Instructions for outdoor painting

Wash dirty surfaces with Uula Washing Agent and mouldy ones with Uula Mould Wash following instructions on the product. Remove flaky paint with a scraper as thoroughly as possible. Old thick layers of paint can be removed efficiently with Uula Paint Remover. Sand off any loose material from weather worn grey wood to ensure adhesion. If you are working with new planed surfaces, roughen them by sanding or allow the surface to weather for 1-2 years. In such cases we recommend treating the surfaces with Uula Anti-Mould Agent over the period of weathering and again prior to painting, following the instructions on the product.

Priming

Untreated surfaces are primed with Uula Exterior Primer following the instructions given for the product. In the case of previously painted surfaces, only the patches of bare wood require priming. No primer is used with Nordic Paints or translucent treatments.

Purchase enough paint of the same batch, preferably tinted at the same time. Check the colour by painting a test on a separate piece of wood. To avoid potential differences in tone, mix enough paint in a large enough container for one continuous surface.

Please read painting instructions for your chosen paint on our website. The instructions for application vary significantly depending on the paint type.

Mix the paint thoroughly before use and every now and then during painting. With translucent treatments, please consider the colour, roughness, wood type and previous treatments of the surface to be treated, as they affect the end result significantly. We recommend testing translucent paints on a separate but similar piece of wood or in a discreet location.

Choose a good quality paint brush of a suitable size and sufficient stiffness. For an even finish, paint one log or piece of timber at a time, end to end, stopping at a corner or other suitable junction. Also, treat open ends of timber with care. Take into consideration that if you have volunteer painters the evenness of the final finish may vary according to each painter’s individual style.

Do not paint in the rain, in direct sunlight or surfaces heated by the sun. The ideal weather for painting is overcast with the relative air humidity below 80% and the temperature a minimum of +5 degrees centigrade. The surface to be painted needs to be dry with the humidity level of the wood below 15%. It is worth taking the time of year and day into consideration when scheduling the painting work. It is characteristic of Linseed Oil Paint, Semi-Matt Linseed Oil Paint and Roslag Mahogany to dry slowly. Light and warmth speed up the drying process of products containing boiled linseed oil. Consider the time of year and weather conditions also when treating terraces, patios, jetties and other uncovered spaces.

The cleaning of equipment is worth doing straight after finishing painting work. Water-based paints come off easily with water and soap, equipment used with solvent-based paints can be cleaned with Uula Universal Thinner or white spirits and finished off with soap and water.

Make sure that the lids of any left-over paint are closed properly. We recommend storing paint in a dry and cool place. Water-based products do not tolerate freezing temperatures.  Take care to store all paints and treatment products out of reach of children.

Empty, dry packaging can be recycled, but all liquid waste must be taken to a hazardous waste collection point. Dispose of any cloths and rags stained by linseed oil-based products by burning or wetting them before placing them in a rubbish bin, as it is possible for linseed oil to self-combust in closed, low-oxygen conditions.

It is worth looking after the cleanliness of exterior surfaces as pollen, dirt or soot landing on surfaces may provide food for mould growth in extended warm and damp conditions. We have suitable cleaning and treatment products for this purpose in our product range. Dirt and mould on exterior surfaces is usually just an aesthetic issue, but regular protective treatments and cleaning are recommended for the longevity of the paint and wooden surfaces.