FACADE
Paint only protects if the surface underneath is right
A timber facade rarely fails because of age. It fails because moisture stays in the wood: end grain that soaks up water, cladding that ends too close to the ground, gutters that overflow or paint that has cracked. That is why we start by reading the facade, not by opening the paint tin. Where is it flaking, where is the timber soft, and why just there?
Relut paints timber facades and replaces cladding, bargeboards, trims and corner boards on detached houses, terraced houses and holiday homes throughout Stockholm County. We do the washing, scraping, priming and painting ourselves. Rendered and masonry facades are repaired by a partner, and the scaffolding is put up by a scaffolding company with trained staff. Who does what is stated in the written quote, which you receive after a free home visit.
What we do on the facade
The scope is adapted to what the facade needs, from one weather-beaten gable to the whole house.
Washing and scraping
We wash off dirt, algae and mould growth and scrape loose paint back to a sound surface. Pressure washing is used with care, so the timber is not loaded with water before painting.
Priming oil and primer
Bare wood, end grain, joints and nail heads get a penetrating priming oil and then primer. It is the priming that keeps the moisture out. The top coat protects the primer and gives the colour.
Top coats as a system
Two finishing coats in a type of paint that is compatible with the paint already on the wall. We paint to follow the sun, so the surface is in shade when it is painted.
Replacing cladding
Rotten or cracked cladding boards are replaced with new timber that is primed all round, including the end grain, before it goes up. The air gap behind the cladding and the distance down to the ground are checked at the same time.
Bargeboards, trims, corner boards
Bargeboards, capping boards, window trims and corner boards take the most weather and rot first. We replace them and make sure upward-facing end grain is protected with a drip moulding or metal flashing.
Render, brick, scaffolding
Repairs to render and masonry are carried out by a partner. Scaffolding is put up by a scaffolding company with training certificates. We coordinate the timing so the jobs follow on from each other without unnecessary waiting.
GOOD TO KNOW
What decides how long the paintwork lasts
Four things worth knowing before you decide on paint type, timing and scope.
The timber must be dry
Wood should not be painted if the surface moisture content is above 16 per cent, according to Svenskt Trä’s recommendations in TräGuiden. We measure with a moisture meter where the facade dries worst, for example at the bottom edge of the cladding and on the north side. After washing, the timber needs to dry properly before priming. Water-based paint also needs at least seven degrees in the air, preferably ten, and should not be applied to sun-hot surfaces.
Slurry paint, alkyd or acrylic
The paint already on the house decides the choice. Slurry paint (slamfärg, the traditional matt Swedish paint) gives no appreciable moisture protection, suits rough-sawn cladding and is repainted with slurry paint. Alkyd oil paint and acrylic paint form a film and are built up as a system of priming oil, primer and two top coats. According to TräGuiden, a correctly painted timber facade with an opaque finish lasts at least ten years, normally up to fifteen. Wood stain needs maintenance considerably more often, and the south side wears fastest.
Building permit for a new colour
Since 1 December 2025, as a general rule no building permit (bygglov) is needed to change the colour or facade material on one- and two-dwelling houses, ancillary buildings (komplementbyggnader) and ancillary dwellings (komplementbostadshus). A permit may still be required if the building or the area is of particular heritage value, or if the detailed development plan (detaljplan) or area regulations contain extended permit requirements. Other rules apply to blocks of flats within a detailed development plan. Check with the building committee (byggnadsnämnden) before you change colour or material.
Scaffolding and working at height
According to Arbetsmiljöverket (the Swedish Work Environment Authority), falls to a lower level are the most common cause of fatal accidents in the construction industry. When the fall height is two metres or more, the work must be done with fall protection, in the first instance collective protection such as scaffolding with guard rails. A ladder should only be used for short, one-off jobs. Anyone who erects scaffolding with more than two metres to the working platform must hold a training certificate, which is why we use scaffolding companies for taller facades.
How it works
How a facade job works
Three steps from first contact to a price in writing.
