Recommend paint for exterior of house?

ariarnia

we've found someone to paint the outside of the house if we supply the paint (they've got the ladders). any recommendations for what brand or type to buy (paint and any treatments) and how much we need? i think we also need to buy brushes or rollers so a recommendation for those would be good too (it's a couple of builders working on something else for us and they can't do anything for a week because of a problem the plumber needs to fix). 

the house is semi detached two story roughly 15x25 feet. exterior is cement render with a few hairline cracks but nothing more serious. there was some ivy growing up the wall but our window cleaner removed that for us so now there's a few dead roots clinging on here and there. just the walls. all the windows and sils are upvc. 

thanks. 

davemorton

I have not tried their exterior paint, but have just started using tikkurila paint, and been very impressed.  Apparently they use it on the London underground, so must be tough. 

FreeBear

Presumably the render has been painted in the past - Is it in good condition or flaking off ?

If the latter, it will probably need a good scrub with a stiff wire brush and maybe a primer applied - But that would depend on the paint being used.

As for quantity of paint required, you might get away with 10l on a smooth surface & two coats. Or you may need as much as 25l on a rough cast render (again, two coats).

cymruchris

How long do you want it to last? Are you freshening up to sell? Or planning to be there for some years?

Sandtex for example is available from the likes of Screwfix and Toolstation (somewhere your builders would likely know) - and is an outdoor masonry paint - however I had a bad experience with it - and found out that Sandtex from trade outlets isn't the same as Sandtex Trade Extreme from Crown paint centres. It's twice the price - but twice as good. 

The original trade Sandtex from Screwfix etc in the yellow tubs is ok - but in my case washed off a wall 24 hours after painting it when it rained (when it said dry and weatherproof in 8 hours). On another wall where I painted two coats two years ago - it's already looking worn. 

The Sandtex Trade Extreme on the other hand (that I got a deal on because of the original poor Sandtex washing off) has fared much better, and remains much brighter.

So if you're looking to tart up and sell - original yellow bucket Sandtex can do it - if you're looking to stay there a few years - Sandtex Trade Extreme would be a better choice, although more expensive. (And don't paint if it's due to rain on the forecast in the following 24 hours)

ariarnia

thank you. we're planning on living here at least until the youngest finishes school so something that doesn't mean we have to repaint every couple of years would be good. we bought the place off our landlord and he painted it maybe 8 years ago. we just want to keep it protected so there's not a big problem down the line with these hairline cracks getting bigger and i think paint does that?

cymruchris

Small hairline cracks can be filled with a flexible filler before you apply your topcoats so that the paint doesn't sink into them and then they show themselves again...

ka7e

"My" decorator guy swears by the Tikkurilla range for interior and exterior paint. Pricy though!