The Preservation of the Exterior of Wooden Buildings

A practical guide explains how to preserve and decorate wooden exteriors by advising on lumber selection, paint composition, and correct application. It surveys common paint failures—chalking, checking, cracking, blistering, peeling—and links them to material properties or improper technique. The text discusses paint constituents (pigments and vehicles), typical vehicles such as linseed oil with volatile thinners, and the balancing of pigments like white lead and zinc oxide to offset individual weaknesses. It outlines desirable paint qualities (opacity, adhesion, elasticity, moisture resistance, color permanence) and emphasizes skilled preparation and application to achieve durable coatings.