What Are The Exterior Paint Finishes?

The exterior paint finish is a crucial aspect of the overall appearance and performance of a home. There are various types of exterior paint finishes, including flat, satin, semi-gloss, and gloss. Flat paint offers a smooth appearance but is less durable and prone to dirt buildup. Satin paint provides a subtle sheen while being easy to clean and maintain, making it ideal for trim and accents. Semi-gloss paint is highly durable, moisture-resistant, and ideal for trim and accents.

Gloss paint is shiny and reflective, best suited for doors and windows for a striking look. Most exterior surfaces look best in a satin or eggshell finish, but matte paint can help hide blemishes on these surfaces. When choosing a paint sheen, consider the surface you are painting, such as water-based acrylics, oil-based alkyd paints, and specialized paints.

A semi-gloss finish is best for painting garage doors, front doors, exterior trim, gutters, shutters, metal lamp posts, railings, and window sills. The best sheen for exterior paint is satin, as flat sheens quickly lose their color and are more prone to damage. Semi-gloss sheens can become sticky and develop, making them difficult to apply.

For a more subtle, economical, and easy-to-apply finish, stick with satin, eggshell, or matte paint. Low sheen is a great option for cladding or rendering walls in a low-reflective finish that has a slight sheen that hides imperfections. Acrylic paint is widely considered the best choice for exterior applications due to its superior durability, flexibility, and color retention.

In conclusion, choosing the right exterior paint finish is essential for extending the life of your siding, trim, and other exterior surfaces. Different types of paint sheens, such as flat, satin, semi-gloss, and high gloss, offer different benefits and performance levels for different types of exterior surfaces.

What is recommended for exterior paint?

Extreme temperature variations can cause exterior home paint jobs to deteriorate, leading to fading, chipping, and peeling. 100 acrylic paint is the best choice due to its durability and high adhesion to the home’s surface, making it more reliable in extreme weather conditions. It also prevents moisture from settling into the wood and mold growth when the weather heats up again. Paint serves as protection against weather and insect damage, especially in rainy climates where mold and mildew can cause damage, allergies, and lung irritation. Mitigating mold should be a top priority for homeowners in wet climates.

Should exterior paint be gloss or satin?

Painters typically use satin exterior paint to protect their new paint from the elements and can be used on walls, doors, and exterior surfaces. It provides a classy subtle shine and can be used indoors in rooms with strong natural light. The difference between satin and semi-gloss paint lies in their appearance and designated areas for use. The trend has been to use satin exclusively in interiors, while semi-gloss is more durable and suitable for baseboards in playrooms with scuff marks.

What is the best finish for outdoor painted wood?

Outdoor conditions can pose challenges when sealing painted wood surfaces, making it crucial to choose the right sealant. Outdoor Defense Oil is an environmentally friendly, nontoxic, and safe sealant for outdoor use and food contact. It is essential to follow the manufacturer’s drying times to preserve the wood’s integrity and prevent moisture from evaporating. However, don’t wait too long to seal the wood, as it isn’t water-resistant until it cures.

Additionally, consider the type of paint you’re using, as some paints, like Real Milk Paint, are absorbent, allowing the sealer to absorb into and through the wood. Other exterior paints, which are not absorbent, may not be suitable for sealing. Overall, understanding these factors can help you make the best decision for sealing your painted wood surface.

What finish is best for exterior paint?

Semi-gloss and glossy finishes offer durability and are easy to clean, making them ideal for high-touch areas like trim and doors. High gloss is resilient and dirt-repellent, adding richness and depth to colors but magnifying surface imperfections. It requires skillful application and is best used sparingly on surfaces you touch or come in close proximity to. The average cost of painting the exterior of a home is between $500 and $1, 000, depending on factors like size and paint type. The longevity of the exterior paint job depends on the quality of paint, surface preparation, and environmental conditions.

What is the most popular sheen for exterior paint?

Eggshell paint is a popular exterior paint finish that is suitable for various siding types like HardiePlank, stucco, and horizontal wood. Choosing the right paint sheen is crucial for enhancing the look and durability of your home. Sheens are not universal and can vary across brands, making it difficult to compare products. At Kind Home Solutions, we use the best paint products available, such as Sherwin Williams and Benjamin Moore.

