Which Exterior Paint Is Best For Wood Siding On A House?

Top-of-the-line latex and acrylic paints are typically made with higher-quality ingredients, such as more acrylic solids and pigments. They are often thicker and more viscous than lower-quality paints, making them ideal for painting exterior wood trim, windows, siding (wood and metal), garage doors, and wood window shutters. Acrylic latex paints are the gold standard for wood siding, offering flexibility and breathability to prevent peeling and blistering.

Sherwin-Williams Duration Exterior Acrylic Latex is a top contender for homeowners seeking to paint their wood siding. Benjamin Moore Arborcoat Solid Deck and Siding Stain are great options for wood siding. Sherwin Williams Emerald Exterior Acrylic Latex is a self-priming paint that produces a smooth, smooth finish.

Abrasive paints are widely considered the best choice for exterior applications due to their superior durability, flexibility, and color retention. Some of the best exterior paint brands for wood include Kilz Siding, Fence, and Barn Paint, which has a unique water/oil-based formula. These paints are durable and long-lasting, best used on siding made from wood, aluminum, or fiber cement. They are also flexible, allowing them to expand and contract, making them a better choice for wood siding than oil-based paints.

In summary, choosing the right exterior paint for your home’s material is crucial for its longevity and resistance to grime. Top-quality paints like T. KILZ, Prestige Paints E100-9, and HARDIE® are recommended for their durability, flexibility, and color retention.

What is the best outside house paint?

Sherwin-Williams is a renowned brand known for its high-quality exterior paints, including their popular Duration line. This line is known for its durability and color retention, and offers a lifetime guarantee against chipping or cracking when applied by a professional. Sherwin-Williams has multiple locations in the Greater Lexington area, making it easy to find and return for additional paint.

Behr is another well-known paint brand with a variety of exterior paints, including their Marquee line, which offers one-coat coverage and fade-resistant colors. They also provide an online Color Studio tool to visualize different colors on your home’s exterior. Behr is a popular choice for DIY painters due to its affordability and availability at Home Depot.

Benjamin Moore is known for its high-quality exterior paints, including the Aura line, which offers exceptional durability and weather resistance. They have a wide selection of colors to choose from, making it easier to find the perfect shade for your home. There are only a few Benjamin Moore stores in the Lexington area, but you can find them online.

Should you pressure wash wood siding before painting?

Pressure washing is essential before painting your house to remove dirt and grime from the siding, ensuring a clean surface for paint to adhere to. Power washing uses high-pressure water to clean the exterior, while pressure washing doesn’t. Both methods are great for cleaning your home before painting, but power washing uses heated water, while soft washing uses a low-pressure nozzle to remove dirt, moss, mold, and algae from exterior surfaces like wood, siding, decks, fences, and roofs.

The chemicals used in soft washing are biodegradable and don’t harm nearby plants, preventing damage to fragile surfaces. Both methods are great options for cleaning your home before painting, but soft washing is recommended for those who prefer a gentler cleaning solution.

What type of paint is best for exterior wood siding?

Acrylic paints are popular for exterior wood projects due to their excellent coverage, ease of application, and superior fade resistance. However, they may not be suitable for outdoor furniture exposed to harsh weather conditions like wind and rain. To ensure a great look and long-lasting paint job, follow manufacturer’s instructions for proper application and drying, or hire reliable painting services. This will ensure your paint job looks great and lasts a long time.

What is the longest lasting exterior wood finish?

Epoxy finishes are a popular choice for boat builders due to their ability to create a thick, water-impermeable barrier on wood surfaces. However, they lack UV protection, which can cause the epoxy to yellow and crack. To prevent this, it is necessary to overcoat the finish with a spar varnish or polyurethane with UV inhibitors. This makes epoxy the most expensive and labor-intensive choice. Some epoxy manufacturers offer spar varnishes that work with their products, eliminating concerns about compatibility.

Epoxy finishes are best on flat surfaces easily accessible from all sides, but avoid projects with complex moldings, crevices, or closely spaced slats. To bond with epoxy, sandpaper or a round-over bit in the router should be used, and smooth surfaces should be sanded.

