EmailBest Reviewed
Exterior Paint
- Best exterior house paint Sherwin-Williams Duration *Est. $50
- Best value exterior house paint Sherwin-Williams SuperPaint *Est. $42
- Budget exterior house paint Valspar Ultra Premium *Est. $25
- Exterior house stain Olympic Premium Stain *Est. $20
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Best value exterior house paint
- Endurance
- Good value
- Easy to work with for DIY-ers
- 25-year warranty
- More expensive than economy paints
- Might need two coats
Experts say that Sherwin-Williams SuperPaint is a high-quality paint with long endurance. SuperPaint was the company's top of the line paint before the introduction of Sherwin-Williams Duration (*est. $50 per gallon or $245 for five gallons), and it still has many fans, especially among those who want to save $8 per gallon. Some users say they find SuperPaint easier to work with because it isn't as thick as Duration, although most experts say you may need two coats of SuperPaint if you live in a harsh climate. The warranty on SuperPaint is for 25 years, while Duration's lasts for as long as you own your house. SuperPaint is available in satin, flat and gloss finishes. If you are looking to spend even less, reviews suggest Valspar Ultra Premium (*est. $25 per gallon or $116 for five gallons) as the best budget exterior paint.
Knowledgeable contributors to the message boards DIYChatroom.com and PaintTalk.com have useful things to say about Sherwin-Williams SuperPaint. We also found helpful information from About.com's guide to home repair, Bob Formisano. Consumer Reports tests exterior house paints by simulating three to nine years of wear. However, Sherwin-Williams paints aren't mentioned at all in the 2008 ratings after several versions of Duration were listed in the 2006 ratings.
Our Sources
1. DIY Chatroom
Posters on this do-it-yourself message board thread compare Sherwin-Williams Duration and Sherwin-Williams SuperPaint, one saying that one good coat of Duration is equal to two coats of the less expensive SuperPaint.
Review: Which Exterior SW Paint To Use?, Contributors to DIYChatroom.com
On this message board for professional house painters, several posters recommend either Sherwin-Williams SuperPaint or Sherwin-Williams Duration for cold-weather painting.
Review: Exterior Painting in NY/ Best Low Temp Paint, Contributors to PaintTalk.com
3. About.com
Bob Formisano, About.com's guide to home repair, presents an introduction to paint, rather than a review of specific brands. Formisano recommends Benjamin Moore, Behr and Sherwin-Williams exterior paints, suggesting that readers look for paint that is 45% pigment. (Note that ConsumerSearch is owned by About.com but the two don't share an editorial affiliation.)
Review: All About Paint, Bob Formisano
4. ConsumerReports.org
Consumer Reports tests exterior paint by simulating wear after three, six and nine years. No Sherwin-Williams paints are included in the 2008 ratings, even though two versions of Sherwin-Williams Duration were listed in the magazine's 2006 ongoing tests.
Review: Exterior Paints & Stains, Editors of Consumer Reports, June 2008
Exterior Paint Runners Up:
2 picks by top review sites.
