Looking for advice on fixing poorly painted porch railings in Canada – should I prep or pressure wash before applying outdoor paint, any brand recommendations?
Asked by Rodney Lowe 
3 months ago
Last Updated: August 14, 2024
Hey there! So I’m dealing with a bit of a situation. Last summer, this not-so-great contractor used indoor paint on my porch railings and now they’re looking pretty rough. I’m planning to repaint them with outdoor paint, but do I need to do any prep work like scraping or pressure washing? Also, any recommendations for a good brand or variety of outdoor paint? I’m up in Canada, so keep that in mind. Thanks!
Can you easily scrape off the paint? If it comes off easily, the best approach is to strip off that paint first. If the paint is still intact, then prime it with oil-based primer before painting with exterior paint
I suggest lightly sanding it, applying an exterior quality primer, lightly sanding once more, and then finishing with a high-quality outdoor paint.
Just go ahead and do it.
It’s kind of hard to tell from the photo if it’s peeling currently. If it’s not peeling, you should use a good bonding primer followed by exterior paint.
One issue you may face in the future is with the quality of the railings’ top piece. It seems to be a standard or pressure treated 2×4.
A higher quality piece would last longer and have fewer issues with cracking and splitting.
I can see the peeling now. It appears to have been primed at some point.
Ive it a good power wash. Once that’s done, make sure to scrape off any loose paint. Definitely prime it with an oil based primer. And only after you prime it properly, go ahead and paint it. Remember, primer sticks to the wood, and paint sticks to the primer. If you skip the oil based primer and just paint the wood, it’s likely to peel again
Wow, did he forget the paint can? I’m not completely certain, but I believe you can paint over it with exterior paint. I suggest pressure washing and removing as much as possible before painting.
I’m a professional painter. The quality of the new paint depends on what it’s sticking to. I’ll be scraping off all the interior paint with a carbide scraper. Interior paint won’t hold up against the elements, so it shouldn’t take much effort. I recommend using a high-quality exterior paint like Aura that is known for its ability to adhere to almost any surface. To be extra cautious, I would prime with BIN shellac before applying the final coat.
You’ll need to remove it as best as you can, then make sure to prime and paint it.