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Surface - Timber Weatherboard

What is Timber Weatherboard?

Weatherboard is a moulded timber board that is typically used to clad an exterior wall surface. Weatherboard is available in many different profiles. This section refers to bare timber boards, but see the expert tips section below for a note on pre-primed timber boards. Common timber species used for weatherboards are cypress pine and western-red cedar. For fibre cement weatherboards, please refer to instructions for fibre cement sheet.

Preparation

All surfaces should be lightly sanded with 120 to 240 grit sandpaper, to remove any contaminants and smooth any rough or raised grain. Punch nail holes and apply a metal primer where non-galvanised nails have been used. It is best to prime any holes or cracks before filling. Fill nail holes, imperfections and cracks with a suitable exterior filler. Brush down or wipe surface with a damp cloth to ensure all dust is removed. Scrub boards down with brush and sugar soap solution, then rinse with water. Timber must be sufficiently dry before applying the coating.

Specialty Accessories

The following accessories can be recommended for timber weatherboard paint projects:

  • Exterior Filler
  • Filling Blade
  • 120 - 240 Grit Sandpaper
  • W50 or M40 Gap Filler
  • Builder's Bog
  • Medium fine sanding block
  • 10mm to 15mm nap roller
  • Scraper
  • Board-width rollers
  • Roller Pole Extension
  • Caulking gun
  • Dust masks
  • Goggles
  • Step Ladder

Expert Tips

When painting any bare timber surface, the Australian Standard AS/NZS 2311:2017 Guide to the Painting of Buildings specifies 1 coat of a quality acrylic or oil-based primer be applied, followed by two coats of a quality acrylic or oil-based topcoat. Some topcoats for exterior timber surfaces are self-priming (e.g. Dulux Weathershield) and are suitable to use as a 3 coat system, but using a quality primer as the first coat is considered best practice for evening porosity, and blocking tannins and stains. Unpainted rough sawn timber boards will use 30-40% more paint than face dressed (smooth) board.

Pre-primed timber weatherboards are coated with a thin, holding primer that is only designed to provide temporary protection during the building process. This primer is generally not considered to be part of the paint system and should be sanded and coated in an appropriate prepcoat as shown here. For pre-primed timber weatherboard, please refer to the timber manufacturer’s specifications.

Prepcoat

A quality primer sealer undercoat is recommended

Examples of Prepcoats Suitability Retail Trade
Berger Gold Label Oil-Based Undercoat (Oil-Based)
Dulux Professional Primer Sealer Undercoat (Oil-Based)
Dulux Professional Total Prep (Acrylic)
Porter's Limeproof Undercoat Sealer (Acrylic)
Berger Triple Prep (Oil-Based)
Berger Triple Prep (Acrylic)
Dulux 1 Step Primer Sealer Undercoat (Oil-Based)
Dulux 1-Step Primer Sealer Undercoat (Acrylic)
Dulux Precision High-Opacity Stain Blocker (Oil-Based)

This table is a guide only, there are many other products offered by a variety of brands that may also be suitable.

 

Topcoats

A quality, 100% acrylic topcoat is recommended.

Examples of Topcoats Suitability Retail Trade
Berger Gold Label Interior/Exterior (Acrylic)
Dulux Professional Interior/Exterior (Acrylic)
Dulux Professional Exterior (Acrylic)
Porter's Ultra Flat / Eggshell / Low Sheen (Acrylic)
Berger Solarscreen (Acrylic)*
Cabot's Timbercolour (Acrylic)*
Dulux Weathershield (Acrylic)*

This table is a guide only, there are many other products offered by a variety of brands that may also be suitable.

* Most products in the range are self-priming but a primer sealer undercoat is best practice for tannin and stain blocking.