When choosing the exterior paint finishes for a house, one can have a significant impact on how the house will look after ten years or whether the house will begin to peel after the first winter season. Beyond the visual appearance of the selected color of the houses exterior paint, there are other considerations that will impact the selection of the exterior paint. These include how well the paint shed water from the house’s exterior, how well the paint will resist dirt on the house’s exterior, how well the paint will resist rain on the house’s exterior, and how well the paint will hide the imperfections of the house’s siding or trim.
The wrong exterior paint finish can significantly reduce the lifespan of the exterior paint job of the house. However, there are only a few exterior paint finishes that are available for homeowners to consider for their exterior painting projects. Each of the available exterior paint finishes has a specific function within the painting of homes, and once each homeowner understand the function of each exterior paint finish, they can more easily make a decision regarding which finish to use on their home.
The different types of exterior paint finishes is provided below, from the most commonly used to those more specific to the exterior environmental conditions of a given region.
Common Types of Exterior Paint Finishes
1. Flat Paint
One of the most noticeable types of paint finish is flat paint. As the name suggests, flat paint has very little sheen.
Because flat paint has no sheen, it tends to absorb the light falling on the exterior of the house instead of reflecting it. This makes flat paint a common finish for older homes with bumps and cracks in their siding. Flat paint also tends to be more prone to the accumulation of dirt on their exteriors.
For these reasons, flat paint is only appropriate for areas that are under deep eaves that will protect the siding of the house from rain. In dry climates, flat paint can provide a velvety look to large areas of the house’s siding. However, in areas with high rainfall, flat paint should only be used on the upper stories of the house or on porches that are not exposed to the elements.
The disadvantage of flat paint is that it is more difficultly to clean than other exterior paint finishes. If a homeowner uses a pressure washer to clean their siding too aggressive, the flat paint can erode over time.
2. Satin Paint
Satin paint is an intermediate paint finish in terms of the degree of sheen that it reflects.
Satin paint is, therefore, one of the most commonly used exterior paint finishes. In addition to the fact that satin paint has a level of sheen that makes it relatively easy to clean, satin paint also hides the flaws of a house’s siding. The microscopic texture of the paint creates the sheen of the paint while also causing water to bead up on the paint’s surface.
Satin paint is often used on new construction projects. Satin paint resists the development of mildew on the siding of the house, resists water penetration, and retains its color exceptional well. However, if the siding exposed to the sun is the south-facing wall of the house, the sheen of the paint may highlight the flaws of the siding.
However, if the painters are skilled, the paint can provide many years of siding protection.
3. Eggshell Paint
The next type of paint to consider is eggshell paint. Eggshell paint sits between flat and satin paint in terms of the sheen level.
In addition to the fact that eggshell paint is a relatively easy paint to clean compared with flat paint, the look of eggshell paint is more in keeping with those who prefer the look of flat paint. Eggshell paint is an ideal finish for trim and wooden doors on a house. Because the paint contains a higher amount of resin than flat paint, eggshell paint is more resistant to damage from bicycles or lawn equipment.
However, eggshell paint will eventually absorb some of the moisture from the siding, so it is not an ideal paint for foundations or foundations on the north-side of the house. However, if placed in the proper areas of the house, eggshell paint provides the best of both worlds finishes without requiring homeowners to opt for one extreme or the other.
4. Semi-gloss Paint
Semi-gloss paint is used primarily for the protection that it offers to the siding of the house.
The higher the resin content in the paint, the more resistant the paint will be to water, dirt, and other forms of abrasion. Therefore, semi-gloss paint is used on trim boards, windows, and front doors. Additionally, the semi-gloss finish will make the color of the paint appear more vibrant on the exterior of the house.
However, the downside of semi-gloss paint is that it will reveal the imperfections on the siding. If a fascia board on a house is slightly wavy or if there are any holes in the siding caused by nails, these will be visible with semi-gloss paint. In order to use this type of paint, the exterior of the siding must be prepared with sanding and caulking.
However, if done properly, semi-gloss paint is one of the best exterior paints on the market.
5. High-gloss Paint
High-gloss paint offers the most protection for exterior siding. High-gloss paint contains the highest amount of resin to paint pigment ratio for exterior houses.
This causes the paint to form a shell for the siding that is similar to glass, which repels water from the siding. High-gloss paint was traditionally used for garage doors, shutters, and exterior doors for the house. Today, people also use high-gloss paint for moddern metal siding and concrete accents for the house.
The tradeoff for the use of this type of paint is that it will reveal any mark made when applying the paint. For instance, high-gloss paint requires the use of spray paint and requires a skilled painter to apply the finish properly. Additionally, if the paint is applied correctly, high-gloss paint will provide homeowners with the most durable exterior paint.
6. Elastomeric Paint
Elastomeric paint is a special type of paint that is often used on homes with siding that has cracks. Paint that is elasmomeric contains acrylic polymers that are flexible enough to withstand the sun’s rays for long periods of time. Additionally, painters apply elastomeric paint in thick films to the siding, often twice as thick as the other exterior paints.
This allows the paint to fill in hairline cracks in the siding that are up to one-sixteenth of an inch in width. This type of paint is used most often on masonry, stucco, or older wood siding. If applied correctly, a single coat of elastomeric paint will seal any hairline cracks in the siding of the house for the next fifteen years or more.
Additionally, because elastomeric paint is applied in thick films, the siding will have a heavier appearance when painted with this product. This is one of the most expensive exterior paints on the market. However, for homes with siding issues or for those in extreme climates, elastomeric paint may be the most cost-effective option for long-term exterior siding protection.
7. Milk Paint
Milk paint is one of the more uncommon exterior paints. However, for homeowners restoring historic homes, milk paint can offer many benefits. Milk paint contains natural pigments, lime, and milk protein that allows the paint to breathe.
Because milk paint does not contain the same type of acrylic polymers as most paint, it will not trap moisture in the siding panels. This will prevent the siding from blistering, which can destroy the even the best of clapboard siding. Additionally, the color of milk paint will fade in a way that is more natural and more visually appealing than the paint colors that are used for most of the other exterior siding applications.
However, the disadvantage of milk paint is that it is not as durable as other paint alternatives. This paint will require more maintenance than other exterior siding paints and must be cleaned with a gentle hand. However, for homes that value authenticity above ease of maintenance, milk paint is the best choice for exterior siding.
When choosing the correct exterior paint finish for a house, there is no substitute for experience and knowledge of the exterior of the house. For example, a satin exterior paint finish may be the best choice for a suburban colonial home. However, an elastomeric paint finish may be the best choice for a beach cottage that is exposed to salt air.
Additionally, exterior paint jobs are most effective when performed after a rainstorm when the siding of the house will be most wet. A homeowner can examine the siding of the house and determine which exterior walls will collect rainwater for longer periods than others and which will face the sun the most in the summertime. Based off these observations, a homeowner can determine the best finish for each section of the siding.
Therefore, a person should pick the exterior paint that will work best with the siding of the house and prepare the siding in the best possible way. Because the success of an exterior paint job depends on the preparation of the siding, a homeowner can save money and time by preparing the siding properly. A well-chosen exterior paint finish will provide protection for the siding and the house’s value.
However, more importantly, it will also show others that the homeowner paid attention to detail in the construction and upkeep of their home.
