One of the simplest things you can do to up the curb appeal of your house is to paint the exterior. If you’re spending the time and money to paint your house, you want to find the best exterior paint for the job. A carefully chosen paint will freshen up your home as well as protect it against damage from the elements. But what is the best exterior paint for houses?
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What Is the Best Exterior Paint?
There are a lot of exterior paints on the market. So how do you know which one is the best exterior paint for your house? The answer will depend on a number of factors. Here are some things to consider when determining the best exterior paint:
- Identify your needs: Are you painting wood siding, stucco, brick, or some other type of surface? What kind of climate do you live in?
- Quality paint: Choosing high-quality paint from a reputable brand may cost more than a cheap brand, but the investment is worth it. Don’t compromise quality to save a few bucks. Low-quality paints can lead to premature peeling, fading, and other issues.
- Paint type: It’s important to choose the appropriate type of paint for your surface. Acrylic latex, oil-based, and water-based paints are some common options. Typically, oil-based paints should be used over oil-based paints, and water-based over water-based paints. However, certain primers can help you transition from one type to another.
- Color selection: The color you choose can affect how long the paint job looks fresh. Darker paints fade faster than lighter colors.
- Consult with the pros: Whether you’re DIY’ing the exterior or hiring a pro, it’s always a good idea to talk to someone who knows paint, such as the pros at Boise Home Painting.
The Best Exterior Paint for Houses
With these tips in mind, here are what we consider to be some of the best exterior paint for houses:
- Duration Exterior Acrylic Latex by Sherwin-Williams: Sherwin-Williams is known for its high-quality paints, and Duration certainly fits the bill. Duration is self-priming and requires only one coat of paint over painted surfaces, or two over bare wood. Plus, Duration is resistant to cracking, peeling, and blistering.
- Ben Soft Gloss Finish by Benjamin Moore: This acrylic latex-based exterior paint works well for a wide variety of surfaces. With excellent coverage and resistance to mold and mildew, this paint is ready to the elements in two hours or less.
- Zinsser Perma-White Exterior Paint by Rust-Oleum: This high-performance exterior paint is self-priming and resistant to mold and moisture. It offers great coverage while also blocking stains from bleeding through. Zinsser Perma-White is very resistant to fading and is tintable in a number of colors.
- Emerald Exterior Acrylic Latex Paint by Sherwin Willaims: Emerald Exterior Acrylic Latex Paint prevents blistering and peeling and is resistant to mold and mildew. Emerald Exterior is both a primer and paint in one, ensuring that you can get the coverage you need in fewer coats.
- Duramax Flat Masonry Stucco and Masonry Paint by Valspar: This extremely durable paint dries with a flat finish that hides imperfections in stucco and masonry. Duramax also fills in hairline cracks to help prevent further damage from water. It’s an especially great option for areas subject to extreme weather.
- Kilz Porch and Patio Latex Floor Paint: Porches, decks, and patios are high-traffic areas that see a lot of wear and tear. Kilz Porch and Patio Latex Floor paint is extremely durable, and resistant to scuffs and dents so that your floors stay looking fresh for longer.
- Aura Exterior Paint by Benjamin Moore: Benjamin Moore has a number of high-quality exterior paints. Aura is their best line of exterior paints and comes with color-lock technology to keep paint looking fresh for longer. Plus, it can be applied in temperatures as low as 40 degrees, which is at least 10 degrees less than many other exterior paints.
How Long Between Coats Of Paint?
What Is the Longest Lasting Exterior Paint?
When it comes to enduring extreme weather conditions, acrylic paint is hands down the longest-lasting exterior paint. Acrylic paint is exceptionally durable, making it a top choice for a long-lasting exterior finish.
Acrylic paints are formulated with a unique blend of water, pigment, and acrylic polymer emulsion. Acrylic is incredibly flexible, which allows it to expand and contract with temperature changes without cracking or peeling. Acrylic also forms a strong bond with various surfaces, providing a secure and long-lasting grip.
Additionally, the acrylic polymer offers an excellent shield against UV rays, preventing color from fading even after years in direct sunlight. Acrylic paints are also resistant to mold and mildew and have a low water absorption rate so that it doesn’t trap moisture. Finally, the smooth surface created by acrylic paint makes it easy to clean so you can keep your exterior looking fresh for years.
