Quick Buying Guide

External low-maintenance paints for timber are specially formulated to provide a longer period between full redecorations than standard decorative paints, this is normally around 5 years (as opposed to 2-3 years for standard decorative paints), although some may offer protection for 7 years or more when properly applied.

Nevertheless its good practice to maintain your low maintenance coating by checking it every 2-3 years and repairing any open joints, mechanical damage or other problems which have appeared since the last full redecoration.

Low maintenance coatings are normally manufactured using more expensive formulations, which means higher prices to the end user. This is usually justified, as the benefits can mean substantially reduced maintenance costs, not to mention time (if you intend to do-it-yourself).

Look out for coatings which are marked as Moisture Vapour Permeable (MVP), or Microporous, these allow the timber to loose moisture at a greater rate than standard paints, this can prevent a build-up of moisture beneath the coating, reducing the risk of the coating losing adhesion, or the timber rotting.

You will generally have a choice of Alkyd (solvent-borne), or Acrylic (water-borne) formulations, which will come in a variety of colours and finishes. Acrylic coatings have a number of substantial benefits over most Alkyd coatings; they don't crack, peel or flake, rather they wear by erosion, which means no more 'burning off'; whites stay white; gloss finishes are retained far longer; they dry faster; maintenance cycles are generally 7 years or more; they are easily repaired; clean up in water; no smell. We would recommend using Acrylics on all external timbers in preference to Alkyds, apart from areas which are likely to receive knocks and bangs (front/back doors and frames etc.), as they are not as resistant to mechanical damage.