Choosing the right paint product is essential, as sheens are not universal and can vary from one company to another. We recommend choosing your paint product before determining the sheen. There are several options and price ranges to choose from, with most clients opting for top-of-the-line exterior paint. Sherwin Williams typically uses Emerald Exterior or Emerald Rain Refresh, while Benjamin Moore clients opt for Aura due to its fade-resistant technology and rich finish.

After determining the brand and paint product, you can begin experimenting with sheens to achieve the best exterior paint finish for your home.

What is the best exterior paint to avoid fading?

Investing in high-quality exterior paint is crucial for maintaining your home’s appearance and protection. Sherwin-Williams Duration is one of the longest-lasting paints available, while lighter colors like white, beige, and grey offer longevity due to their reflective properties. Dark colors with red or yellow undertones are more susceptible to fading due to sunlight and heat absorption. High-quality 100 acrylic latex paint, even on stucco, is the secret to fade-resistant exterior paint. Sherwin-Williams SuperPaint also boasts fade-resistant properties. Choosing the right paint and painter ensures your home’s stunning appearance and long-lasting protection.

Does satin exterior paint dull over time?

Satin/eggshell paints have unique strengths and considerations compared to flat finishes. They are rough but have an almost waxy feel, with a slight shine that gives the paint a lustre. Satin paints are more reflective than matte finishes and can hide imperfections. They are easy to wipe clean and more resistant to elements, making them generally last longer. However, they require more care than matte finishes, as the more shiny the paint, the more imperfections will stand out. Mixing the paint thoroughly before each session is essential to prevent resins and pigments from separating, resulting in uneven sheen.

High gloss paints are more reflective and resilient, but they are best for areas that will get a lot of wear, such as doors. They are also perfect for accenting features of your home, such as window frames or gutters. Painting the entire exterior with a rich, reflective high gloss paint is a bold design move, but it can highlight every imperfection if not properly done.

What is the best finish to protect wood from sun?

Varnish is a top coat that protects wood furniture from UV damage, while lacquer is an easy-to-apply polish that repairs scratches and scuff marks. Polyurethane not only protects wood from the sun but also enhances its natural beauty. To prolong the life of furniture, rearranging it in sunny rooms and moving dark-stained wood away from large windows can help prolong its life. For more information on window treatments, design inspiration, and bedding, contact Gotcha Covered at 388 – 2120.

What wood finish is best for outdoors?

After painting, an outdoor finish is essential for your project. Our Outdoor Defense Oil is the best choice for this purpose, offering durability, longevity, and protection. Made from pure tung oil, pine oil, and zinc, it provides natural and non-toxic weather protection without mineral spirits. Zinc is known for its UV protection against harmful UV rays, while pine oil prevents mold and mildew growth. Outdoor Defense Oil gives wood and outdoor furniture an attractive warm glow, but it darkens the color of milk paint when applied over it.

To apply the oil, wood should be given multiple coats until saturated, depending on the project’s needs. For light to moderate weather exposure, 3 to 5 coats should be sufficient, while more coats are needed for more severe weather conditions and absorbent woods. It is important to avoid applying the oil under direct hot sunlight as it can cause polymerization and leave a rubbery, filmy surface.

What is the most common exterior finish?

The most prevalent exterior finish types in the United States are siding, stucco, and brick veneer.

What paint lasts the longest outside?

Acrylic latex paints are renowned for their durability and longevity on exteriors. Sherwin-Williams Duration is the top choice for durability, according to Consumer Reports. To ensure long-lasting paints, choose high-quality 100 acrylic latex paints like Sherwin-Williams Duration and Rhino Shield, which offer protection against fading, cracking, and peeling. Lighter paint colors like beige, tan, light brown, light blues, white, and light green can reduce UV ray damage and keep your building’s exterior looking fresh longer.

Elastomeric wall coatings provide a waterproof barrier, while products like Rhino Shield come with long-term warranties. Professional application by experienced services ensures maximum durability, while hiring experts like PPD Painting can lead to better protection and longer-lasting results. Regular maintenance, including cleaning surfaces, checking for damages, and applying sealants, is crucial for extending the longevity of exterior paint.