skip to main content

Paint Design Dilemma Exterior

Exterior Paint or Solid Stain?

house_in_the_north

10 months ago

I need to repaint/restain the exterior of my house. I'm in the Pacific Northwest in a fairly wet area (mildew grows on the north side of the house in the winter.) The house was built in the 1980s and has cedar siding. I've owned the house for about seven years and have not painted it before. I do not know the full history of products that have been used on it before I owned it. The current paint or stain is in pretty good shape but starting to show wear in spots that are most exposed to the sun.

I am trying to decide between a solid stain (like a Sherwin Williams Woodscapes) or a paint (like a Sherwin Williams Duration.)

What would you recommend? I'm receiving mixed advice. People are generally saying that stain would be better (it won't chip off like paint) and that it doesn't matter if it was painted before. Howeve, other folks are suggesting that stain is not an option for me since it may have already been painted.

Note that I do plan on changing the color slightly in case that matters.

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (8)

emilyam819
10 months ago
Not a pro, but I have a 1990s house, New England, wood siding, even the same color as yours. My knowledgeable friend determined mine to be solid stained because it was wearing but not chipping (and I suspect it had not been restained since the original time 20 years earlier). Got it re-stained in solid stain and has looked great since (7 years). Yours sounds like stain. I’d never paint it - too chippy and no going back. Oh, and instead of a power wash, I had one of those green roof cleaning companies “soft wash” the siding while they did the roof. Got rid of the green slime on the north side and great prep for the stain.
PRO
BeverlyFLADeziner
10 months ago
Stain it. Paint IMO shouldn't even be an option.

Semi-Transparent Stain if you can use it will keep the grain better than a Solid Stain
Related Discussions
Kitchen Cabinets - Paint or Solid Color Stain
Q
Comments (12)
I've never used it on anything inside, but I have used a solid white stain on my cedar picket fence. It does cover the wood, but not like paint. It soaked in well, but did not form the type of hard surface like you get with paint, it stayed way more like what you get when you stain, only you can't see the grain through it. I'd have to give the fence a good look, while I know it covered the grain pattern, I'm not sure if it covered up the grain texture (a problem with painting wood with a promanent grain). If you want a hard, smooth finish, you would need to put a finish coat over it just like any other stain. Since it is stain, it is slowly fading, but there is no pealing or cracking like a painted surface would have when exposed to the elements. I have not tired to scrub or clean the fence. It also does nothing to protect from dings and such, like harder finish (paint, polyurathene, etc) would. I think it would work on cabinets, but you would need to apply a finish just like if you used any other stain, and then I doubt glaze would work. Not sure if you could try applying the glaze before the finish - it might soak in too much - sounds like a neat experiment though. Cathy
...See More
Suggestions needed - exterior solid stain colors for A-frame
Q
Comments (2)
Thank you! Love the color palette. Do you happen to know the colors? Thanks again!
...See More
Help with Exterior Solid Stain Color for Mountain Home
Q
Comments (1)
I think the Blue Spruce would be a nice choice , lighter than the other two which I find a bit dreary . As for the striping I assum you mean the trim I am not sure but maybe changing all of that to anatural cedar along with the garage door and trim at the entry might be nice
...See More
Question about re-"Painting"/Solid Stain on exterior shakes
Q
Comments (3)
clean with tsp and scrub it with a deck brush and repaint with flat paint since you dont know what product was used
...See More
house_in_the_north
Original Author
10 months ago
Thanks. Will it be a problem to stain over whatever is on there? Even if there are some parts that are paint?

Any thoughts about using a paint on the facia and waterboard (which I think were more likely to have been painted before and are not cedar.)?
emilyam819
10 months ago
I used paint in the same color for my window trim, which I wanted to be easily wipe-able. And I can re-do the windows easily myself when necessary. Looks good.
cat_ky
10 months ago
last modified: 10 months ago
Its ok, to paint the window trim and the facia. I would prefer oil based semi transparent stain on the house, because, it will keep the graining of your beautiful cedar.
PRO
Patricia Colwell Consulting
10 months ago
IMO that cedar has already had some finish on it so staing it now would not be effective. It needs cleaning before anything is applied and there are tones of really good acrylic exterior paints avaiable It would be nice to see your whole house to help with a color so post those pics here in a comments do not start another post
Sigrid
10 months ago
Talk to your painter. If he doesn't sound knowledgeable, get a better one.
PRO
HALLETT & Co.
10 months ago
The siding looks like stain to me, almost no paint film buildup. As you say it is common to use solid color stain on the siding and paint on the trim. Woodscapes is a great product..

Related Stories

DOORS How to Jazz Up a Solid-Front Door

By Scheer & Co. Interior Design

Remake a door with new paint, molding, wallpaper, hardware and more

KITCHEN CABINETS Kitchen Cabinet Color: Should You Paint or Stain?

By Ventana Construction LLC

Learn about durability, looks, cost and more for wooden cabinet finishes to make the right choice for your kitchen

KITCHEN COUNTERTOPS Kitchen Counters: High-Tech Solid Surfaces Make Maintenance Easy

By Ivon Street Studio

Sculpted by heat and nonporous by nature, solid-surface countertops bring imagination and low maintenance to the kitchen

WOOD Woodipedia: Make a Solid Choice With Oak

By Marci Crestani

Forget those low-end products of old. Red and white oak today are beautiful, versatile and relatively inexpensive

EXTERIOR COLOR When to Paint Your Home Gray

By Bud Dietrich, AIA

This perfectly neutral and highly versatile color can create subtle distinctions among exterior architectural elements or stand on its own

LANDSCAPE DESIGN How to Make Your Painted or Stained House Feel at Home in the Landscape

By Jay Sifford Garden Design

Use color and texture to create a pleasing connection between your house and garden

EXTERIORS Help! What Color Should I Paint My House Exterior?

By Jennifer Ott Design

Real homeowners get real help in choosing paint palettes. Bonus: 3 tips for everyone on picking exterior colors

CURB APPEAL 5 Bright Palettes for Front Doors

By Jennifer Ott Design

Splash bold green, blue, orange or red on your front door, then balance it with a more restrained hue on the rest of the house

ORANGE Fresh Start: Paint the Front Door

By Becky Harris

Go for it! Add instant curb appeal with a great coat of orange, blue, red, yellow, green, purple or black on the door

FRONT DOOR COLORS Front and Center Color: When to Paint Your Door Bright Red

By Jennifer Ott Design

Welcoming and intense, a red front door kicks up a home's entryway and is impossible to miss

Sponsored

EK Interior Design

5 Reviews

TIMELESS INTERIOR DESIGN FOR ENDLESS MEMORIES

More Discussions

1942 stucco house needs lots of help

7

New Home, Fresh Start, What Colors to Paint?

19

Can I mix oak and white trim in same room?

5

Exterior Paint Help

4

Kitchen Update Recommendations

3