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Just when we had begun to believe that ‘microporous’ wood systems were the most effective means of extending exterior durability of wood finishes, they have come under strong criticism from Ian Kitching, Valspar Paints Head of Technical Services. After all, the concept of a microporous paints — usually water‐based — is that it will allow moisture vapour to pass out through the paint film without flaking, without allowing external moisture to come in. Ian Kitching says that whilst this in theory is still essentially true, experience over the past five years, and particularly in Scandinavia (Valspar are part of the Swedish Alcro‐Beckers Group), has shown that microporous paints have serious defects which outweigh this advantage.