Replies

1. 
   WayneL5 | Apr 23, 2004 12:56am | #1

   You don't say what the trim is made of or what your climate is.  Assuming it's wood or wood-alternative, the best treatment is an exterior mildew resistant (unless you live in an arid climate) 100% acrylic primer.  Then caulk if needed with a siliconized acrylic latex (not a silicone) paintable caulk.  Then two coats of 100% acrylic mildew resistant topcoat.  Most people think glossy looks better on trim.  It does stay cleaner than flat paint.

   Unless you have some particularly difficult wood, like cedar, modern acrylics give quite a bit longer life than oil based paints.  100% acrylics are more durable than latex or acrylic latex blends.

   Brand really doesn't matter so much as long as you pick a high-end paint.  Since trim uses so little paint, don't try to save a few bucks.  Absolutely do not skip the primer.

1. 
   ackkacilliac | Apr 25, 2004 06:44pm | #2

   WANEL5,

   Thankyou for the information,

   Ken

2. 
   Michael6255 | Apr 27, 2004 02:33am | #3

   Check, 

   Brand does matter....a lot.  I restore homes and use Schreuder oil paints. Pricey but worth it.

   Mike

   http://www.finepaints.com

3. 
   BOBABEUI | Apr 27, 2004 11:53pm | #4

   Checkmate,

   I have had good luck with Benjamin Moore soft gloss latex paint for the trim, Ben Moore Freshstart latex primer.. For the cedar clapboards I have used Cabot's OVT latex solid stain (two coats), undercoated with Cabot's problem solver oil primer. The contrast between the Ben Moore soft gloss and the Cabot stain looks like a million bucks, but beware for my high exposure area the stain only lasts for 4 to 6 years...

   You did not state if it's new work or not, if you can, you will do yourself a large favor if you backprime every piece that you can

   Happy painting

4. 
   stanleyj2 | Apr 30, 2004 04:01am | #5

   Checkmate:

   I use Benjamin Moore's Fresh Start oil based primer and follow with Benjamin Moore's or Pratt & Lambert's top grade acrylic topcoat in a gloss finish.  Gloss paint chalks slower than flat or semi gloss paint and therefore gives a longer life.  The oil base primer penetrates the pores of wood and offers better durability.  I usually get more than 10 years of weather exposure on this combination of paints.

   Stan

1. 
   ackkacilliac | May 01, 2004 02:14am | #6

   Thanks  to all for the answers.

      I should have said at the beginning that the house isn,t new.  The wood is Western Red cedar siding with a solid type stain on it, the trim and facia is fir, soffits are fir plywood.

     There was a lot of information about new [to me] ideas on another thread about interior paints and that prompted me to ask these questions.

     The climate is hot and dry in summer, with cold winters.

   Ken