Should I paint or varnish my wooden shutters and door?

Both protect the wood from sun and rain. The difference is in what you see and how they wear. Paint forms an opaque layer, hides fillerFillerA fine paste or powder that fills holes, fine cracks and dents so a wall, ceiling or piece of wood is smooth before it is painted., patches and differences in the wood, and needs a primerPrimerThe thin first coat that goes on before the main material. It binds dust, seals the pores and helps paint or waterproofing stick firmly. underneath. VarnishVarnishA clear or semi-transparent finish for wood that lets the grain show through and protects it from sun, rain and wear. is clear or semi-transparent, lets the grain show, and also comes tinted for a warmer or darker tone.

On one set of old shutters that were already painted, the leaves were sandedSandingSmoothing a surface with sandpaper or a power sander to remove bumps, loose old paint or gloss, so the new paint or varnish grips well and comes out smooth., primed and painted again in a light colour. On another pair, the wood had gone greyWeathered (grey) woodThe grey, rough layer wood develops when it is left unprotected in sun and rain. It is surface wear and usually comes off with sanding. in the sun. It was sanded back until it was clean and given a finish in a warm wood colour that lets the grain show.

When paint wears out it usually cracksCrackA split or gap in render, concrete, a wall, a coating or wood. Fine cracks are usually only on the surface; ones that grow, keep reopening or run diagonally need attention. and peelsPeeling paintWhen paint loses its grip and lifts off in flakes or sheets. It is almost always a sign of a problem underneath, usually damp or poor preparation., and before the next coat anything that isn't holding has to come off. Varnish usually fades gradually, and if it's renewed in time the job is smaller. On one roof terraceFlat roof (roof terrace)The flat concrete roof on top of a building. It is the most common kind of roof in Greece and the part that takes the most sun and rain., the pergolasPergolaAn open shade structure in a garden, on a terrace or a roof, made of posts and beams with slats, reeds, fabric or plants on top. It is often made of wood. and latticeLatticeA panel of thin wooden battens crossed in a grid. It is used for screens, for privacy and on pergolas and planters. screens, which are exposed on every side, were maintained with varnish in a dark tone.

Keep in mind: to go from paint to varnish, all the old paint has to come off, including from the corners and the louvres, and underneath there may be filler or patches that were never meant to be seen. If you're considering it, ask for a small area to be sanded first so you can see what's underneath.