Tell us about the facade
Get in touch and describe the house: approximate size, number of storeys, what kind of paint is on it today and where it is flaking. Photos of the worst areas help us prepare for the visit.
Free home visit
We walk round the house, feel the timber at corners, trims and the bottom edge of the cladding, measure the moisture content and assess the paint type, the need for scaffolding and how much timber has to be replaced. The visit costs nothing anywhere in Stockholm County.
Written quote
The quote sets out the preparation, paint system and number of coats, estimated timber replacement, scaffolding and the price with the ROT deduction (ROT-avdrag) shown. It also states who carries out each part and how rot discovered during the work is handled.
What affects the price?
The price depends on the facade area and height, how much old paint has to be scraped off, how much timber needs replacing and whether scaffolding is required. A one-and-a-half-storey house with many windows takes longer than a plain single-storey house. The ROT deduction (ROT-avdrag) is 30 per cent of the labour cost, up to SEK 50,000 per person per year, and does not cover materials. You get the price in a written quote.
Book a free home visitWould you rather talk to us directly? Call or email us
Free facade home visit in Stockholm County
Tell us what you want done and we will get back to you. Call, email or fill in the form. The home visit and the quote cost nothing, wherever you live in Stockholm County.
Frequently asked questions
Straight answers about Facade before you decide.
It depends on the facade area, the height, how much has to be scraped and whether cladding needs replacing, so the price is given in a written quote once we have seen the house. Scaffolding and timber replacement are the items that differ most between two houses of the same size. The quote shows labour and materials separately, so you can see which part the ROT deduction (ROT-avdrag) is calculated on.
According to TräGuiden, a correctly painted timber facade with an opaque finish lasts at least ten years and normally up to fifteen. Stain and oil need maintenance more often, normally after three to five years. South-facing sides and houses near the coast wear fastest. Walk round the house every year and look for cracks, blisters, flaking and discolouration. It is cheaper to paint an exposed gable in time than the whole house too late.
The facade is painted when the timber is dry and the air is warm enough, which TräGuiden gives as the period from May to September. Water-based paints need at least seven degrees, preferably ten, and solvent-based paints should not be used below five degrees. The surface moisture content of the wood must be no more than 16 per cent. We avoid strong sun on the surface and late evenings, when dew can settle on fresh paint and leave it patchy.
As a general rule no, if it is a one- or two-dwelling house. Since 1 December 2025, neither a change of colour nor a change of facade material requires a building permit (bygglov) on such houses, according to Boverket. There are exceptions for buildings and areas of particular heritage value and where the detailed development plan has extended permit requirements. If you live in an area with sensitive cultural heritage, ask the building committee (byggnadsnämnden) before you decide on a colour.
Yes, if you own the house and live there or use it as a holiday home. Skatteverket (the Swedish Tax Agency) accepts painting, repair and replacement of a facade for the ROT deduction (ROT-avdrag), as well as putting up scaffolding in connection with the work. The deduction is 30 per cent of the labour cost, up to SEK 50,000 per person per year. In a housing cooperative (bostadsrätt) there is no ROT deduction for facade work, not even in a terraced house, because there the deduction only covers work inside the home.
No, only the paint that is loose. Sound, intact paint can stay as a base if the new paint is compatible with the old. Where we scrape back to bare wood, we prime with priming oil and primer before the top coats. If the whole paint layer is removed, you have a freer choice of paint type. Facades painted with slurry paint (slamfärg) are brushed clean and repainted with slurry paint.
Rotten timber is replaced. You cannot paint your way out of it. We feel our way through cladding, trims and bargeboards already at the home visit and state the estimated timber replacement in the quote. If more turns up when the paint is scraped, we show you the damage and agree the scope and cost with you before we replace anything. At the same time we look for the cause, for example a leaking gutter or cladding that ends too close to the ground.
No, the home visit and the quote are free of charge throughout Stockholm County. We walk round the house, measure the moisture in the timber and assess the preparation, timber replacement and need for scaffolding. You then receive a written quote showing what we carry out ourselves and what a partner does, for example scaffolding or render repairs. You are not committing to anything by booking the visit.