What to Look for in an Exterior Paint
Square Footage
Depending on the paint brand, the color, the material of the surface you are painting, and the paint’s finish, the square footage a single gallon covers can vary wildly. In addition to considering the price per gallon, consider the price per square foot of coverage, including multiple coats, when you’re choosing paint and deciding how many gallons to get. Let a paint calculator help you with your decision.
Material
Are you painting brick, vinyl siding, or wood? Are you using a primer or covering another layer of paint directly? Make sure that the brand of paint you’re considering is compatible with the surface you’re painting, or you’ll risk needing to repaint much earlier than you may have wanted. “Acrylic paint adheres best to vinyl and is also generally the best option for exterior wood, since it’s formulated to reduce cracking, blistering, and peeling,” says Sean Chapman, a professional carpenter, and founder of Tools’n’Goods.
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For brickwork, Chapman suggests a flat-finish masonry paint. “This will reduce cracking and also prevent a white, chalky coating from appearing,” he says. The BEHR Indoor Exterior Masonry & Brick Paint comes with a flat sheen that effectively reduces the appearance of surface imperfections.
Finish
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Paints come in four main finishes: flat, satin, semi-gloss, and gloss. Semi-gloss and gloss paints may be used on accents, like doors, window sills, or shutters, but are not well-suited for large areas. “Semi-gloss offers excellent resistance to stains and the elements. Gloss finish is shinier and more resistant to scuffs but will highlight imperfections, if any. It’s also very easy to clean,” says Chapman.
Flat paints hide imperfections in texture and absorb light but are difficult to clean and may require more regular touch-ups. “Flat finish is often used for scratched siding, and it’s also easier to touch up periodically,” says Chapman. Satin finishes can be washed but require more care when painting to ensure an attractive final result. “Satin is great for brickwork and concrete since it has a low sheen and cleans up easily,” says Chapman. The Valspar Duramax Exterior Tintable Paint, which is our recommended option for wood siding, has a satin finish that is resistant to mildew and won’t leave any watermarks after rainy days.
Type of Wood
When painting exterior wood, make sure to consider the type of wood you will be painting. Softwoods such as pressure-treated pine or cedar are compatible with water-based acrylic paints. However, if the wood was previously stained with an oil-based formula or if it is a hardwood-like ipe, using an alkyd paint formula might be a more suitable choice.
Base
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Choose between water-based or oil-based exterior paint formulas. Acrylic or latex exterior paints are water-based. These paints have low VOC formulas and dry quickly (usually within several hours). Oil-based paints have a reputation for excellent penetration but require mineral spirits for clean-up, as compared to soap and water clean-up for water-based exterior paint. “Oil-based paints are more resistant to moisture and solvents, which makes it a better option for surfaces that need to be cleaned often, like doors and railings, but it’s weaker against temperature fluctuations than latex paint and may crack over time,” says Chapman.
Durability
While it’s true that oil-based exterior paint formulas offer excellent penetration, acrylic exterior paint is generally considered the most durable option. Why? Acrylic paint tends to have a more elastic formula that allows the paint to expand and contract in response to the environment and therefore has better weather resistance. Oil-based paints have the potential to crack under similar conditions. “You also opt to cover oil-based paint with latex paint for higher durability,” says Chapman.
Why Trust The Spruce?
This article was researched and written by Lexi Dwyer, who has been writing for The Spruce since 2019 and has covered topics like home decor shopping sources as well as products like clotheslines, gardening shoes, and woodworking benches. To make this list, she considered the formula, ease of application, drying time, color choices, and durability. For tips on buying and maintaining exterior paint, she also spoke to Sean Chapman, a professional carpenter and founder of Tools’n’Goods.
Source: https://gardencourte.com
Categories: Outdoor
