Best Waterproof Paint for Wood [Comparison of Top 5 Paints]
For people who like wooden structures inside and outside their homes, maintaining and treating the wood of these structures is the number one priority.
Wooden furniture or wooden deck looks amazing around the house but if not treated properly the wood gets affected. What looked amazing some time ago is now a problem you need to take care of.
To make sure all the wooden structures around your house last as long as possible, you need to finish and waterproof your wood. The best way to waterproof your wooden structures is to paint them with the best waterproof paint for wood.
If you don’t know which paint is the best waterproof paint for your furniture, don’t worry. Based on our research, we have reviewed some of the best waterproof wood paints we would like you to consider buying.
List of Top 5 Waterproof Wood Paints
Which Paint Is Really Waterproof?
This goes without saying that not all wood paints are waterproof, there are some manufacturers that claim their paint to be waterproof but it’s not at all.
To know whether the paint you are buying is waterproof or not you need to look at the ingredients of the paint.
Waterproof paint is made from acrylic polymer resins. This material is not only responsible for waterproofing the wood, but it also increases the durability, flexibility, adhesion, and toughness of the coating.
Guide to Select the Best Waterproof Paint for Wood? [Key Factors to Consider]
1. Type of waterproof wood paint
Latex paint is known for giving better coverage with fewer coats so you can use it for both indoor and outdoor wood. It is easy to use, it dries off quickly but takes time to cure so it’s best you use it for interior wood painting.
Acrylic paint is also similar to latex paint. It gives the surface a rich color with a clear and smooth surface. It is more versatile than latex but has fewer color options.
Milk paint provides a thinner texture as compared to latex and acrylic paint. If you are looking for more natural-looking paint for your furniture you should use milk paint.
2. Water-based or Oil-based paint
Water-based paint is thin so it dries out quickly. It is also easy to use since it won’t form any drips. Another PRO of water-based paint is that you can use it vertically as well.
Oil-based paint, on the other hand, produces a much thicker layer on the surface of your wooden structure. Oil-based paint is more protective against physical wear and tear.
3. Wood type and paint type
Different kind of woods needs a different kind of paint. For furniture or decks made of hardwood, you should use water-based polyurethane waterproof paints.
Multiple coats of water-based high-gloss polyurethane paint give your wood a smooth and lustrous finish. You can also use water-based paint on plain wood as well.
For softwood such as pine, fir, or spruce you can use any kind of paint. We would recommend you use latex-based or oil-based paint.
Latex paint is easy to use and highly available in various colors. It also dries off quickly so you can use it for interior furniture.
4. Drying time
Some waterproof sealants take time to dry while others don’t, if the weather of the area you are living in is cloudy and rainy, you need to make sure your paint is the one that dries quickly.
Water-based oil dries quickly, whereas oil-based paint takes time to dry out completely.
5. Coating quality
The durability of your paint depends on its coating quality. If you want your paint to provide more protection to your wood, you need to make sure the paint you are going to use, provides a rich coating.
By rich coating, we mean the thickness and the sturdiness of the paint layer. Thicker and sturdier layers protect better against physical wear and tear. Oil-based paint usually produces a thicker layer than water-based paint.
6. Paint for vertical and horizontal surfaces
Some paints are less protective against foot traffic so such kind of paint can only be used for vertical structures. Paint that provides a strong coating can be used vertically and horizontally as well.
7. Paint color
Last but not the least, the color of your paint. If you want to choose from a wide variety of waterproof wood paint then you should go for latex paint.
Top 5 Best Waterproof Paints for Wood
1. Valspar 1533 Porch and Floor Latex Satin Enamel
Value for Money
On top of our list is the best value for money waterproof paint for wood i.e. the Valspar latex paint. If you are looking for paint that is durable and can withstand physical abuse in daily use, this is the paint you should use.
As all latex-based paints are best for interior and exterior wood, so is the Valspar latex satin enamel paint. With this paint, you won’t have to worry about the type of surface you are using it on, if your furniture has metal in it, you can still paint your furniture with it.
The Valspar latex paint gives you a perfect rich coating that dries out in just 24 hours and within the said time it can resist foot traffic and other physical wear and tear.
The paint comes in light grey and dark grey color and the best part is the color remains the same even after exposure to sunlight.
Specifications
| Brand | Valspar |
| Paint Type | Enamel, Acrylic |
| Finish Type | Satin |
| Unit Count | 128 fl. Oz. |
| No. of Color options | 1 |
Benefits
- Highly waterproof and resists UV rays
- Dries out quickly
- Single coat offers full protection against physical wear and tear
- You can use it for interior and exterior wood painting
- Non-toxic; doesn’t produce any unpleasant smell
- Can be used on various surfaces i.e. metal, wood, glass, etc.
- Affordable
Drawbacks
- Leaves dips when used with roller
2. Modern Masters 275266 Front Door Paint
Dries out quickly
The Modern Master Wood paint comes in a variety of colors. Since this is water-based paint, it is easy to apply and barely leaves any drips on the surface. It may produce a relatively thin layer but it is thick enough to be used on vertical surfaces as well.
The Modern Master Wood paint does give better coverage against water and bad weather but it does not protect the surface against physical wear and tear.
Hence, we recommend you not to use it on outdoor surfaces. Also, it comes in small jars so you will need a lot of these jars to paint a large section in your house, which also means that it will cost a lot as well.
