What Kind Of Exterior Paint Finish Is Most Popular?

Flat paint finishes, once popular, are no longer used on exteriors due to their matte, porous nature and susceptibility to fading and mildew problems. Instead, homeowners prefer paint finishes with a glossy or dull sheen, which absorbs light and looks great on walls. There are five paint sheens: flat, satin enamel, semi-gloss enamel, and hi-gloss enamel.

Each type of paint sheen has its own advantages and disadvantages, with acrylic paint being the most durable option for long-lasting exterior paint. Latex paint tends to have a slightly shorter sheen. Benjamin Moore offers a variety of paint finishes, including satin/eggshell, semi-gloss, and high-gloss.

When choosing a paint sheen, consider the exterior surface you are painting, as well as the climate and aesthetic preferences of your home. Eggshell paint is the most popular exterior paint finish for the body of a home, as it is not dull like a flat finish or too shiny like a high-gloss sheen. The two most commonly used finishes for exterior painting are flat and satin.

The recommended paint sheens for the exterior are satin/eggshell, semi-gloss, and gloss. Satin is the best sheen for exterior paint, as it is not dull like a flat finish and doesn’t absorb light. Acrylic paint is widely considered the best choice for exterior applications, offering superior durability, flexibility, and color retention.

Gloss paint has the most sheen and is mainly used on metal surfaces. When choosing a paint sheen, consider the exterior surface you are painting and consider the factors such as climate, aesthetic preferences, and test results before applying it.

What is the most common exterior finish?

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

What is the most popular exterior paint type?

Water-based exterior paints are popular due to their ease of application, quick drying time, and durability. Acrylic paints, a type of latex paint, offer excellent resistance to fading, mildew, and cracking and come in various colors. Oil-based paints, on the other hand, are more expensive, have a strong odor, and require mineral spirits for cleanup. They take longer to dry and may not be environmentally friendly.

Choosing the right exterior paint depends on your project’s needs. Acrylic latex paint is the most versatile and user-friendly option, offering excellent durability, adhesion, and resistance to fading, mildew, and cracking. Alkyd paints balance the durability of oil-based paints with the ease of use of latex paints, making them ideal for high-traffic areas, trim, and doors. However, they can have a strong odor and require mineral spirits for cleanup.

Stucco paint is specifically designed for stucco surfaces, providing excellent breathability and preventing mold growth. Masonry paint is formulated for brick, concrete, and other masonry surfaces, offering durability and resistance to moisture penetration, mildew, and efflorescence. Elastomeric paint is known for its flexibility, making it ideal for surfaces that expand and contract with temperature changes, such as stucco and wood siding.

What paint finish do professionals use?

Benjamin Moore offers a variety of paint finishes, including the popular Eggshell Paint, which has a low-sheen resembling flat or matte but is more durable. Sheen, or paint finish, measures how much light reflects off a painted surface, resulting in gloss or a lack thereof. Benjamin Moore’s legacy of innovation ensures premium performance across the sheen spectrum. Common sheen uses include flat, matte, eggshell, pearl, satin, semi-gloss, and high gloss. The company’s portfolio of products includes Flat, Matte, Eggshell, Pearl, Satin, Semi-Gloss, and High Gloss.

What paint do most professionals use?

Professional painters often use top-of-the-line paints like Benjamin Moore and Sherwin-Williams for their durability and excellent coverage. These well-known brands come in various colors and finishes, offering long-lasting wall protection. Sherwin-Williams is considered one of the finest, offering a wide variety of premium paints, including environmentally-friendly options. Their paints are formulated for superb coverage and resilience, making them a favorite among professional painters.

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 do builders use for exterior walls?

Exterior walls for homes and commercial buildings are influenced by various factors such as climate, building use, design, and owner preferences. Seven basic types of exterior wall materials include quarried stone, vinyl, fiber cement, brick, wood, stucco, and composite.

Quarried stone is the most durable wall material, but it is rarely used alone. Vinyl siding is affordable, durable, and comes in various styles, colors, and textures. Fiber cement is strong and versatile, but heavy and brittle. Brick veneer can deliver the look and feel of bricks without the natural water absorption of traditional brick. Wood provides a long-lasting finish, especially when painted or stained, and is the most prone to fire damage. Stucco, similar to fiber cement, can last over 50 years with proper installation and maintenance.

New products like Structa Wire enhance the performance and reliability of stucco with less time and experience required. Composite, a mixture of wood, resin, PVC, and other polymers, is a newer exterior finishing material on the market, but has shown great results from EIFS/DEFS installations across the United States.

Contractors and architects can help clients make informed decisions about exterior walls based on these factors. By understanding the different types of exterior walls and their advantages, contractors and architects can help their clients make informed decisions about their home’s exterior finishes.

Should exterior house paint be flat or satin?

Satin finishes are often preferred for modern homes due to their slight sheen, while flat finishes are preferred for traditional or historical homes due to their matte appearance. Satin finishes are better suited for areas with high humidity, rain, or extreme weather conditions, as they are more resistant to moisture and mildew, and can withstand constant sun exposure. They are easier to clean and resistant to staining, making them ideal for areas that require frequent washing or dirt accumulation.

Aesthetic preferences also play a role in choosing the right paint finish. Satin offers a subtle glow, enhancing color richness, while flat provides a more subdued, classic appearance. Satin finishes typically offer better durability and longevity, especially in high-traffic areas or areas susceptible to wear and tear.

Color choice also plays a role in choosing a paint finish. Satin can make colors appear more vibrant, while flat finishes may give a more uniform color appearance. In conclusion, the choice between satin or flat finishes depends on the architectural style, surface condition, and personal maintenance and aesthetic preferences. By choosing the right paint finish, you can ensure your home looks stunning and provides a lasting impression. It is recommended to consult a professional painting contractor for more suggestions on selecting the best paint finish for your exterior house painting in Danville.

What is the most common paint finish?

Satin is a popular paint finish with a velvety sheen and better cleaning properties. It is suitable for doors, hallways, bedrooms, and family rooms but is unforgiving to application flaws and touch-ups. Semi-gloss gives a subtle shine and is suitable for rooms with moisture, drips, or grease stains. It is also scrubbable, making it suitable for trim moldings, windows, doors, kitchens, and bathrooms.

High-gloss is a durable, ultra-shiny, and light-reflecting finish, ideal for areas with high traffic, like kitchens and bathrooms. It is easy to clean and eliminates sticky fingers and food splatter or crayon marks. However, it may not be suitable for all rooms due to its high shine, which may show imperfections on the wall.

What is the most popular paint finish?

The eggshell finish is a popular wall paint with a low sheen and soft, smooth texture, which lends itself well to low- to mid-traffic areas such as hallways, living rooms, entryways, and family rooms.

What type of exterior paint finish is best?

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 longest lasting exterior paint?

Sherwin-Williams Duration is a top-rated exterior paint brand, known for its durability. This 100 acrylic latex paint offers exceptional coverage for commercial and industrial properties, resisting fading, cracking, and peeling even in harsh weather conditions. It also combats dirt accumulation, mildew growth, frost damage, and color fading, ensuring properties remain pristine with minimal maintenance over time.