Painting the exterior or interior of your house is a huge job. Before you go ahead, there are many factors to consider.
You’ll want to think of things like which type of paint you should use, how you should prepare and most importantly, what color you should choose.
When it comes to painting your wood siding, the best colors to choose are beige, tan, or ivory. These colors are most in-demand and can increase the value of your house. A cream is also a great option or an off-white color.
In this article, I’ll talk about everything you need to know when you’re planning to paint your wood siding. From which color to choose to how to prepare and paint your house.
Which Color is Best for Wood Siding?
Contents
When it comes to painting the exterior of your house, you need to consider which color is the best one to use. While there are many colors to choose from, there’s a good reason why some colors are so popular. I’ll discuss in more detail here what the best colors to choose are.
Beige (Tan)
This is a classic choice because it’s great at maintaining a modern look while hiding dust and dirt. This makes it much easier to maintain. Being a lighter color, it also makes the house look bigger.
Another benefit about painting the exterior of your house beige is that this color pairs well with different color trimmings.
Blue
This is the color that people choose when they want something a little more playful or colorful. It’s a great choice because it still leans towards neutral colors and is not too vibrant.
Another great advantage about choosing blue is that there’s a range of hues to go for, depending on your preference.
Ivory (White)
There are so many types of white to choose from when it comes to painting wood siding. Eggshell whites and ivories tend to be the more favored kinds. White is classic because it can be paired with any other color used for the trimmings.
It also makes a house look bigger. Good quality paint is also great because you can easily wash away dirt.
Gray
This is becoming one of the most popular choices for exterior wall paint. There is a range of grays to choose from, with the most popular choice leaning towards a blue-gray.
Not only does gray give a sense of calm, but it also makes for a modern look and also goes really well with white trimmings.
Neutral or Earthy
These are your browns, greens, or natural colors and are also a great choice for wooden siding. These colors can also be low maintenance because they blend in with the natural environment.
This makes earthy colors a good choice for houses that are in a more natural setting.
Earthy colors can also lean towards orange or orchre colors, which are more yellow. These colors go really well with gray too. These are great if you want to create a warm tone.
When going for earthy greens, these can range from pastels to darker greens. Popular greens include sage or olive colors. These are celebrated for their calming effect.
Can You Use More Than One color?
Many people believe that you should use only one color when painting your exterior walls. However, it can be wise to go for up to three different colors.
These don’t have to differ too much and can simply be different hues of the same color.
A good example is painting the main exterior gray and the trimmings of the windows and doors white. Choosing more than one color can really help to accentuate the architecture of your house.
What Color Siding Fades the Least?
The color you choose to paint your siding depends on many factors. If you have time and money to keep the exterior paint well-maintained, then you can go for darker colors.
These colors fade more and also require more touch-ups.
The lighter the color, the less maintenance is required. White is a color that doesn’t fade easily, and if you use high-quality paint, you can easily wash off any dirt.
Off-white or Eggshell whites also work well because they are better at hiding dirt and can be easily maintained.
What Kind of Paint Do You Use on Wood Siding?
When it comes to painting wood siding, you’ll want to lean towards paints with a sheen finish. This includes semi-gloss and high-gloss paint. These allow for a smoother and non-porous finish.
One of the best paint types to go for is latex paint. Oil-based paints are also a great option.
What to Use to Paint Wood Siding
Like with most painting projects, to achieve the best finish, you’ll need to use different tools. You can use a roller to paint larger areas of the wood siding. You can also spray your wood siding. However, it’s a much more tedious process when it comes to preparing.
Rollers also allow you to spread the paint thick and evenly. When it comes to edges and smaller detailed areas, you’ll want to switch to using a brush.
How to Prep and Paint Wood Siding
You can save a lot of time and money in the long run with proper preparation before painting your wood siding.
Taking shortcuts often leads to premature fading and peeling of the paint.
How Do You Clean and Fix Wood Siding Before Painting?
The first step to preparing wood siding for a new paint job is to clean it well. Start by pressure cleaning the area you want to paint to remove any dirt and dust. You’ll also want to remove old, peeling paint during the clean-up process.
You can use a hard wire brush to get rid of old paint so that the new paint will be even. After doing this, you’ll want to repair any rotten or damaged wood, making sure the surface is clean and intact.
Next, you’ll want to use wood filler or putty to fill in any cracks and holes. Once this dries, lightly sand the area down to create a smooth finish.
When it comes to windows, doors, and other areas that need to be sealed, make sure to use caulk. You should only replace the caulk if it’s damaged or old.
Do You Need to Prime Wood Siding Before Painting?
Now, you need to start preparing and priming the wood siding for the main task of painting. You’ll need to start by taping off areas that you want to protect from paint. This includes trimmings, window and door frames, and other detailed areas.
If you stripped the wood siding down completely or the wood siding is new and unpainted, you should add a primer. You can use a roller to apply the primer.
This seals the wood and also helps the paint bond with the wood well. Allow the primer to dry before you start painting.
Start Painting
Once all the preparation is completed, you can start painting! It’s usually wise to start by painting all the edges first with the right paintbrush. Once you’re happy with that, then you can proceed to paint the wood siding.
For the optimal finish, try not to rush and to give each layer of paint a chance to dry before painting the next coat.
Maintaining Exterior Paint
Maintaining your exterior paint is very important. This will ensure that your paint lasts longer and looks neat at all times. All you need to do is use a soft bristle brush with a long handle and use some warm soapy water to scrub away the dirt.
Be careful not to use pressure cleaners since this can actually start stripping the paint over time. You can also add bleach or bicarbonate of soda to maintain a clean finish. Bleach works really well for white surfaces.
It is also a good idea to buy enough paint to have leftover after painting your exterior. This comes in handy when you need to do touch-ups.
By doing touch-ups over time, you can maintain the paint job.
Finally, when it comes to preserving the exterior paint of your house, it is best to maintain your garden and landscaping. That’s because poorly maintained natural features can also add to premature damage and wear and tear.
This also helps to prevent mildew and fungi build-up, which definitely damages the paint.
In Conclusion
When it comes to choosing a color to paint your wood siding, you need to consider a range of options, including the tone or mood you want to set, how much time and money you have for maintenance, the type of color scheme you want like natural or more modern colors, etc.
Making sure you prepare before painting is also important.
When careful thought is applied to color choice and painting techniques, you’re likely to achieve a finish that you’re happy with that will last longer.
