Which Exterior House Paint is Best?

Paint is one of the most important parts of your home exterior. It provides protection for your house, and it can make a big difference in how your home looks. There are many different types to choose from, but not all paints are created equal. If you want the best paint job possible on your home exterior without spending too much money, then read on! 

There are a lot of factors to consider when choosing exterior paint, including the climate in your area. For example, acrylic paint is considered best for climates that have extreme differences, just like Philadelphia with hot summers and brutal winters. Latex paint has become the most popular choice for exterior painting because it’s cost-effective and durable. Latex is water-based, easy to clean up, and does not yellow over time, which means you can maintain your home’s exterior color longer with exterior house paint that is latex-based.

Choose exterior paint with a satin finish if you live in a humid climate. This paint is weather-resistant and highly unsusceptible to peeling and mildew, unlike a flat finish paint for example. Flat finishes typically aren’t preferred for the exterior because they are porous and the matte look isn’t necessarily appealing. The opposite of this would be a high gloss or semi-gloss finish. High gloss is great in spurts to make a home “pop”, but overuse it and your home may look like your daughter’s plastic Barbie house. Semi-gloss provides shine and is also very durable in humid climates. Both of these gloss finishes are also considered best to use on wood surfaces. It is great to put on surfaces that may require a lot of cleaning due to their strength and fade resistance.

If you live in a dry area, opt for exterior house paint with an eggshell finish. Eggshell is typically the most utilized paint you will see on a home’s exterior. It is protective against moisture and holds up well against the seasons. It also one of the best exterior house paints to hide imperfections.

If your home has mold or mildew on it, you have one of two options. Either clean it effectively with a mixture of regular household bleach and water or, opt for mold-killing primer. Remember that when using mold-resistant paints, these will not kill the mold, they will only stop it from growing more. The underlying problem will remain if not taken care of.

Try not to over-saturate the brush with paint while painting your home’s exterior. A lot of people tend to get carried away and needlessly apply too much paint, leading to drips and clumps of paint that will need to be cleaned up while the paint is still wet.

Purchase a higher-quality brush while painting your home’s exterior if you plan on doing more than just one coat. This will save money in the long run because you won’t have to replace the brush every time it gets dirty.

If you have a tall house and cannot reach the top easily with a standard brush, purchase an extension pole so that you can paint trim along high walls or roofs without climbing a ladder or standing on your spouse’s back!

Re-painting once every five to ten years is recommended for the exterior of homes. Anything more than a decade and you will likely start to see cracking and other surface imperfections. and it all depends on the quality of the materials used and the proficiency of the previous paint job. While it may seem cheaper to do it yourself or hire your neighbor, a shotty job will have you repainting much sooner than if you went with a professionally licensed local painting contractor.

Consider using exterior paint with low volatile organic compounds (VOC) because they’re less harmful to people and animals living inside and outside of your home. These have become more popular in recent years and are available at most hardware stores, as well as used by a majority of professional paint contractors.

You have to consider the surface of your exterior when choosing paint. For example, the best paint for wood and vinyl siding is acrylic, while masonry paint is best for concrete blocks. When painting metal, oil-based paints are typically going to be your best bet. When painting brick, it is imperative to use a separate primer first, then follow up with masonry or latex paint. We recommend avoiding self priming paint for this.

Oil-based paint is typically always a good bet for exterior projects because it is durable. However, with the improvements that latex paints have seen in recent years, it is being used a lot more for outdoor projects. It offers the advantage of being easier to work with and far more forgiving for a novice painter.

Buy a roller with nylon or polyester fibers that are designed for latex paint. This will help prevent the fibers from clogging up your paint’s surface and causing problems down the road.

Use a professional painter who has experience painting houses like yours for better results. For example, if your house is stucco or argillite, you should hire a paint contractor who has experience painting those particular types of surfaces. Failure to do so could result in problems with the paint job due to different ratios of paint and primer needed for different materials.

If you’re planning on selling your home soon, paint the exterior with light colors. This will make it easier for the new homeowners to paint over in case they are considering a color change. Lighter colors will also reflect sunlight and diffuse it, which will keep your house cooler. This can increase your potential for a faster sale of your property. You may also want to search for a high quality paint that is UV resistant. Research does show that the interior home temperature is higher with dark colors on the outside, which can lead to higher utility costs.

Make sure to purchase all of the supplies you’ll need before painting starts. This can avoid an unnecessary trip to the store, which could end up delaying the actual painting process.

Choose quality materials. Cheaper paints and low grade products are likely going to result in an unsatisfying job. Spend a little extra money to make sure it is done correctly, or hire a local expert like us to take care of everything.

Use a drop cloth or tarp to protect landscaping and other materials during exterior paint jobs. For example, don’t use your lawn as a drop cloth because you’ll have paint residue all over it once you’re done painting your house. It’s best to use tarps or drop cloths that are easily disposed of instead of something permanent.

Fix any cracks, holes, and other defects in your exterior walls with a quality patching compound before you paint the exterior of your house. This will make it easier to coat and ensure that your entire wall is protected from moisture and exterior elements. Protect gutters, windows, foundation areas, and other exposed areas during exterior painting projects by applying masking tape or painter’s tape to these.

Consider painting the front door something bright that will stand out. This can be the finishing touch to take home’s curb appeal from good to great!

As you can see, there is a lot of things to consider when picking the best exterior paint for the job.

If you have any questions, feel free to give us a call. Better yet, hire us for the best exterior house paint you will find in Philadelphia. Let all your worries go out the window and have every square foot of your home painted by local painting contractors you can trust. Give us call or fill out a free quote form to get the ball rolling. We look forward to exceeding your expectations!