As a non-Swede, I find the red and white buildings of Sweden to be the epitome of both the summer and the country. You do see other colours such as pale yellow or green, but the red and white is very predominant. The colour is called faluröd and contains iron oxide which protects against the weather, mould, and rot. The paint has a flour base, which allows the wood to breathe and thus prevents cracking and peeling. You do not need to scrape away the paint when repainting.
