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Today we’ll talk about how to paint a log house? In general, I would say this: paint it a different color or preserve the original texture of the log house. Even if in some places with areas darkened by time and other external natural defects, but preserved in an authentic form. The topic is: how to paint the outside of a bathhouse frame and be satisfied with your work for many years?
Just in case, be mentally prepared for the fact that after painting you will not see exactly what you saw on the salesperson’s display board in the store. Somewhere the shade is not the same, roughness is possible, and the paint consumption, as a rule, exceeds what was promised. Let me reassure newcomers - this is a common reaction.
They paint ideally only in television advertisements... remember, they will run a brush or roller over the wall and immediately get a beautiful solid color. But this is the merit of the cameramen, not the paint manufacturers or plasterers. And in life, there are always “pleasant” nuances.
The need to paint a wooden house outside
Wooden buildings need to be repainted from time to time.
Due to their performance characteristics, wood building materials need protection. They are deformed under the influence of temperature changes, changing size and shape, and also absorb moisture well, creating favorable conditions for rotting and pest damage. In addition, wood is flammable.
Wood façade surfaces must be treated with substances that neutralize the listed characteristics. To do this, you can use compositions that preserve the color of the material and emphasize its texture. Some residents prefer painting the wooden facade in a different color. This is advisable if the house is located on the sunny side and is exposed to constant ultraviolet radiation, as well as for old buildings whose surface has begun to turn grey.
Professional painting services
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Craftsmen with extensive experience, who have already painted thousands of meters of wooden houses, will perform any amount of work with high quality. We will paint both a spacious mansion and a small country house, and we will also select painting options in accordance with the individual characteristics of the house. You can contact us using the coordinates from the “Contacts” page.
Requirements for paints
The paint should protect the wood from cracking and rotting.
To paint the outside of a wooden house, it is important to choose the right composition. Like other materials for facade finishing, it must be resistant to precipitation and temperature changes.
The following product qualities are also important for painting wood:
- Elasticity. Since wood changes size and volume when exposed to environmental factors, the paint coating must adapt to these fluctuations. At the same time, cracks should not appear on it.
- Resistant to abrasion and aggressive chemicals. The decorative coating must withstand washing well.
- Chemical inertness.
- Good steam transmission. Moisture should come out of the wall thickness freely. Under opposite conditions, wood begins to rot.
- Fire safety. The coating must not be flammable. Moreover, it must protect the walls from burning.
It is advisable to take into account antistatic qualities. This property helps to minimize the need for façade maintenance, since dust particles and small dirt particles will adhere less to the surface.
Years of experience or modern technology?
In the new millennium, humanity has become especially concerned about the environmental friendliness of its life, remembering the wisdom of centuries and the traditions of its people. So, the bathhouse has become such an outlet for the Russian people: now almost every second summer resident is trying to build at least a small, but his own steam room. What can I say: the richest landscape designs decorate Russian-style log baths. But just as the filling of such a steam room has changed over time, so have some of the nuances of its construction.
What if you leave it without painting?
Today, many bathhouse attendants leave the walls of bathhouse logs open from the inside and outside, asking the already rhetorical question: why build a bathhouse from an environmentally friendly material, “living and breathing” wood, and then cover it with “chemical film”, aluminum foil and “poisonous” impregnations" from the street side? Therefore, the most ardent adherents of the “true steam room” do not use either vapor barrier or paint, as was done in Rus' throughout the centuries.
When the baths were heated, the log house, like a sponge, absorbed moisture and gave it away just as easily. Of course, such baths lasted no more than 5-10 years, because... became too dry and not fireproof. And already on the site of their ashes, a strong new steam room was built, which was quite a common thing.
You will be surprised, but this practice still exists! True, there is one “but”: you will have to heat a truly Russian bathhouse with the same Russian stove in black style. Because only the smoke from it, which quickly smoked the new bathhouse from the inside, is capable of disinfecting its walls from the ubiquitous fungus.
Why isn't any paint or varnish suitable?
Let's give a good example. The modern market is simply replete with materials for finishing timber outside: both in the method of action and in color and texture. But even relatively recently, in Soviet times, most wooden buildings were covered with ordinary oil paint. Cheap and cheerful, as they say, and a rich palette of shades.
Therefore, many novice bath attendants today think: why spend money on more expensive paint if you can use the same oil paint? The trouble is that the wood under such paint does not breathe, and the water vapor from the steam room remains in the walls. As a result, wood insects, mold and rot easily grow in such a log house. As a result, a completely new bathhouse has a grayish coating on top of its spectacular shade, not to mention the internal destruction of the walls themselves.
After all, even those modern baths, which are covered from the inside with a whole cake of moisture and vapor barriers, cannot be 100% protected from water vapor. Look at the numbers indicated by manufacturers of conventional vapor barrier films, which retain water vapor by only 75-80%. And even expensive membranes do their job only 95-97%. Therefore, it is extremely important that the paint or impregnation for timber is universal and performs all its important functions.
