Choosing an Exterior Paint

It doesn't pay to pinch pennnies

While experts seem reluctant to recommend a brand or formulation, they unanimously agree that you should buy one of the top house-paint formulations. The cliché that "you get what you pay for" definitely applies to exterior house paint, according to all reviewers, periodical writers, radio and television home improvement show hosts and professional painters. Even if you just want to paint your house for cosmetic reasons to sell it, we didn't find anyone with any expertise who is willing to recommend cheap exterior paint.

"On the House" syndicated columnists James and Morris Carey explain, "Better paints are more expensive because they contain better ingredients." In The Family Handyman, Spike Carlsen agrees, "High-quality paint has more total solids (pigments plus resins) and fewer solvents than lower-quality paint. So while the two may go on with the same thickness, when the solvents evaporate, a high-quality paint leaves a thicker, tougher paint film." Carlsen says high-quality exterior paints hide better, stick better and last longer. A Washington Post article from Dec. 1, 2007, "Gauging a Paint's Performance Before It Hits the Wall," features a detailed explanation of paint ingredients and relative quality (see the Best Research section below).

Consumer Reports editors inform that the magazine's testing "consistently shows that economy-grade paint is a bad buy" and other experts agree that using a better house paint means that you will have to re-paint less frequently.

In general, experts say acrylic paint works best. Although this type of house paint usually no longer contains latex, it is still commonly called "latex." However, if your siding was previously painted with an oil-based paint (also called "alkyd"), sticking with oil is best. For a more natural look, stain is an alternative to house paint. In The Family Handyman, Duane Johnson says, "Oil stains generally penetrate wood better than latex stains and perform best on rough surfaces like rough-sawn wood and cedar shingles, which will soak up a lot of stain. However, latex stains (especially solid ones) excel on smooth wood surfaces. They won't erode as quickly as oil stains." Both Johnson and Consumer Reports agree that stains will last four to seven years. Even average-quality exterior paint will last longer.

Luster is another consideration. The marketing terminology is varied, but the three main choices are flat, semi-gloss and gloss. Flat house paint has a matte finish that is the most popular for exterior siding. "Satin" and "eggshell" exterior paints have more luster, but they also have less sheen than house paints marketed as "semi-gloss." Glossier exterior paints are not used that often for siding, but experts say they are a good choice for trim. The choice here is strictly aesthetic. According to most sources, luster makes no difference in how long your paint job will last. In tests, flat and glossier exterior paints endure equally well.

Warranties aren't an accurate guide to how long paints will endure without discoloration or disintegration, but some people in the home improvement industry say that they are a good guide to relative longevity. An article at House-painting-info.com makes the argument that a contractor's warranty is more important than a paint manufacturer's warranty. Of course, that's irrelevant if you're doing your own painting. Manufacturers make a marketing statement about quality by offering lifetime warranties on their best house paints. However, no exterior paint warranty covers labor, which greatly eclipses the cost of the paint itself.

Environmental considerations are complex and varied. Most manufacturer attention in this area is devoted to interior paint, because VOC fumes are a health concern. Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are pollutants that cause smog. Many paints are marketed as low-VOC, and some as no-VOC. Low-VOC paints dry faster as well. GreenHomeGuide.com tests and recommends eco-friendly paints, but be aware that its testers do not evaluate paint quality.

The price of paint, particularly top-of-the-line products, has risen precipitously in recent years. The increase is attributable in large part to skyrocketing petroleum prices, which impact the industry on two fronts: production and transportation.