Exterior Painting Basics

What’s in Exterior Paint?

• Pigment: A finely ground material (such as titanium dioxide, burnt umber, carbon black, or iron oxide) that supplies the color
• Binders: Resins (such as alkyds or latex) that hold the particles of pigment together and to the surface that’s being painted
• Diluents (solvents): Liquid thinners (such as mineral spirits or water) used to make the paint flow more evenly
• Additives: Various chemicals that are mixed in to create specific properties in a paint (for example, biocides to ward off mildew)

Paint Formulations

• Oil paint: This traditional paint is made with natural drying oils, such as tung oil and linseed oil. Its solvents are mineral spirits (paint thinner) and turpentine.
• Alkyd paint: This paint uses synthetic rather than natural resins but performs much the same way as oil paint and requires the same types of solvents.
• Latex paint: This paint has acrylic or vinyl acrylic binders and requires water as a solvent.

Types of Exterior Paint

• Stain blocker: A special paint that comes in water- and alkyd-based versions. Dark stains that are covered with light-colored paint invariably show through the topcoat; stain blocker covers such stains before paint is applied.
• Primer: The indispensable first coat in any paint job, commonly available in both latex and alkyd formulations. Paint adheres to the primer, which bonds well to the surface. Latex primers can be used with any topcoat; alkyd-based primers are best used only with alkyd-based topcoats.
• Flat: A topcoat that has a matte finish with no luster. Water- and alkyd-based flat paints are available, but latex flat paints are by far the most popular. Often applied to siding but not trim, flat paints hide surface problems better than higher-gloss paints do.
• Eggshell: A topcoat that has slightly more gloss than flat paint. It hides surface problems as flat paints do, yet has some of the durability of semi-gloss and gloss paints. If you want to use only one paint on both your siding and your trim, eggshell is the best choice.
• Semi-gloss: A topcoat that’s usually applied to trim, doors, and windows. Alkyd semi-gloss paints are available, but most consumers tend to choose latex.
• Gloss: A topcoat with more luster than any other type of paint. Often called enamel, it’s designed for porch floors, pool decks, arbors, and other places where durability is important (though it can become slippery when it comes in contact with water, so be careful walking on gloss-painted floors in the rain or near swimming pools). Though latex products are available, alkyd-based enamels have the highest gloss and are generally considered tougher and longer-lasting.

How to Buy Exterior Paint

• Latex vs. alkyd: When presented with the choice of latex or alkyd (oil) paint, opt for latex. It performs well, is easier to use, and is better for the environment.
• Acrylic vs. vinyl acrylic binders: For exterior work, go with 100% acrylic binders—they’re more weather-resistant than vinyl acrylic binders.
• Pigment: Titanium oxide is the best type of paint pigment—the more titanium oxide a paint contains, the better it will perform.
• Percentage of solids: Solids include both the pigments and binders that are left behind after the paint dries. The more solids, the more durable the paint will be. Unfortunately, manufacturers don’t list all the paint’s ingredients (and the percentage of each ingredient) on product labels, so there’s no quick way to find out which paint contains the most solids. Ask your retailer to show you the technical data sheets for the products you want to compare. These sheets list everything that’s in the paint, along with the percentage of each ingredient. You can also find technical data sheets on paint manufacturers’ websites. Sometimes simply called data sheets, they‘re often located with the material safety data sheets that the U.S. government requires for every paint product.
• Warranties: Although consumers often pay little attention to standard product warranties, they’re an indicator of paint quality. If a manufacturer offers a 10-year warranty on one paint and a 15-year warranty on another, you can bet the second is better paint than the first, regardless of price.

How to Choose Exterior Paint Colors

• Take a color inventory of your house’s exterior: List the colors of fixed elements, such as the roof shingles, sidewalks, driveway, and patio. Any colors you pick should harmonize with these elements.
• Take cues from houses that you like: Drive around town, paying special attention to buildings that have some, or all, of the fixed elements that are on your property. Note the colors that you prefer and try to reduce the options to just a few.
• Become familiar with the color wheel: The color wheel is a design tool that shows 12 colors spread evenly around a circle. Colors that are next to each other are called analogous—they’re thought to work well together. Colors that are directly opposite each other are called complementary—they’re considered contrasting colors, and combining them harmoniously takes a bit more effort.
   
  
• Ask your paint retailer to recommend color combinations: Major paint companies have created palettes to suit different regions of the country and different historical or architectural periods. Though you may not share their tastes exactly, you can rely on a paint company’s understanding of colors that work well together.
• Look to new technologies: Many major paint companies now provide their dealers with color-matching software. An in-store computer scans a photo of your house and then lets you change the color of the siding and trim onscreen. Similar software exists for home computers as well.
• Go light: Even if you don’t want to play it completely safe, light colors, such as off-white, beige, and pastels, can deliver a crisp, clean look. Bolder colors, on the other hand, can be a dicey proposition and may even reduce your home’s appeal among potential buyers. Remember that, when used on such a large scale, a bold hue will look even bolder.
• Maintain the house’s architectural integrity: When choosing colors, make sure to take your house’s architectural style and features into account. Simpler structures call for more subtle schemes, whereas more elaborate houses can pull off a more daring hue.

Basic Painting Technique

1. Mix the paint thoroughly so that all the ingredients are distributed uniformly.
2. Spread the paint evenly to create a continuous, impervious film. Allow proper drying time so that the liquid part of the paint can evaporate and leave behind a stable film of pigment and binder.