What is the best finish for exterior wood siding?

Oil-based stains are a type of wood stain that uses oil as the base for pigments and other ingredients. They penetrate deeper into the wood, providing better protection and bonding with wood fibers. They are ideal for highlighting wood grain on siding, but have higher VOC content and are more difficult to clean. Water-based stains, like water and acrylic, have lower VOC content and are easier to clean with soap and water. However, they don’t penetrate as deeply as oil-based stains, making them less effective in protecting the wood.

Hybrid stains are a combination of oil-based and water-based stains, aiming to combine the best aspects of both types. They are more durable than pure water-based stains but without the high VOC content associated with pure oil-based stains. Overall, these stains offer different options for exterior wood staining.

Do I need to prime exterior wood siding before painting?

In the event that one is engaged in the process of covering over bare wood, whether for the purpose of localized wood replacement or sanding, it is of the utmost importance to utilize exterior primer. This provides a foundation upon which the topcoat can adhere, thus constituting a vital component of the surface preparation process.

How long does exterior paint last on wood siding?

The lifespan of a painted wood exterior is inherently shorter due to the natural aging process and the deterioration of the surface. This can result in the paint becoming discolored and cracked over time. The typical exterior paint job for wood siding lasts between four and seven years, or four years if the wood is stained. This is attributable to the inherent deterioration of wooden surfaces and the necessity for routine maintenance.

What is the best paint for painting siding?

When painting siding, use 100 acrylic paint for better adhesion and longer-lasting results. If the paint color is darker than the vinyl color, no priming is needed. If the surface is pitted or worn, a surface primer is recommended. Choose a dry day to paint and remove any bushes or tree limbs that may rub against the siding. Cover nearby plants and air conditioning units with tarps to keep everything clean. Remove any shutters or other exterior decorations that may impede your progress.

Clean the area of mildew, dirt, or debris with a wire brush or power washer. Use a general-purpose cleaner and ensure the surface is dry before applying paint or primer. If using a pressure washer or hose, avoid forcing water behind the vinyl panels.

What is the longest lasting exterior siding paint?

Sherwin-Williams Duration and Rhino Shield are premium acrylic latex paints that have demonstrated exceptional resilience in challenging weather conditions, offering superior protection against fading, cracking, and peeling.

What exterior paint lasts 20 years?

Rhino Shield is the most enduring exterior paint currently available, featuring an advanced formula and noteworthy ASTM test outcomes. The paint resists cracking, chipping, warping, and peeling, thereby ensuring its integrity and appearance for a period of 25 years. This makes it an ideal choice for those seeking a durable and long-lasting exterior paint solution.

What paint sheen is best for exterior wood?

Exterior sheen refers to the level of gloss in paint, which is typically higher than the surface’s reflective properties. The choice of sheen depends on the material being painted, with high-gloss being best for metal surfaces like door frames and window trim, and low-luster matte paint for wood and stucco surfaces.

There are several types of exterior paint sheens, including flat, satin, and gloss. Flat paint has little sheen and is ideal for hiding imperfections on walls, but it may require frequent repainting due to its easy dirtiness. Eggshell paint has a subtle sheen that is perfect for frequently cleaned walls and trim, but it is only available in a few exterior products. Satin paint is a step up from eggshell, offering more sheen and durability, making it suitable for wood surfaces and metal surfaces.

Semi-gloss paint has a lot of sheen and is suitable for areas that need frequent scrubbers, but not all products offer this feature. Gloss paint has the most sheen and is mainly used on metal surfaces, making it the best choice for areas that are frequently wiped down, such as window frames and door trim.

In summary, exterior sheen is a crucial factor when choosing paint for exterior surfaces, with flat paint being a good choice for hiding imperfections, eggshell paint being a subtle option for cleaning, satin paint being a step up from eggshell, semi-gloss paint being a good choice for areas that need frequent scrubbers, and gloss paint being the best choice for areas frequently wiped down.