Topcoat or wood oil for exterior frames: which do you choose?
For exterior window and door frames, an opaque topcoat is the most commonly used choice, but for certain types of wood and a desired wood-grain look, wood oil or stain is also used. Both have their own advantages and disadvantages.
Opaque topcoat
Topcoat forms a closed, protective layer that keeps out UV radiation and moisture well, and is available in many colours. This is the most commonly chosen finish for frames in the Netherlands, with a predictable maintenance cycle.
Transparent wood oil or stain
Wood oil and stain leave the wood grain visible, but generally offer less lasting protection than an opaque system and need touching up more often. We choose this option mainly when the wood grain needs to stay visible, for example with certain types of wood in roof extensions or roof terraces.
DIY, or better to have it done?
With the right preparation and materials, some parts of choosing the right paint and materials can be done yourself, especially for small-scale, easily accessible work. Where it gets trickier — working at height, uncertainty about the condition of the surface, or work that causes more expensive damage if done wrong, such as wood rot or damp problems — it's wise to have a professional painter take a look before you start.
Not sure what's sensible for your situation? During a free, no-obligation assessment we give honest advice: sometimes a touch-up is enough, sometimes a more thorough approach is needed. That advice is free and non-binding, even if you decide to do it yourself.
What affects the cost
Naming a specific figure for choosing the right paint and materials is difficult without knowing the situation: the surface area, the condition of the surface, accessibility and the number of coats together determine the price. Poorly maintained work needs more preparation — such as wood repair or extra sanding — and therefore weighs more heavily than the painting itself.
Want to know what this means for your situation? After a free, no-obligation assessment you'll receive a clear, concrete quote, so you don't have to guess based on a generic price per square metre. See also our full breakdown of what determines the cost of painting.
Which service this relates to
This topic mainly relates to window frame painting, woodwork painting. Below is what this service involves and what you can expect from our approach.
- Window Frame Painting — Wooden window frames freshly painted, including repair of minor wood damage.
- Woodwork Painting — Fascia boards, dormers, fences and other woodwork protected and neatly finished.
Why choose Painting Company
Painting Company has now completed over 1374 projects and serves more than 261 VvE's, with a team of 14+ permanent painters and an average Google rating of 4.9. For questions about choosing the right paint and materials, you can count on experience that goes beyond loose knowledge from the internet — we apply this in practice every day.
As part of CrumBouw and GoedkoopSteigerHuren.nl, we also have the knowledge, experience and resources to look a step further than just the paint layer: from structural repair to arranging scaffolding, should your situation call for it. Still unsure about your own situation after reading this article? Feel free to request a free, no-obligation quote, and we'll think it through with you.