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what paint can I use outside - cheap and cheerful
natalie 4
Posts: 21
I'm making a wee area in my garden for the kids. The patio is down, rubber matting ordered, and I'm going to do I picket fence idea round about it. I'd like to paint the fence really sugary sweet pinks and blue and white. The external cuprinols come in lovely colours but a horribly expensive. Could I use something else like masonry paint? Exterior paints? I don't expect this patio area to last the kids a lifetime, so don't expect the fence paint to last for years either. I know Masonry or door paint might not last as long as cuprinols, but I really wouldn't mind having to redo the job every year. What do you think?
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How much Paint do you actually need? The smaller pots don't seem that expensive. http://www.homebase.co.uk/en/homebaseuk/cuprinol-garden-shades---sweet-sundae---1l-179727
We used the Cuprinol Shades on our fence - the coverage was great and a little went a long way.
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
But that would be three coats - Cuprinol will only need one.
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
If it is a brand new wood fence the cheapest stain option is to buy a large 3 litre of vinegar and rub that on to the wood. Overnight it will turn dark. Cost £3 and elbow grease?
The external cuprinols can be bought cheaper in B&M and Wipro, esp towards autumn.
Wilkinsons are about half the price of Cuprinol; just about to use their 'Buttermilk' on some staging around the house to make it blend in with the background. I think 2 coats are recommended, but you could get away with 1 on pressure treated timber if the life of the unit is only about 4/5 years. With ordinary timber, it will rot where it touches the earth and no treatment will stop that. Even the treated timber will not be happy in damp soil after 3 or 4 years.
Nat 4, As a mural painter who has done lots of children's murals, I would question whether children actually like very 'sugary' colours; in my experience, they like really strong colour combinations; not pastels. They also appreciate quite subtle colours. I have never met a child under 5 who likes pastels (when I can talk to them without their parents being present)
I am truely ancient and love very neutral cool colours where you can then insert any mad colour you like and it will work! That is for interiors; outside I just work with the 'borrowed view' which is trees; green, and the English light which is soft, not harsh like the Mediterranean, or Caribbean, so I disapprove most heartily of Rhodadendrons in English woods as the colours are so harsh, almost vulgar in the context of softly tinted English woodlands. I think I better shut up now
aawwwh what a lovely set of responses from really helpful folk, thank you all so much. i was just crying into my cornflakes that i hadn received any replys to my message, but for some reason i didnt get the email alert (though feature is turned on) so it was a nice surprise to see all your messages. Thank you for your suggestions, seems like i need to stick with the right paint for the right job, and if it's only going to take 1 coat then it's not as expensive as i thought.
I'll hit freegle and gumtree for left overs, then wilko and b&m for a bargain and then finally homebase!
thanks all.
ps. i will keep my mind open to brighter/bolder colours, honest!
Cuprinol do pinks and blues and all sorts of colours, not desperately sugary, but a wide assortment http://www.cuprinol.co.uk/web/pdf/cuprinol_garden_shades_colour_guide.pdf
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
I've used Cuprinol on everything, the garden furniture, shed and the children's playhouse. They do all sort of wonderful colours and I think it's worth paying the extra, because it will continue to look good next year, where the cheap and cheerful brands will need to repainted.