Don’t leave it bare!
Exterior timber coating is something long term property investors simply cannot afford to ignore. Not only does a topcoat treatment preserve the
longevity of your deck and fence, the improvement it gives to the exterior aesthetics of your property will also increase its drive-by appeal and rental
interest.
The purpose of top-coating your exterior timber is simply to water- and weather-proof it. It protects the wood, stops it from warping and preserves
its life. From a usability point of view, top coating also minimises splitting and cracking that can lead to splinters on decks. The best thing
about top-coating is that it is a simple job that seldom require a skilled tradesperson. So rolls your sleeves up and lets get started.
Paint or stain?
There are two types of topcoat treatments for exterior timbers – painting and staining.
The choice you make will depend a number of factors including cost considerations, maintenance schedule and the look you want to achieve. Take a
look at this quick comparison chart to help you get started:
Don’t forget to take into account the plane of your surface. For horizontal surfaces such as a deck that experiences more wear and tear through
heavy foot traffic, painting will prove to be extremely cost ineffective overtime. The same issue however will not affect vertical surfaces such
as decking posts and fences.
Scrimp or splurge?
Whatever choice you make, always make sure you always go for speciality paint or stain products that are designed to withstand the weather extremities
of New Zealand. Inferior products that have not been purpose designed tend to be more inexpensive but will prove to be costly overtime. Don’t
forget...
