Whether you’re painting your front door, garden furniture or your full facade you can find detailed application advice below. If you need further detail, please have a read of Farrow & Ball's Product Advice Sheets.

Exterior Wood

From softwood and hardwood window frames to cladding, gates and garden furniture, you’ll find guidance for painting all kinds of exterior wooden surfaces in the house and garden here.

The following guidelines apply to the Exterior Eggshell and Full Gloss, suitable for use on softwood and hardwood window frames, cladding, gates and garden furniture.

Surface Preparation

Ensure the surface is sound, clean, dry and free from dirt, grease and any other contamination. Fill any cracks, holes and open joins with an appropriate exterior filler.

For exterior bare wood surfaces:

• Lightly sand the surface to improve the paint’s adhesion.
• In environments where wood-rotting fungi is likely to occur, treat with exterior wood preservative prior to priming.
• Where required, use Wood Primer & Undercoat to patch prime knotty or resinous woods.
• Then apply a full coat of Wood Primer & Undercoat in the correct colour tone for your topcoat.
• Allow a minimum of four hours drying time between coats.

For previously painted exterior wood surfaces:

• Sand back areas of paint that have peeled or blistered, to achieve a good ‘key’.
• In environments where wood-rotting fungi is likely to occur, treat with exterior wood preservative prior to priming.
• Where required, use Wood Primer & Undercoat to patch prime knotty or resinous woods.
• Then apply one full coat of Wood Primer & Undercoat in the correct colour tone for your topcoat.
• Allow a minimum of four hours drying time between coats.

Paint application

1. When using more than one tin of the same colour, check that the batch numbers are the same (see the base of the tin). If not, mix the tins together before use.
2. Stir paint thoroughly before use.
3. Apply two coats using a brush or roller. On application of the final coat, lay off the paint in a single direction.
4. Exterior Eggshell and Full Gloss are dry in two hours and can be recoated in four hours.
5. Clean brushes and rollers with warm soapy water.

Exterior Metal

This metal painting guide is full of advice and tips on using our paints on exterior railings, gates, guttering, furniture and other metal surfaces.

The following guidelines apply to the Exterior Eggshell and Full Gloss.

Surface Preparation

Ensure the surface is sound, clean, dry and free from dirt, grease and any other contamination. Fill any cracks, holes and open joins with an appropriate exterior filler.

For ferrous metals (metals that can rust):

• New and previously painted metal surfaces should be thoroughly degreased.
• Remove any rust or weak paint back to bare metal.
• Apply two coats of Metal Primer & Undercoat in the correct colour tone for your topcoat.
• Allow a minimum of four hours drying time between coats.

For galvanised metal surfaces (metal that has been coated to prevent rusting):

• New and previously painted metal surfaces should be thoroughly degreased.
• Remove any rust or weak paint back to bare metal.
• Treat with Etch Primer or Mordant Solution taking care to follow the manufacturer’s instructions.
• Apply two coats of Metal Primer & Undercoat in the correct colour tone for your topcoat.
• Allow a minimum of four hours drying time between coats.

Paint Application

1. When using more than one tin of the same colour, check that the batch numbers are the same (see the base of the tin). If not, mix the tins together before use.
2. Stir paint thoroughly before use.
3. Apply two coats using a brush or roller. On application of the final coat, lay off the paint in a single direction.
4. Exterior Eggshell and Full Gloss are dry in two hours and can be recoated in four hours.
5. Clean brushes with warm soapy water.

Exterior Masonry

Whether your home is constructed of masonry, cement, stone, brick, blockwork, roughcast or chip, this guide will take you through the steps to perfect painting.

The following guidelines apply to Exterior Masonry paint.

Surface Preparation

Ensure the surface is sound, clean, dry and free from dirt, grease and any other contamination.

For newly rendered surfaces:

• Newly rendered surfaces must dry out completely and are best left to weather for up to three months before sealing with any paint system.
• Once completely dry, prime any areas that remain powdery or unstable with one coat of Masonry & Plaster Stabilising Primer.

For structurally damaged surfaces, such as cracking or loose cement:

• Repair damaged areas before applying paint. If in doubt, seek professional advice.
• Patch prime any repaired or seriously degraded areas with one coat of Masonry & Plaster Stabilising Primer.

For unsound surfaces, such as alkaline, powdery or porous surfaces:

• Prime with one coat of Masonry & Plaster Stabilising Primer, working well into the surface.
• Allow to fully dry.

For fungal or algal contaminated surfaces:

• Decontaminate with an appropriate treatment or with a solution of diluted bleach and allow to dry completely.
• Scrape back unsound surfaces and brush clean before applying one coat of Masonry & Plaster Stabilising Primer.

Paint Application

1. When using more than one tin of the same colour, check that the batch numbers are the same (see the base of the tin). If not, mix the tins together before use.
2. Stir paint thoroughly before use.
3. Apply two coats of Exterior Masonry using a brush or roller, taking care not to apply too thickly in hollows and angled sections.
4. On application of the final coat, lay off the paint in a single direction.
5. Exterior Masonry is touch dry in two hours and can be recoated in five hours.
6. Clean brushes and rollers with warm soapy water.