See why not all substances are suitable for treating wooden bath walls:
Types of paints and their characteristics
The facade can be painted with different types of products that differ in their composition. It is important that they meet the requirements for wood compositions.
Antiseptics
To prevent the wood from becoming moldy, it is necessary to coat it with an antiseptic.
Antibacterial impregnation can be chosen as an independent coating or a primer for painting. If this option is used as a finishing layer, it will have to be updated from time to time. This is done every 4-6 months. Without subsequent coating with paint and varnish, the service life of antiseptic impregnation is short.
In addition to the antibacterial function, protective compounds may also have others: fire-retardant, water-repellent, UV protection and anti-cracking. Since wood is a highly flammable material, the facade must be treated with products that protect against fire.
Acrylic paints
Acrylic paint with antibacterial impregnation for wood
Painting a house with this composition is quite easy, it dries quickly. Acrylic products are produced in an organic solvent or require dilution with water. The paints have excellent performance qualities: they adhere well to the surface, have a stable, rich color, are not subject to fading under the influence of the sun or washed out by precipitation, and are vapor permeable. The coating easily tolerates friction. Some acrylic products can be applied to facades even in sub-zero temperatures.
Alkyd paints
It is possible to cover the facade with such paint if the home is located in an area characterized by humid air. It forms a water-repellent layer that does not fade under the influence of precipitation, heat or cold. However, direct sunlight may cause the paint to fade. It should not be applied to damp wood, otherwise the coating will begin to bubble. The product does not penetrate deeply. Instead, it forms a dense film on the surface. It dries quite quickly, but has a sharp, specific smell.
Oil paints
These compounds are attractive due to their low price, but are prone to fading and cracking in hot weather. They form a durable film. The natural color of the wood is thereby covered up. The film coating protects the wood well from moisture and from the absorption of various solutions.
Such products are made on the basis of drying oil. Their service life is shorter than that of other categories of coloring compounds. Although they do not allow moisture to pass through, this is associated with such an unpleasant property as a lack of vapor permeability. Because of this, rot may appear in the thickness of the wood. Such products take a long time to dry, up to half a day.
It is better to use oil paint for an outbuilding or fence, and for a home choose the option that has the best performance qualities.
How to paint a log house?
The lower crowns are treated with waste oil.
Let's divide the materials into two types: folk and modern. First, I will give a few folk recipes. What if someone wants...
Waste machine or transformer oil
Yes, the smell is not very good, but it will disappear after a while, but the impregnation will remain and will create a waterproof layer. Although dust sticks to it “freshly”. Apply the oil with a rough brush and rub in thoroughly.
Turpentine and wax
Mix in equal proportions. In addition to protecting against moisture, this composition provides good protection against wood insects and gives the walls of the log house a certain gloss of “well-kept antiquity.” Particularly suitable for painting baths “in years”.
Oak bark decoction
A nice darkened background, however, the wood pattern is clearly visible through it. An old and forgotten method.
It is better not to make coloring compositions from onion broth (these are not eggs for Easter). Yes, they give the logs a pleasant shade, but as an “undesirable bonus” they have a smell that attracts insects.
My opinion is that you shouldn’t get carried away with environmental products. In a number of ways, it is no longer easy for them to compete with the products of the chemical industry. But if you are a principled supporter of natural raw materials, then, without a doubt, go ahead!
Preparatory work
Before impregnation, the old coating is removed with a sanding disc.
Before painting, the previous wall covering (plaster or paint material), if any, must be removed. This procedure requires tools with abrasive qualities: a metal brush, sandpaper or spatulas. It is possible to use a grinder with a special attachment. Since the operation is accompanied by the generation of a large amount of dust and small particles, you need to protect your respiratory tract with a respirator and wear special glasses.
You also need to remove paint from the joints of boards or logs. To make the operation faster, you must first remove the trim, drainage structures and shutters. Even if the coating is difficult to remove, it must be removed, otherwise after applying new paint it is likely to peel off. Dust and dirt are also removed from the façade of the home.
The surface must be sanded. If fungal or mold colonies or darkened areas are found, the top layer of wood in these places must be removed. To level the surface and eliminate defects, putty is used. It must be allowed to dry completely before moving on to further work. When buying putty, it is important to check that its composition is compatible with the chosen impregnation and coloring product.
A deep penetrating impregnation is applied to the surface with a wide brush. Its composition is selected according to environmental conditions and the characteristics of the building material. To preserve the texture of the wood, the mixture is applied using movements along the grain. The use of impregnation helps improve the adhesion of paint to the surface and reduce its consumption. Then the layer is allowed to dry completely. If several impregnations with different properties are used, the last one is water-repellent.
Another way to protect a sauna stove from negative influences
You don’t have to think about how to paint an iron stove in a bathhouse, since not only paint can protect it. The method of metal bluing, which involves creating a chemical reaction, is widely used.
First the surface must be cleaned. To do this, use a 5% sulfuric acid solution, which should be applied with a brush. Then the laundry soap is diluted in water in a ratio of 50 g per 1 liter. This solution must be used to wash off the previously applied sulfuric acid. Next, the oven is heated to 150-180°C and treated with caustic soda diluted in water in a ratio of 50 ml per 1 liter. The composition should be applied only by spraying to avoid splashing.
