How to

How to paint exterior balustrades

If your deck needs an update, painting it is the perfect way to do so, all you need is the right Resene products. While spring and summer are the most popular seasons for refreshing and rejuvenating your outdoor spaces, there are some projects you can also tackle in autumn and winter – when the weather permits! One of these is freshening up your exterior balustrades. Doing this not only visibly lifts the appearance of the timber but also protects it from the harsh effects of the weather that we experience in our part of the world.

On the topic of rain, should the weather gods not play ball on your designated day of painting, Resene Umbrella Additive is here to save the day. If the forecast is for light showers, don’t fret – Resene Umbrella Additive can be added to your paint. Once applied, a coating containing Resene Umbrella Additive quickly starts to build a protective shell that then extends throughout the whole coating. Water can evaporate from the topcoat allowing it to dry, while light showers simply roll off leaving the still-drying paint firmly attached to the substrate.

Follow along below as Resene Paint Expert Murdo Shaw shows you how to prepare and paint exterior balustrades.

Tips when using Resene Umbrella Additive:

Only mix what you plan to use in your current painting session.
Use paint mixed with Resene Umbrella Additive on the same day for best results.
Avoid exterior painting when medium or heavy rain is expected during the drying phase.
Not all Resene products are compatible with Resene Umbrella Additive and the dosage rate varies by product. Ensure you check the dosage requirements before you start and follow the instructions. Ask your local Resene ColorShop team if you need help.

Safety gear
Resene Moss & Mould Killer
Garden sprayer
Resene Timber and Deck Wash
Scrubbing brush
Sandpaper
Paintbrushes
Paint pots
Mini roller and tray
Resene Quick Dry waterborne primer undercoat (or Resene Wood Primer if your balustrades have been stained before)
PAL Patch Filla
Putty knife
Your choice of Resene topcoats (Murdo used Resene Lumbersider Low Sheen in Resene Permanent Green and Resene Green White)

1

Kill the mould

As always, prep is key to getting the best results. With a timber balustrade like this, this process always starts with Resene Moss & Mould Killer. Apply it with a sprayer and leave for 12-24 hours to properly kill the mould spores.

2

Wash the timber

Apply a good drenching of Resene Timber and Deck Wash and give the balustrade a good scrub to get rid of any lingering dirt and grime that has built up over winter. Rinse it off with water and leave it to dry. Once dry, lightly sand the timber and then give them a good dust off.

3

Prime time

When it comes to priming the balustrade, you have two options, depending on what the timber has already been coated with (or not).

If your balustrade is just natural timber and hasn’t been coated before, use Resene Quick Dry waterborne primer undercoat. If the balustrade has been stained before, then you will need to prime with Resene Wood Primer before applying paint.

Apply your chosen primer with a roller or paintbrush and once it’s dry, give it a light sand and thoroughly remove all the dust afterwards, ensuring you wear your safety gear for this step.

4

Fill the gaps

Use PAL PatchFilla to fill any nail holes or cracks that might be in the timber. Once that’s dry, spot prime your filler as required.

5

Start painting

When it comes to surfaces such as this outside, you have a few options when it comes to paint sheen levels and it all comes down to personal preference. Resene Lumbersider Low Sheen – which Murdo has used in Resene Permanent Green – for a low sheen finish, Resene Sonyx 101 for a semi-gloss finish or Resene Hi-Glo for a high gloss finish.

Make sure to give the paint a good stir before you pour it into a smaller paint pot. This means that any loose hair or dirt from the brush won’t contaminate the main paint can. It also makes it much easier to handle and carry around as you complete the job.

You can use a brush to paint the top part of the balustrade, then a small roller to get into all the nooks and crannies of the rungs below. Murdo has used Resene Lumbersider Low Sheen in Resene Green White, which is an ideal contrast to the Resene Permanent Green he used on the handrail.

6

Enjoy your handiwork!

Put your outdoor furniture back into place and enjoy year-round entertaining on your deck with a freshly painted balustrade.

Deck painted in Resene Walk-on in Resene Green White.

Before

After

Balustrade painted in Resene Lumbersider Low Sheen in Resene Green White, rail in Resene Lumbersider Low Sheen in Resene Permanent Green and deck in Resene Walk-on in Resene Green White.

Top tips:

If you’re planning to use a dark colour for your handrail or balustrades, use the Resene CoolColour version of your colour to help reflect more heat.
If your deck is on the shady side of your home, ask the team at your local Resene ColorShop to add extra MoulDefender to your paint to give you extra defence against mould.
Apply Resene Deep Clean every six to 12 months. It will work with the weather to help keep your balustrades, handrail and deck clean – no scrubbing needed.