external soft wood primer/undercoat/gloss

[sgough6077]

Hi - quick question; i am putting up a softwood, untreated cabin and therefore think I need to use a primer, undercoat and then gloss.

I am however baffled by the huge choice/range, and how much the prices vary.

I am currently looking at Wickes Trade wood primer; then Dulux weathershield exterior flexible undercoat, then an exterior gloss (as yet undecided)....

Does this seem like a sensible approach? I think the primer is non water based, which seems to be what the majority of suggestions point towards. Or is it best just to use a paint that is both a primer and undercoat and avoid one of the steps?

Sorry for such a basic question

Steve

 

[Phil Pascoe]

Give it a couple of good coats of preservative first, no matter what. Aluminium primer is good for softwood. Weathershield is good - you may be wasting money on the undercoat if you're not using the gloss, though. It's untreated softwood - don't economise, it's false.

 

[sgough6077]

thanks - that makes sense. re the preservative; do you mean something like standard fence treatment, like ronseal fencelife, or is there a specific standard softwood preservative? Will the primer take if put ontop of a preservative like that?

 

[blackrodd]

I agree with phil.p, But Whatever you do don't use water based acrylic primer, it's designed for fast drying internal
paint work and will not be any use on any external work at all,
Dulux is good, Silver primer (well shaken) is best in my book, dries very quickly, second coat is an undercoat for that extra bit of protection, will obliterate oily, tarred wood too!
Regards Rodders

 

[Phil Pascoe]

Not fence treatment, clear wood preservative. You can get on ebay for about £20 delivered if you can't be bothered to hunt for it. Just let it dry before you paint over it. It's worth getting a gallon as you often need to soak things in it, for which you need more volume - you don't use more, but you need more to start with. Even treated wood outdoors needs cut ends and drilled holes treating, or it had just as well not be treated.

 

[Mike.S]

I note you're thinking of a gloss finish, but if that's not cast in stone, I'd recommend that you also look at the Sadolin range. I used Sadolin Classic on my shed (a colour, not just the clear) and it's both protected the wood and kept it's appearance well.

 

[Phil Pascoe]

Yes, of course. It's a shed after all. It might be making a lot of work to paint it properly, when it could be done with Sadolin, Sikkens or even a good fence/shed treatment. I did the summerhouse in old house with a water based red cedar - it was perfectly good.