Conclusion
In order for the stove to serve for a long time, it must be well treated, and for this you should make the right choice of what to paint the stove in the bathhouse with. The solution to this issue should be taken with full responsibility and there is no need to save money, because the stove is the main component of the bathhouse.
Do-it-yourself painting of a wooden house outside
For large surfaces, use a spray gun.
It is recommended to begin painting the facade in suitable weather conditions. The optimal air temperature is from +10 to +25 degrees. If there is no information on the paint packaging about its good tolerance to cold environments during the application process, it is not recommended to carry out work at lower values.
The façade should be painted between 10 and 18 o'clock during the day, when the dew either has not yet appeared or has dried.
Apply the mixture layer by layer along the fibers. The next layer is created when the previous one has dried. The outer decorative coating of wood can consist of 3-4 thin layers.
Types of antiseptic impregnations
We should start the review with washable wood preservatives. They are made on an alkyd-alcohol base, which also includes metal salts. But, as the name suggests, such products are washed away. That is, it is useless to use such an antiseptic when treating the outer sides of walls - after a short time the composition will be removed from the structure. But internal processing can be done using this impregnation, since it is harmless to human health.
The opposite of the remedy described above is a hard-to-wash antiseptic. This is a product based on a combination of synthetic and vegetable oil. This type of painting of a log house can be applied to both external and internal walls. Hard-to-wash-out impregnations remain resistant to precipitation and fully meet environmental safety requirements.
The best manufacturers of facade paints for wood
The leader in sales on the Russian market is the Finnish brand Tikkurila. The company produces paints on different types of bases, characterized by high hiding power. Some products are specially adapted to harsh winter conditions. The coating is durable, but sometimes it is noted that paints have quite high consumption.
The Slovenian company Belinka produces colorless protective compounds and products that paint the surface in the most common colors. The layer should be applied at one time, otherwise the joints will be noticeable.
ALPINA produces wood processing products that are resistant to abrasion and are also suitable for terraces. The company offers personalized computer tinting.
Recommendations for choosing materials for painting a house
When choosing paint for a log house, you need to pay attention not only to its composition and characteristics, but to the date of manufacture and expiration date. Even the best paint for a wooden house, if it is expired or frozen, will not be able to provide the desired painting effect.
The paint must be combined with an antiseptic used to protect the wood. If you use incompatible compositions, then in the best case you can get a completely different shade than expected, and in the worst case, the paint will quickly peel off and you will have to repaint the painted surface.
Choosing the right brush is also not the last thing that affects the quality of coloring. Despite the simplicity of this tool, it also has its own rules. It is best to paint with a wide, densely padded brush with natural or mixed bristles. This brush will ensure even distribution of paint on the surface and will not leave streaks.
Brand overview
When choosing varnishes, enamels and paints for painting baths and saunas, you should give preference to specialized lines, since the creators of such products take into account all the technical features and characteristics of wet rooms. The Finnish company Tikkurila is considered the absolute market leader in this segment. Among the most popular compositions from this manufacturer are the following.
- Supi Saunasuoja is a high-quality impregnation for interior coatings based on an aqueous solution with acrylic. Can be used in rooms where the temperature exceeds 100 degrees. Available in a condition suitable for tinting.
- Supi Laudesuoja – oil enamel, used for painting shelves in saunas.
- Supi Saunavaha - this varnish is considered a universal product intended for all types of bath surfaces.
Users note that imported formulations are very effective, especially when it comes to Finnish manufacturers. They have only one drawback - the high price. That is why some bathhouse owners prefer Russian manufacturers who offer cheaper lines. Here are a few brands that are in demand when painting bathhouses.
- “Senezh Sauna” is an acrylate antiseptic used to protect wood lining in bathhouses. Includes a fungicidal component and has no chemical odor.
- Neomid 200 is an effective coloring agent that includes antiseptic components. The composition is in demand when processing shelves, benches and other wood coverings in saunas and baths.
- Neomid Sauna is a translucent acrylic-based varnish, used for impregnation of wooden lining in steam rooms and other rooms with high humidity.
Brief conclusions
I will answer a possible question - is it possible to paint a stove in a bath with oil, alkyd, vinyl, latex, acrylic, dispersion and other paints. I answer - it is possible. Just bake, don’t heat it later...
Tikkurila - heat-resistant paint
There is another option - experiment. For example, a friend decided to use paint for car mufflers, someone is trying something based on liquid glass, and so on. There are many different forums. If you do not want to paint an iron stove, you can do bluing. We associate this word with firearms. A good low budget option. How long will it last? Don't know. But good heat-resistant enamel is promised by manufacturers to last for at least 15 years.
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Anecdote: “My husband comes in the morning covered in lipstick, powder, and red hair.
Wife: - Where have you been?
“You won’t believe it, my dear, I fought with a clown all night.”
Wisdom Quote: Pleasure should be the reward for work.
