Most old triple deckers in Boston seem to use these:
trim = semi gloss
clapboards = low lustre
I’m thinking of going for
trim = high gloss
clapboards = semi gloss
Any advice to the contrary? (would it look goofy?)
(All the claps and trim are new primed cedar)
Replies
In the past, house paint would "chalk". It was designed that way -- the chalking process allowed normal weather to wash away a very thin layer, uncovering a clean new-looking surface.
And all of those chalking paints were flat -- no sheen. The style then was to use flat paint for the clapboards, and semigloss for the trim.
Sometime in the past twenty or thirty years, the American public decided that chalking was a really bad thing. I don't know if that was related to the lead poisining thing, or if we just got tired of getting the dust on our clothes.
Once that decision was made, we started using various sheens on houses (and started using pressure washers a lot more, since there was no more self-cleaning surface).
I prefer that older look -- flat claps and semigloss trim.
But it really is a personal choice, and one that will be foiled by mother nature. Just about anything you put on the house will dull in a few years anyway.
Unless you're the lead dog, the view just never changes.
no not goofy. May be a bit shiny though. The only thing to worry about is that the higher the gloss the more irregularities show. for example uneven surfaces and cut lines. personally I prefer a satin on exterior walls a semi for trim, though a high gloss would look cool, (since I like shiny things).
I've used the sheen model of which you speak a number of times and I think you are probably dealing w/ a better substrate / foundation than I have dealt with - hoping you';re dealing w/ some close to clear cedar primed w/ a high quality oil base primeone precaution is if using freshly planed cedar is to rough it up a hair before priming
also the higher sheen enamel coats can tend to bubble a bit more than the more breathable lower sheen products but GO FOR IT!
hope you have the architectural detail to warrant such coatings
You haven't mentioned what sort of paint - alkyd or acrylic latex. My dad made a good living repainting oil-painted work that had blistered with internal moisture at first, then penetrated water and sunlight later.
Is the lumber all back-primed? It ought to be. And seal any edges where you've cut . Moisture in lumber is deadly for paint.
I have an archived article from FHB June/July 1997 explaining why paint fails...probably worth a read.
Yep. I like shiney trimwork.
cheers
***I'm a contractor - but I'm trying to go straight!***
Ditto here for the use of gloss on claps. If the claps are smooth side out, go for it. If the rough side is out, use the low lustre or flat. Consider SW Duration coatings, alittle thicker than conventional paint, but will last longer. Your prep work is the most important step in all gloss finishes. Good Luck. Jim Z
On my hour long bicycle ride into work every morning I pass thru lots of neighborhood houses built turn of the last century. Since I have an old house I am always scanning around looking at what folks are doing to their houses. On this one corner there are two nice houses-both essentially the same model. They both got repainted at about the same time. For like a month afterwards I would always think..'Gee that green house sure looks nice.' Nicer than the exact same house sitting next to it. It finally dawned on me that they had painted the house in semi-gloss and it looks shiny and nice. If correct surface prep is done I think that the glossier paints will look fine. You really only notice the surface imperfections when you are right close up. No one is going to notice anything from the second floor and up unless the paint is just falling off. And correct me if I am wrong, but the wear resistance of the paint increases as does the gloss so a glossier paint job should be longer lived and easier to clean.
Daniel Neuman
Oakland CA
Crazy Home Owner
Thank you all.I'll let you know how it works out with:
BM 309 High gloss metal & wood paint for trim
BM 096 Moorglo for claps
(Both are acrylic).And thanks Piko - I had read and benefitted from that article.
I promised to let you know how it worked out:
BM 309 High gloss metal & wood paint for trim
BM 096 Moorglo for clapsIt looks great!
My house is circa:1680.
LAst year I painted one side of it (that no one sees facing a hill)and a little in the front with BM primer and top coated it w/a red top coat. It had a gloss to it. I went back to the store and said I thought it looked inappropriate on such an old house.
They sent a rep from BM to my house. He told me that they don't even
make a red paint that has no gloss anymore.
He also said in time the gloss will look "less" glossy as it wears...I suspect he meant when it gets dirty.
Looks a little plastic for my taste but for resale I bet the anals around here will love it so we shall see which way I go when I start outside again the end of Aug when it cools down and I have more work finished on the inside.
Be well
a...
The secret of Zen in two words is, "Not always so"!
When we meet, we say, Namaste'..it means..
I seldom see a house painted in semi-gloss.............................but when I do, I wonder why we don't see more. Shed's the water nice and holds up great to the weather.
My house is satin all the way around, incl trim.
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