painting exterior wood with a paint that can withstand the unpredictable British weather can easily transform your outdoor space. Exterior wood paints are available in multiple finishes and colours and can be brushed or sprayed onto the wood.
Repainting the wood not only improves it aesthetically but also adds to the protection. Whether you are painting windows, cladding, doors, fences or other garden components, the paint will provide the surface with many years of protection.
To help you make an informed buying decision, we’ve produced the below guide regarding exterior wood paints.
Gloss vs Satin Finish
Most exterior wood paints are available as a gloss or satin finish where both provide multiple years of protection.
Gloss paint is the best option if you require a high-shine finish that’s easy to clean and hard-wearing. It’s the most popular paint for exterior windows, doors and other bits of trim.
Satin paint doesn’t provide the shine and is great for hiding imperfections due to there being no reflections from the finish. Choosing between satin or gloss is a matter of personal preference as both provide great protection.
Weather Protection
If you are going to all the effort of preparing the wood and applying paint, you’ll want the paint to be long-lasting. The best exterior wood paint will often last for up to 10 years but cheap alternatives will be far less.
It’s important to note that the wood needs to be prepared appropriately and the application needs to follow the manufacturer’s instructions. Failing to do so will affect the durability of the paint and it may begin to flake, peel or blister.
If you want to achieve a flawless finish, we would recommend using wood filler on the surface beforehand.
Drying Time
Due to the unpredictable weather in the UK, fast-drying exterior wood paint is highly recommended. There is nothing worse than it beginning to rain as you are waiting for the paint to dry because it’ll ruin the overall finish.
All paint manufacturers will state a drying time on the instructions with Ronseal offering a fast drying time of just 1 hour. Before applying additional coats of paint, you should always wait the recommended amount of time for the best result.
Preparation
Before you begin painting the exterior wood paint, you will want to ensure the surface has been prepped. Ideally, you’ll want to use 120-grit sandpaper on bare wood and sand in the direction of the wood grain to ensure the surface is smooth before painting. If it has been previously painted, you can use lighter sandpaper to prepare the surface or use a paint stripper. If the wooden surface is in a bad way, you may want to use an electric sander to improve efficiency.
Once the wood has been sanded, you then have the option to use a filler to fill any gaps in the wood. Failing to prepare the surface correctly can result in cracks, blisters or peeling appearing like in the image below.
Application
Most of the paints listed in this article require application by brush or roller but some can be sprayed using a fence or power sprayer. Application instructions vary between brands and for the best result, you should follow them closely.
As you are painting, you should always paint in the direction of the wood grain for the best finish. One common mistake that many people make is not allowing enough time for the paint to dry between coats. Therefore, don’t be impatient and ensure that you allow enough time for the paint to dry between coats.
Maintenance
Over the years, the painted surface may suffer from a few knocks and tough dirt. However, you can easily clean most painted exterior wood with warm soapy water with no issues.
If part of the painted surface has become damaged, you can lightly sand the area until smooth and apply another coat.
Conclusion
Updating the exterior wood in your garden with a fresh lick of paint can make a huge difference. Wooden doors, windows, cladding, sheds, fences and other surfaces can be easily painted and protected in just a few hours.
All of our recommendations are suited to a range of budgets with different finishes. However, for the best result, you should ensure the surface has been prepared correctly and that you follow the manufacturer’s instructions.
If you require further information regarding any of our exterior wood paint recommendations, feel free to get in touch and we will try to provide our assistance where possible.
