Paint

Is it better to paint or stain outdoor wood furniture?

All exterior wood surfaces, be it furniture or cladding, decking or doors, will wear and age from exposure to the elements. Rain, snow, ice, wind, bright sunshine, and humidity will weigh heavily on outdoor furniture, and therefore it is best to use hardwearing protection such as stains and paints to extend the life of your wood benches and chairs, tables, and more.

Exterior wood stains and paints both offer protection to wood. Stain will still show the natural grain through the clear or coloured coating, enhancing its beauty, and leaving you with natural-looking wood furniture that is protected and waterproofed.

Exterior wood furniture paints will cover the grain with an opaque colour of your choosing (4,200 available at Rawlins Paints), filling in imperfections such as holes and cracks. Using paint on your outdoor wood furniture provides weather protection and waterproofing whilst matching to other colours in the garden, such as fencing, pergolas, cladding, etc.

How do you prepare exterior wood for painting?

Most woods such as oak, pine, and spruce, should be sanded down, removing flaking paints and existing lacquers. You can apply additional protection against blue stain, rot, and insects before painting.

Other ingredient-rich hardwoods may require a weathering period of at least 12 weeks exposure to exterior elements before painting.

Each of our outdoor wood furniture paints has its own data sheet with application instructions, for further referencing.

Can I paint over stained wood?

The general answer is yes, however, the manufacturers we stock recommend testing a small and inconspicuous area for testing first. Preparation, as always, is key to the finish and is dependant on the type of stain used and the state of the wood being painted over. Always ensure the surface is clean and dry before painting, in line with the manufacturer's guidelines.

Can you paint over stained wood without primer?

No primer is required before using Osmo Country Colour on outdoor furniture, however, the substrate must be prepared suitably and be clean and free of anything that could affect adhesion. If in doubt, always test a smaller and inconspicuous area for adhesion before painting.

Does outdoor paint protect wood?

Yes. Our outdoor garden furniture paints help prevent degredation of the substrate due to ultraviolet light (UV) and erosion, such as wind blowing abrasive dirt and sand particles over the surface, or animals, adults, and children brushing past. Exterior paints can also help protect the wood underneath the coating by sealing in natural resins that would otherwise be removed through sun exposure. They also prevent external moisture from rain and ice penetrating the wood, which can cause swelling.

Do I need to seal exterior wood before painting?

Our exterior wood paints for garden furniture can be applied without sealer but may require a primer in certain circumstances, to achieve the intended finish.