Choosing the Best Exterior Paint

It's important to know about the various types of exterior house paint whether you're doing a major home renovation project or giving your house a refresh.

Solvent-Based (Oil or Alkyd)

Oil-based paint dries to a smooth, hard surface that stands up well to the elements. It dries more slowly than latex — usually taking 24 hours to cure — and cleans up with turpentine or paint thinner. Oil-based paint works well for exterior doors and metal railings because it creates a durable, strong finish that holds up against the elements.

Water-Based (Latex)

Latex paint dries quickly and cleans up more easily than oil-based paint, requiring only soap and water. Another advantage is that latex expands in warmer temperatures and contracts in cooler temperatures, so you don't have to paint as often. With the right surface preparation, you can often apply latex over an oil-based paint. Check out How to Paint Your Home Exterior for more information on how to prep your surfaces.

Are you painting a deck or a brick home? Perhaps your porch or concrete patio pad needs a makeover. We’ll explain the best paint to use depending on the surface you’re going to paint.

When choosing an exterior paint, it's important to think about the type of paint finish you'd like. Sheen describes the degree of light reflection paint has. In general, the less sheen paint has, the less stain-resistant it is. Manufacturers may have various trade names for them, but sheens are usually classified as follows:

Gloss
Gloss paint and high-gloss paint are some of the best options for choosing the best exterior house paint. These clean easily and resist scuffs better, making them a good choice for areas in constant use, like doors, door jambs and window casings. For shutters and trim work, gloss paint provides a nice contrast to siding. However, if you have walls, doors or other exterior décor that aren't in excellent condition, gloss and high-gloss paint will show imperfections in the surface more than other sheens, as these finishes are both extremely reflective.

Semi-Gloss
Semi-gloss paint is also durable and easy to clean but has less shine than gloss. It's suitable for doors, trim work and casings since it offers extra stain resistance. Choose a semi-gloss paint over a gloss paint for areas that are exposed to the elements and need high durability and longevity.

Satin
Satin paint (sometimes referred to as low-luster paint) offers easy cleaning in addition to a moderate sheen. It works well on wood or cement siding that's in good condition. Wondering what kind of paint to use on exterior brick? Satin paint is perfect, since it's easy to clean by simply hosing it down.

Flat
Flat or matte paint has little or no luster, allowing it to hide imperfections. That makes it a good choice for scratched or dented siding. Flat paint splatters less during application and is easier to touch up.

Not all exterior paint has the same characteristics. To choose the right paint for you, there are a variety of factors you should consider.

Hiding Power
Hiding power is the ability of the paint to sufficiently cover or conceal the surface where it's applied. Hiding power comes from the paint's pigment and is affected by the manner and thickness of the application. Paint with good hiding power should hide imperfections and old paint jobs.

Color Retention
Color retention refers to tinted paint only. The paint's ability to maintain its original color during exposure determines its color retention.

Chalking Resistance
Chalking resistance prevents white chalky powder from forming on the surface and lightening the color of the paint. Chalking occurs over a period of time as the binder slowly degrades. The telltale streaking of paint (chalk rundown) is one consequence of using a paint that isn't chalk-resistant. To ensure your paint is chalk-resistant, look for paint that has a high content of quality resins.

Blister Resistance
Blister resistance will keep excessive moisture from coming through the substrate and affecting the paint layer. If paint is applied over a damp or wet surface, you can count on an unwanted blistering problem, so make sure that your surface is completely dry before application.

Priming is an important step for exteriors because it helps paint adhere to the surface. Primer gives paint a more uniform appearance and a longer-lasting finish. You definitely need a primer if you're painting over bright or dark colors. When covering dark paint or making other drastic color changes, look for primer that's high hide.

You might wonder, what's the difference between interior and exterior paint primer? Exterior primer is more durable and helps protect against mildew, cracking and erosion. The best exterior primer to use depends on the surface. Oil-based primers cover stains and are good for painted or unpainted wood and metals prone to rusting, since they seal the surface and allow paint to be applied more evenly. While oil-based primer has great penetration on wood fibers, it's susceptible to becoming brittle over time.

Water-based latex primer dries faster than oil-based primer and has more flexibility. This is especially important when priming wood, which can expand and contract. You should only use latex primer with water-based paint. This type of primer is also good for concrete.

Whichever primer you use, a well-prepared, clean surface will make the job go smoothly. Be sure to wait for the primer to dry completely before you begin painting. And if you live in a very humid climate, remember that it can take three or more hours for the primer to fully dry.