Exterior paint in Geneva: facades that stand the test of time
What Geneva's climate does to your exterior paintwork
Geneva is not Ticino. The climate on Lake Geneva is one of the most aggressive in Switzerland for exterior coatings, and the damage is not just cosmetic: a damaged paintwork finish means a wall that is no longer protected.
Humidity, wind and UV: why paint fades faster in Geneva
- Persistent damp (fog, rain, proximity to the lake) seeps under the paint film, freezes in winter and causes the coating to peel from the inside. This is the freeze-thaw cycle, which is primarily responsible for chipping on Geneva's façades.
- The breeze and the wind accelerate erosion of the paint film, especially on façades facing north-east. The pigments fade and the protective layer thins.
- Summer UV cause colours to bleed through and resins to become brittle. South-facing facades are the worst affected: the paint flakes (powdery to the touch) and loses its covering power.
Signs that it's time to repaint
Do you recognise any of these symptoms? Now is the time to act before the situation gets any worse:
- Paint that blisters, flakes or chalks (white powder to the touch on the facade).
- Faded or irregular colours - the façade has lost its uniformity.
- Mosses, lichens or green traces in shady or north-facing areas.
- Greyed wood or peeling paint on shutters, eaves and cladding.
- Rust through through the painting of gates, railings or barriers.
Waiting is more expensive: a neglected façade requires a complete scrubbing and a thorough overhaul, whereas a preventive refurbishment would have sufficed.
How we choose the right paint for your façade
Outdoors, the choice of paint is 80 % of the result. Applying an unsuitable product, even if it's perfect, will guarantee failure in 2-3 years' time. Our role as a painter-advisor is precisely that: to recommend the right system for your surface and your exposure.
Microporous, siloxane and acrylic paints: which one for which surface?
- Siloxane (or silicone-based) paints - The top of the range for Geneva façades. They let the wall breathe while making it water-repellent: water beads up on the surface without penetrating. Ideal for mineral render and traditional plaster.
- Microporous acrylic paints - Excellent value for money for façades in good condition. Good UV resistance, quick drying, wide range of colours. Perfect for regular refreshing.
- Elastic paints - Capable of bridging micro-cracks (up to 0.5 mm). We recommend them on cracked façades where structural movements are stabilised.
- Woodstains and saturants - For wood panelling: they nourish the wood, protecting it from UV rays and damp, while allowing the grain to show through. Alternative: opaque paint for a more modern look.
- Anti-rust and metallic paints - 3-coat system (rust converter + primer + finish) for ironwork, gates and railings.
All the exteriors we paint in Geneva
Facades, wood, metal - a single point of contact for all your exterior surfaces. It's simpler for you, and guarantees a harmony of colours and finishes throughout the building.
Facades and external walls
- Complete restoration cleaning / scrubbing, anti-foam treatment, application of a primer fixative, then a multi-layer system (primer + 2 top coats).
- Cooling For façades in good condition, a light cleaning followed by 2 coats of paint is all that's needed to restore the shine.
- Colouring We'll help you choose the right colours, in compliance with Geneva's communal regulations on the aesthetics of facades.
- Villas, buildings, commercial premises - we work on all types of buildings in the canton of Geneva.
Shutters, eaves and woodwork
- Sanding and stripping old coats of paint or woodstain.
- Preventive treatment (fungicide, insecticide) to stop the wood deteriorating.
- Application of transparent glaze or opaque paint depending on whether you want an authentic or contemporary look.
- Repairing damaged wood (wood putty, epoxy) before painting.
Gates, barriers and ironwork
- Mechanical stripping and derusting to regain a healthy base.
- 3-layer anti-rust system converter, primer, finish.
- Paints adapted to thermal amplitudes (-05°C to +35°C) to avoid seasonal scaling.
- Gates, railings, external staircases, garage doors, pergolas - all painted metal is our domain.
3 commitments that don't change, whatever the project
1. The right product on the right substrate
Each material - render, wood, metal, concrete - has its own specific characteristics. We never apply the same paint everywhere. It's this technical choice that makes the difference between a paint that lasts 3 years and one that lasts 10 to 15 years.
2. Your property protected throughout the works
Terrace, garden, pathways, vegetation: everything is covered and protected before work begins. The area is cleaned every evening. At the end of the works, only the façade has been changed.
3. A realistic schedule that takes the weather into account
We will never announce a date that the Geneva sky won't allow us to keep. Our estimates systematically include a weather margin to avoid unpleasant surprises.
Our customers say it best
Ready to transform your exterior in Geneva?
Don't let a faded façade affect the value and appeal of your property. Entrust your exterior painting project in Geneva to Azzo, a combination of experience and certification (CFC).
Contact us today for a free, detailed quotation.