Painting exterior elements of a home is a great way to rejuvenate its appearance, enhance curb appeal and increase longevity. However, it's important to consider more than color when choosing an exterior paint. Each paint has a specific formula that affects how well it performs over time. You want to choose one that will resist fading, cracking and mildew to protect your home and keep it looking good for as long as possible.
In this guide, we'll explain what to consider when choosing exterior paint and provide a list of some of the best options on the market.
Considerations When Choosing Exterior Paint for Your Home
There are several factors to consider when trying to find the best exterior house paint for your project:
- Climate: Your local weather conditions should be a key consideration for exterior paint. If any section of the house gets intense sunlight, choose a UV-resistant paint to prevent cracking and fading. For high humidity or wet areas, you'll want water and mildew-resistant paint. Consider using a more dirt-resistant paint if you live near a road or have looser soil.
- Surface: The surface you're painting should also inform your choice. Each exterior surface has unique properties and needs a specific paint type for the best results. Acrylic or latex paint is best for most projects, but you'll need other types of paint for vinyl, metal, stucco, masonry or concrete siding.
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Temperature: The color of the paint can affect the temperature inside your home. Lighter colors reflect the light and keep the house cooler, while darker colors help absorb heat and raise the temperature.
- Dry time: If you need to paint the exterior quickly, consider a paint with a quick drying and recoating time. It should also have good hiding power or coverage so you don't have to apply too many extra coats to achieve an opaque finish.
- Finish: Exterior paint comes in gloss, semi-gloss, satin and flat finishes. Gloss is easier to clean and looks shiny but may highlight imperfections. Matte paint is nonreflective and good at hiding dents and bumps, but it's harder to clean.
To decide on a color, keep the following tips in mind:
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Consider the surroundings: Choose colors that are unique but complementary to the building styles and natural surroundings of the neighborhood. For example, Classic American architecture is often best complemented by exterior paint colors like gray or natural blues and greens.
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Note the sun's location: Take note of which parts of the building get the most sunlight at which times of the day. Full sun intensifies colors, so consider more subtle colors for the areas that get maximum sunlight. If the property is mostly shaded, lighter, more saturated hues will help your home stand out.
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Try some paint samples: Order color samples and apply them on different exterior surfaces to see how the color looks on the material and in different lighting throughout the day. Apply two coats to a big enough section — a 4-by-4-inch area is best — and wait 24 hours to see the paint when it's fully dry.
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Create contrast: Color variations make a home's exterior more visually appealing. A mix of complementary light and dark colors is the best way to achieve this attractive variation. For example, if you are painting the trim on a home with a brick facade, it is ideal to use a contrasting cream or green shade to complement the red brick.
Best-Rated Exterior House Paint
The best paint for your home is one that fits all your requirements, using the considerations mentioned above. However, some options made by top exterior paint brands stand out for their durability and performance. Here's a list of some of the most recommended ones:
Benjamin Moore Aura® Exterior Paint
Aura is a 100% acrylic paint made with Benjamin Moore's proprietary Color Lock® technology that users love for its rich color and fade resistance. You can paint it on various exterior surfaces thanks to its superior adhesion capabilities, even in low-temperature conditions. It's also fast-drying and self-priming, and requires fewer coats for full coverage. These features make it one of the most premium paints on the market.
One thing to note about Aura is that it may be tricky to work with if it's warm outside during application.
Benjamin Moore Regal® Select Exterior High Build Paint
This 100% acrylic, high-build exterior paint provides optimum hide and requires fewer coats for maximum coverage. It resists cracking, peeling, fading and mold growth. Users say it's easy to apply, fills in small imperfections well, and dries quickly for faster recoat times. It's just above the midrange price for exterior paints.
However, some homeowners who prefer a thick outer coating may find this paint too thin for their project.
Benjamin Moore Element Guard® Exterior Paint
Element Guard is an affordable, midrange option made with 100% acrylic resin. Thanks to its formulation, it holds its color, is mildew resistant and resists cracking, peeling or blistering, even in wind-driven rain and high humidity. This paint can also withstand rain as soon as 60 minutes after application.
While it has many perks, some people find that this paint is a bit more susceptible to dirt stains.
Buy the Best Exterior Paint for Your Home at Aboff's
Aboff's Paints is the #1 Benjamin Moore retailer on Long Island, with many high-quality Benjamin Moore exterior paint colors to choose from. We're trusted by homeowners and contractors alike, and with over nine decades of experience, we have the expertise to help you find the right paint for your project.
Order exterior paint from us online or stop by the store location nearest you to see our products in person and get valuable insight from our expert staff.
