A varnish surface which is exposed to the weather must be of exceptional quality whether it is directly exposed or not. Constant dampness will seriously affect any material of inferior quality. Even the porch ceilings must be finished with a varnish exactly suited to the purpose. (Specification No. 3.) The greatest care should be exercised in selecting materials for the exterior doors. The stains must be non-fading and the varnish must form a thoroughly impervious coat. Exterior doors are usually of oak stained in any of the Handcraft Browns, ranging from Fumed (a light reddish brown) to the Cathedral (a dark brown) or Antwerp (a dark greenish brown). Specification No. 4 can be used for finishing any of the open-grained woods mentioned in Chapter XVI (Woodwork And Its Treatment). Birch and maple are occasionally used for exterior doors. These woods are also described in Chapter XVI (Woodwork And Its Treatment) and the directions for finishing them may be found in specification No. 4a.

Beautiful Shingle Effects

The popularity of the bungalow and suburban home has established a demand for artistic exterior effects. Preservative Shingle Stains have played no small part in supplying this demand, and their wide use is due, primarily, to their preservative qualities, and, secondly, to the many beautiful decorative effects that are made possible by the rich reds, browns, greens, and other attractive shades. Shingled houses offer unusual opportunities for good taste in their exterior finishing, and they lend themselves readily to shades which harmonize with surrounding foliage and verdure. S-W Shingle Stains are peculiarly adapted to assist the owners of country homes in obtaining a suitable protective and decorative coat. (Specification No. 2.)

General Exterior Painting Materials

In addition to S. W. P. and Preservative Shingle Stains, The Sherwin-Williams Company manufactures paints and varnishes for every imaginable exterior surface, - roofs, gutters, exterior doors, porch floors, and many similar surfaces that require great care in the selection of proper finishing materials. These surfaces require special paints and varnishes, each the result of years of experimenting and tests. The first specifications given in Chapter XXI (The Importance Of Working Specifications) explain the application of these various materials.