Exterior Paint that Lasts 20 Years
When you’re looking for the best exterior paint, you may be hoping to find a paint that lasts 20-plus years. Under optimal conditions, some high-quality paints could last up to 20 years. Aluminum and vinyl siding can retain paint for up to 20 years, while wood and brick tend to degrade faster. On average, however, acrylic paint lasts between 5-10 years, with latex and oil lasting less than that.
White Exterior Paints
White exterior paint is both classic and sophisticated while also resistant to fading. With its ability to reflect natural light, a white exterior can also contribute to a bright and inviting atmosphere, especially in areas with limited sunlight.
But there is a huge selection of white paints to choose from, some with cool blue undertones, others with warm, yellow undertones. So how do you find the right white exterior paint? To help make your decision, here are some of the most popular white exterior paint shades for you home:
- Snowbound by Sherwin Williams: This white has slight gray undertones and pairs well with other gray-toned shades. Snowbound looks beautiful for the whole exterior or as a trim.
- White Duck by Sherwin Williams: Another Sherwin Williams color, White Duck is a warm, creamy color that is a favorite for exteriors.
- Dover White by Sherwin Williams: Another super popular white for your home exterior is Dover White. This shade is creamy and bright and extremely forgiving of imperfections.
- White Dove by Benjamin Moore: One of Benjamin Moore’s best-selling colors, White Dove is a soft and creamy white with slightly yellow undertones.
- Oyster White by Sherwin Williams: Oyster White is a soft white with slight green-beige undertones to it. It pops especially well in contrast with wood or black details.
- Chantilly Lace by Benjamin Moore: For a crisp, classic white, Chantilly Lace is a beautiful choice that is both simple and versatile.
Best Exterior Paint for Wood
When painting a wood exterior, it’s crucial to choose the right type of paint. While some experts say that oil-based paint is best for wood, others say that water-based acrylic paint works better. So how do you pick the best exterior paint for wood?
Well, if your wood is already painted, that’s easy enough to answer. As long as the previous paint was working well, use the same type: water-based over water-based or oil-based over oil-based.
If your wood is unpainted, it’s likely better to opt for an acyclic latex paint. Acrylic paints offer excellent adhesion and expand and contract with temperature changes, which helps prevent cracking and peeling. They’re also great at protecting wood from damage by moisture, rain, and humidity.
Here are some of the best exterior paints for wood:
- Kilz Siding, Fence, and Barn Paint: This paint has a unique water/oil-based formula that helps it resist cracking, peeling, blistering, and more.
- Kilz Over Armor Smooth Wood Coating: If your wood surface needs lots of TLC, Over Armor can help bridge cracks and smooth splinters to make your fence, barn, or siding look its best.
- Resilience by Sherwin Williams: Resilience is an acrylic latex paint that comes with MoistureGuard technology, which is great for protecting wood.
Best Exterior Paints in Boise
Climate plays a big role in how long your exterior paint lasts, so let’s talk about the best exterior paints for Boise homes. Boise has a semi-arid climate with distinct seasons. The Treasure Valley is often called the “Banana Belt” of Southern Idaho. That’s because it sees milder weather than surrounding areas. Eastern Idaho, for example, experiences more snowfall and colder winters than the Boise area. Still, Boise does have four seasons, with summer highs reaching well above 90 degrees F and winters dropping to 20 degrees F or lower. These fluctuations can cause the expansion and contraction of building materials. A high-quality paint with good flexibility and adhesion, such as acrylic latex paint, will better withstand these temperature changes.
Another major factor to consider in the best exterior paints in Boise is UV exposure. Boise sees an average of 120 sunny days and 90 partially sunny days, for a total of 210 days of sunshine. This intense UV exposure can cause exterior paints to fade or break down over time. Paints with light colors and UV-resistant properties will better maintain their color and protective qualities.
If you’re looking to revamp the exterior of your Boise or Treasure Valley home, call Boise Home Painting today. Our experienced painting contractors offer high-quality painting with the best exterior paint to transform your home.
