Project Introduction
Nestled down a long driveway surrounded by spectacular bush this home provided a quiet and peaceful sanctuary for an active outdoor family. Unfortunately over the years the relentless wind, rain, sun and nature had battered this once grand and was in desperate need of exterior painting. When the house painters arrived to provide a free quote it was obvious what need to be done to bring this home back to life using specific products that offered protection and good looks it for many years to come. To discover exactly how we did this, find all the details with incredible before and after’s in the article below.
Hannah Doherty
It was a pleasant change to have tradesmen turn up when they say they are going to and get the job done within the time they specify – with good service and a great result – many thanks.
Our Painting Process
Being situated in the bush the this home had a lot of moss, lichen and dirt growth. Our first process was the house wash which eliminated all organic growth, and cleaned away many years of dirt and grime. We also sanitised the entire surface to ensure all unseeable spores were neutralised and eliminated.
The cladding on this home is rough sawn which means there is very little sanding and preparation required.
With the preparation completed the house painters used a specialist product by Dulux called Weathershield® ColourGuard™ and the colour chosen was Rāwene. Below we outline the reasons why we selected this particular product.
Product Selection
The colour choice for this home was Rāwene which is described as a popular dark charcoal with a subtle bluish undertone. https://www.dulux.co.nz/colour/greys/rawene
When using dark colours it is important to note that there is a limit to what older weatherboards can tolerate. Darker colours tend to “stress” the wood and previous coatings more leading to failure.
When looking at colours they all come with an LVR. This is Light Reflective Value. The light reflectance value of an individual colour indicates the amount of light and heat that individual colour will reflect.
Black has a light reflectance value of zero and absorbs all light and heat. Surfaces low in light reflectance value are generally very dark and can get very hot (such as the black leather seats in a car).
On the other hand, white has a light reflectance value of nearly 100 and keeps a building light and cool. All colours fit between these two extremes.
A colour with a light reflectance value of 60 (which means it reflects 60% of the light that falls on it) will reflect more light than a colour with a light reflectance value of 30 (which means it reflects 30% of the light that falls on it).
Rāwene had a LRV of 7. Typically a colour like this the house painters would recommend paint stripping, and then harnessing the latest paint technology from primer to colour we would be able to achieve the required finish.
With the cladding being rough saw cladding however, paint stripping is not an option. Fortunately Dulux have a specialty product called Weathershield® ColourGuard™ which is batch made and designed for these situations.
Why is this important? Lesser experienced painting companies will have just used standard paint which would have resulted in paint failure. By selecting the right paint for the right cladding the house painters were confidently able to achieve a finish that will last…guaranteed!
Weathershield® ColourGuard™
Using the latest innovation in dark colour technology the house painters used the Dulux® Weathershield® ColourGuard™ system which has been specifically designed for darker colours and provides superior colour fade resistance.
Dulux® Weathershield® ColourGuard™ utilises specially formulated heavy duty reflective pigments for superior colour durability. As the sun’s rays hit the painted surface, a percentage of visible and infrared rays are reflected so even the darkest colours stay truer for longer. Due to it’s formulation Dulux® Weathershield® ColourGuard™ is limited to just 28 colours.
Colours Used
Whole House
Rāwene
Whole House
Rāwene
Whole House
Rāwene
Hover over the target to reveal the actual colours used on this home. These colours are representations only and may vary from actual paint colours.
Rāwene
Rāwene is a popular dark charcoal with a subtle bluish undertone. It works well as a contemporary feature colour on exteriors such as a front door. It pairs perfectly with whites such as Mt Aspiring and Ōkārito as well as soft browns and grieges such as Ōpononi.
Before & After Gallery
FAQs: Exterior Painting and Weatherboard Protection
What is LRV and why does it matter when choosing dark exterior paint colours?
Light Reflective Value (LRV) indicates how much visible light a colour bounces back, measured on a scale from zero—meaning almost no reflection, such as pure black—to 100, which represents pure white. When dark colours are chosen for exterior timber, understanding LRV becomes essential because lower values translate to higher heat absorption. This often puts more stress on both the timber underneath and any existing coatings, sometimes leading to surface cracking or early paint breakdown. Paint shades that sit below an LRV of around 20 fall into the “dark” category and demand specialised formulations capable of tolerating increased thermal load. The colour Rāwene, highlighted in this project, carries an LRV of just 7, which means it absorbs most of the sun’s energy. To prevent heat-related damage and fading, it was applied using the Dulux Weathershield® ColourGuard™ system, developed to keep deep tones stable and consistent for many years.
How does Dulux Weathershield® ColourGuard™ prevent dark colours from fading?
Weathershield® ColourGuard™ contains heavy duty reflective pigments not found in traditional exterior paints. These specialised pigments reflect visible and infrared rays from the sun, reducing the surface temperature even on the darkest colours. By lowering heat absorption, the technology slows thermal degradation and prevents common dark colour problems like chalking, blistering, and colour fade. This innovative formulation allows dark colours to last up to twice as long as conventional premium exterior paints, keeping your home looking fresh for many more years.
How does Weathershield® ColourGuard™ compare to standard exterior paints for timber weatherboards?
Weathershield® ColourGuard™ is batch-made specifically for high-risk dark colour applications where standard paints would fail. The formulation includes MaxiFlex Technology that expands and contracts with timber movement, preventing peeling, flaking, and blistering. While standard exterior paints work well for lighter colours, they lack the reflective pigment technology essential for colours with LRV values below 20. Dulux guarantees Weathershield® ColourGuard™ won’t peel, flake or blister for as long as you live in your home when applied according to specifications—a confidence level impossible with conventional dark exterior paints.
Can any weatherboards handle extremely dark colours or are there limitations?
Older weatherboards or those showing surface wear present particular challenges when finished in deep tones. Dark shades take in far more sunlight, trapping heat that places extra pressure on both the timber and any existing layers of coating, which can accelerate movement, cracking, and other signs of failure. In heritage homes or properties where several coats have built up over time, professionals often suggest one of two careful approaches: either stripping everything back to bare timber and rebuilding the coating system with high‑quality primers and finishes, or selecting a lighter colour with a higher Light Reflectance Value (LRV)—typically above 20—to help reflect heat and reduce surface stress.
Why can't you paint strip rough sawn weatherboards?
Paint stripping is not an option for rough sawn cladding due to the deeply textured surface created by the sawing process. The irregular grain patterns and deep grooves make it impossible to effectively strip paint without damaging the timber fibres. Unlike smooth weatherboards where paint stripping can provide a clean surface, rough sawn timber requires alternative preparation methods including treating for moss and mould with specialised killers, thorough washing, and proper priming. The rough texture actually works to your advantage when using the right paint system, as it provides excellent adhesion for products like Weathershield® ColourGuard™ without requiring extensive preparation.
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