preparing external window frame/sill with oil

[josiep]

Hi

We are preparing and repainting outside of wooden window frame. Most of the old paint was intact - but on the sill some sections of the wood have been bare (painted flaked off) and exposed for about a year - and it is all silver and weathered.

My Dad suggested that we prepare the surface for priming by rubbing the bare wood with linseed oil (raw) to nourish it before painting and this would help the paint last longer.

Is that right?

I've read all the info about Holkham paints and they do this... but we would be using regular external paint on our windows not linseed oil based paint. Does it matter?

If it's a good idea - how long between oiling and painting?
Any tips on type of primer to use?

cheers

 

[oilman]

Yes.
Yes.
Doubtful - weeks.
Any.

If you're going to use "regular" paint, there's not much point in worrying, the paint will be off soon enough. I tried this with garage doors before I knew about linseed paint, following advice from a professional painter neighbour. The paint is falling off again. What a waste of time that was.

You may as well wait till next summer now, as whatever you put on will be trapping moisture in the wood.