Saving the Weatherboards: A Facade Repaint in Maryville

These old weatherboards still had plenty of character, but they needed some attention. For this Maryville repaint, we focused on saving the existing timber and improving the finish without trying to make an old house look brand new.

Completed weatherboard facade repaint in Maryville with purple weatherboards and dark trim — The finished Maryville facade, with the original weatherboards retained.

Saving What Was Already There

This job covered the front facade and one side wall where the timber and old paint were in the worst condition. We weren't repainting the whole house.

The boards were old, and some areas had become soft. There was plenty of loose paint to remove, along with holes and rough patches that needed work before we could think about the finish coats.

The aim was to keep the existing boards where we could, give them some much-needed preparation and bring the front of the home back to life. A big part of that was the Norglass treatment.

Getting the Top Gable Done First

The top section of the gable needed a different approach. With the power shut off for the day, we had a window to get that section prepared and painted.

We scraped away the failing paint, sanded the boards and undercoated the bare timber with an oil-based undercoat. We then used builder's bog to skim and improve the rough areas, undercoated those repairs and applied two coats of Dulux Weathershield.

That is why the upper gable looks finished while the rest of the facade is still being prepared in some of the photos. We didn't use the Norglass treatment on that top section; the remaining work allowed time for the treatment and its curing period.

Failing paint on the old timber gable before preparation — The old coating needed scraping and sanding before repainting.

Undercoated Maryville facade with the upper gable already painted — The upper gable finished first, with preparation continuing below.

Giving the Old Boards Some Help with Norglass

Once the loose paint was removed and the timber exposed on the remaining areas, we applied Norglass Norseal. This is a penetrating epoxy timber treatment that soaks into the surface and seals it against moisture.

For this job, it gave us a way to treat the old timber before moving on to the filling and painting. The treatment works into the boards; the fillers that follow improve their shape and surface.

It isn't a replacement for timber that needs replacing, and it doesn't turn old boards into new ones. Our goal here was to preserve the existing weatherboards and give the repaint a better starting point.

We left the treatment to cure for 48 hours over the weekend before continuing. It was a stage worth allowing time for.

Maryville weatherboard facade during preparation with areas of bare timber exposed — Loose paint removed and the timber exposed for treatment.

Applying Norglass Norseal treatment to exposed weatherboards — Applying the clear Norglass treatment before further preparation.

A closer look at the treatment being applied by roller and brush. The treated timber was then left for 48 hours before work continued.

Filling the Damage and Improving the Surface

After the treatment had cured, we got back into the preparation. Builder's bog was used for the deeper holes and more damaged areas. We then used Polyfilla Professional Exterior Timber skim to improve the broader surface of the boards.

There is a fair bit of shaping and sanding involved in this part. We wanted to tidy up the rough areas while keeping the character of the original weatherboards.

Once the repairs and skimming were ready, we undercoated again before applying two finish coats of Dulux Weathershield.

Weatherboards with filled and prepared areas before undercoating and finish coats — Filling and surface preparation underway before the next coating stages.

The Side Wall Needed Attention Too

We also worked on the side wall where the damage was worst. It received the same careful attention: removing failing paint, treating the exposed timber with Norglass, allowing it to cure, then filling, preparing, undercoating and repainting.

Keeping the work focused on the facade and this wall meant we could concentrate on the areas that needed it most.

Weathered side-wall boards during preparation before repainting — The side wall during preparation.

The same side wall after preparation and repainting — The side wall after the repairs and painting were complete.

A Fresh Finish with the Character Left In

The weatherboards were finished in Taubmans Razzle Dazzle, using Dulux Weathershield low sheen. Colorbond Monument in a semi-gloss finish brought the darker details together.

You can still see that these are old boards, and that was always part of the plan. The surface is tidier, the colours give the facade a fresh look, and the original timber remains part of the home.

There was a lot of work underneath those final coats. The scraping, treatment, curing time and repairs are the parts you don't see straight away when you look at the finished job.

Close-up of the finished weatherboards showing the retained timber texture — A closer look at the finished boards, with their original character still showing through.

From scraping and sanding through to the finished Maryville facade.

Does Your Weatherboard Home Need Some Attention?

If your weatherboards are looking tired, we can have a look and talk through the preparation needed before repainting. We'll also let you know if there are areas that need timber replacement before we start.

Find out more about our exterior painting services, or get in touch to discuss your home.

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