All the external timber at this colonial style house was in bad conditions with peeling paint, broken or decayed balustrades. With extensive preparation work, replacement of some timber and application of priming coat and 3 finishing coats this house looks like new. To keep it this way external timber needs maintenance. Scratches on the surface, cracking gaps or joints will allow water penetrating the timber again and all the work is for nothing (the same applies to other external surfaces like render). There is always movement in a building, especially when build with timber. So, check your house for any signs of damage regularly and get the work done before it will become a major project.