Choosing exterior colours

Light or dark: which lasts longer on timber?

Lighter colours usually last longer. BRANZ lists colour among the factors that set the repaint interval, because some darker colours absorb more heat and cause greater thermal movement in the timber. Boards that swell and shrink more crack paint at the edges sooner. Paints with infrared-reflective pigments can reduce the effect for darker shades.

That does not rule out dark houses. It means a charcoal weatherboard wall facing north will need more attention than a pale one, and that a good painter will check the paint maker’s guidance for the board and colour you choose.

Popular colour families for Auckland houses

Most schemes come from a handful of families: warm whites and creams, soft greys, muted greens that sit with gardens, and deep charcoals or navies for a modern look. The swatches below are descriptive only; they are not any paint maker’s named colours. Take a sample of the colour you like to a paint store and they will match it.

• Warm white reads clean without glare; suits villas and bungalows

• Cream softer than white; kind to older boards

• Pale stone grey a neutral that works with most roof colours

• Sage grey-green sits well among gardens and bush

• Deep olive a darker green; check heat guidance on sunny walls

• Charcoal bold and modern; most heat on north and west walls

Work with the roof, joinery and neighbours

Start with what will not change. The roof, aluminium or timber joinery, brick or stone, paving and fences are all part of the picture, so choose wall colours that sit with them. Then pick a trim colour and, if you like, an accent for the front door. Two or three colours is usually enough on a small house.

• Roof. A colour that echoes or contrasts the roof deliberately looks planned; one that nearly matches it looks accidental.
• Joinery. Aluminium window frames come in fixed colours; pick walls and trims that suit them.
• Trims. On villas and bungalows, trims in a lighter or darker shade pick out fretwork and window facings.
• Street. Look at the houses either side; a scheme that suits the street usually looks better from your gate.

How to test colours before you commit

Paint big samples and look at them outside. A colour that looks right on a small card often looks too light and too bright on a whole wall in Auckland sun, so test at least an A3 patch on both a sunny and a shaded wall, and check it morning and evening. Most people go a shade deeper than their first choice.

Paint the samples on card if you are not sure, so you can move them around the house and hold them against the roof and joinery. Leave them up for a few days. If you are changing from dark to light, or the reverse, expect the quote to allow for an extra coat.

Heritage houses and colour

For most houses, colour is your choice and repainting is exempt from building consent. Scheduled historic heritage places are the exception: for those, the Auckland Unitary Plan’s D17 overlay rules say maintenance must not paint a surface that was never painted, use water blasting or sandblasting, or fix scaffolding to the building without consent. Check with Auckland Council first.

Villas and bungalows are covered in more detail on painting weatherboards, villas and bungalows.

Colours that are easier to live with

Very pale whites show dirt and mould sooner on shaded walls, and very dark colours show fading and dust. Mid-tones are the most forgiving. Gloss trims in a warm white stay looking fresh longest with a yearly wash. Whatever you choose, keep a labelled tin or the colour reference so touch-ups match later.

Think about the front door and the garage door too. They are the parts of a house people look at first, and a stronger accent there can lift a quiet scheme without the risk of a dark colour across every wall. If the garage door is metal, check which paint suits it before choosing the colour.

Asked before a repaint

Do dark colours make exterior paint fail faster?

They can. BRANZ notes that some darker colours absorb more heat and make the timber underneath move more, which stresses the paint film and the boards. Paints made with infrared-reflective pigments reduce that effect. On a sunny north or west wall, a lighter colour is the safer choice for long life.

How do I test exterior paint colours?

Paint large samples, at least an A3 sheet, on card or straight onto the walls, and look at them in morning, midday and evening light, on both sunny and shaded sides. Colours look lighter and brighter outdoors than on a chart, so most people end up choosing a shade or two deeper than their first pick.

Does a new house colour need council consent?

For most houses, repainting counts as maintenance, so no building consent is required. If your home is a scheduled historic heritage place in the Auckland Unitary Plan, painting a surface that was never painted, water blasting or fixing scaffolding to it can need resource consent. Ask Auckland Council before work starts if the house is scheduled.