Water-based, micro-porous paints give a long service life and unlike oil-based paint they won’t crack or flake to allow moisture to come into contact with the wood. The actual life of the factory-applied coating depends on many factors, including location (exposure to salt spray, excessive dirt or pollution etc), elevation (harsher conditions on average at higher altitudes) and orientation (exposure to the sun or prevailing weather). Every case is different therefore but solid colours should last for between 5 and 8 years before repainting whilst wood-stains should last for 3 to 5 years.