Specifications
| Brand | Modern Master |
| Paint Type | Water-based |
| Finish Type | Satin |
| Unit Count | 32 fl. Oz |
| No. of Color options | 32 |
Benefits
- Wide variety of colors
- Provides good coverage with its rich coating
- You can use it on vertical surfaces as well
- Dries out in just an hour
- Cures faster
Drawbacks
- Do not withstand physical wear and tear
- Expensive
3. Montage Signature Interior/Exterior Eco-Friendly Paint
Eco-Friendly
Most wood paints are more durable but more toxic as well. Such toxic paints produce a bad smell when applied, they are also less eco-friendly. Montage Signature paint outdoes other paint brands in being durable and eco-friendly at the same time.
The Montage Signature is a water-based paint, it can resist water exceptionally well. This paint can be used for indoor and outdoor wood painting but experts recommend using it on interior wooden surfaces only.
The reason behind this is that it cannot withstand physical wear and tear so where there is high foot traffic and a lot of movement don’t use this paint.
The Montage paint is mildew-resistant as well, so it provides high protection against mold growth as well.
Another best feature about this paint is that it provides perfect coverage with its rich coating, two layers are enough for better protection. This paint dries out quickly but you will have to wait another 12 hours for recoating it.
The Montage Signature paint comes in 18 different colors, so you have a wide range of colors to choose from. This paint has an affordable price as well.
Specifications
| Brand | Montage Signature |
| Paint Type | Water-based |
| Finish Type | Semi-Gloss |
| Unit Count | 128 fl. Oz |
| No. of Color options | 20 |
Benefits
- Non-toxic, eco-friendly
- Resist water excellently
- Mildew-resistant; works greatly against mold growth
- Rich coating provides good protection against rain and UV rays.
- Dries out in 4-5 hours
- Comes in 18 different colors.
- Affordable price
Drawbacks
- Not good against physical wear and tear, so we would recommend you use it on interior wood.
- Takes longer to dry
4. Diamond Brite Paint 21050 5-Gallon Semi-Gloss Latex
Most Durable
If durability is your top priority, then we will recommend you to buy the Diamond Brite paint. The Diamond Brite is an oil-based semi-gloss latex paint that outdoes all other brands in giving the ultimate protection against all types of substances.
Be it bad weather, constant rain, a lot of foot traffic, or other physical wear and tear, its rich coating layer will make sure your wooden surfaces remain unharmed. Another best thing about this paint is that it comes in 12 different colors.
Since this is an oil-based paint, you will need to apply it carefully to avoid any drips formation on the wooden surface. You will also have to add another layer to get better protection.
A single layer takes 24 hours to completely dry, we recommend you to wait 48 hours before applying another layer. This paint fades away faster than other paint brands so you will need to repaint after 5 months.
Specifications
| Brand | Diamond Brite Paint |
| Paint Type | Water-based |
| Finish Type | Semi-Gloss |
| Unit Count | 640 fl. Oz |
| No. of Color options | 14 |
Benefits
- Super-durable
- Provides high-quality protection against physical abuse
- Comes in 12 different colors
- Produce little smell
Drawbacks
- Takes time to dry
- Fades away faster
5. KILZ Interior/Exterior Enamel Porch & Patio Latex Floor Paint
Best Price
Apart from everything, if you want the best priced waterproof wood paint then we would recommend you to buy the KILZ latex paint. Don’t underestimate this paint for its cheap cost, because it doesn’t lack any features that other paint brands on this list have.
The KILZ paint is latex-based so it will form a thick layer, offering high protection against physical abuse. The paint can be used for outdoor and indoor wood painting but we would recommend you to use it for outdoor painting.
It’s perfect for outdoor painting because it offers better protection against wear and tear or any movement. Furthermore, its color doesn’t fade away quickly so even if your project is outside, exposed to the sun for hours, it still will hold its color.
This paint will take 6-7 hours to completely dry and you will have to wait for 24 hours before you allow foot traffic on it. The KILZ paint comes in grey color only so you will have only one color option.
This wood paint is super cheap so it’s perfect for people with a tight budget.
Specifications
| Brand | KILZ |
| Paint Type | Enamel, Acrylic |
| Finish Type | Low-Luster |
| Unit Count | 128 fl. Oz |
| No. of Color options | 1 |
Benefits
- Forms thick layer that offers high physical defense
- Color doesn’t fade away easily
- Has low price, perfect for those who have a tight budget.
Drawbacks
- Drips can be formed on the edges
- Takes time to dry
- Comes only in one color option
Comparison Of Above Listed Waterproof Wood Paints
| Valspar wood paint | Modern Master wood paint | Montage Signature wood paint | Diamond Brite wood Paint | KILZ wood paint | |
| Amount | 1 Gallon | 1 Quart | 1 Gallon | 5 Gallon | 1 Gallon |
| Oil/water-based | Acrylic-based | Water-based | Water-based | Oil-based | Oil-based |
| Color fade resistant | Yes | Yes | Yes | NO | Yes |
| Usage Recommendation | Interior | Interior | Exterior/Interior | Interior | Exterior |
| No. of Color options | 1 | 32 | 20 | 14 | 1 |
Final Words:
As you know now that wood paint has a lot more features than meets the eye, if your wooden paint misses one of these features, you will have problems later.
To ensure your paint has all the features you need, you need to consider our mentioned factors while buying the best waterproof wood paint. We also have enlisted some of the best wood paint you can choose from.
Our top pick for you is the Valspar latex paint. Some of its features include high durability, faster drying time, highly waterproof, and affordability.
In case you didn’t like its color we would recommend you to buy the Montage signature paint, as it has a variety of colors you can choose from.
