Exterior Paint

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.

Best exterior house paint

A surprising number of professionals don't have a strong brand preference. For example, a member of a DIY forum says, "Just like some folks here prefer Sherwin, others swear by Ben Moore, yet others go for Muralo, California, Porter, or any one of a zillion different regional brands. Almost all of them make good (usually expensive) paint, and almost all of them also sell low-end paint. (Behr, however, is almost universally regarded here as a waste of perfectly good paint pails.)" A California contractor chimes in, "We use a lot of paint from a lot of manufacturers, and the differences are not detectable to most painters."

Consumer Reports believes brand differences are significant, but admits it hasn't identified consistently top-performing brands. Some veteran painting contractors and homebuilders have strong favorites based on their experience, which in the most helpful cases includes using several brands. Insiders say that builders are notorious for using cheap materials in construction whenever possible. This belief even applies to expensive houses, skeptics say. With regard to the forums we looked at, however, we expect that builders and after-market house painters who go to the trouble of recommending paints are more likely to be dedicated to using what they believe are the best exterior paints.

In these forums, Sherwin-Williams paints are preferred in almost a third of recommendations. Along with its self-named brand, Sherwin-Williams also makes Dutch Boy, Pratt & Lambert, Thompson's WaterSeal and other brands. These brands rate highly in tests and earn recommendations. Professional Builder, a trade journal, surveyed builders about what products they used when building their own homes. In the "Paints/Stains" category, two builders used Sherwin-Williams, one used Pratt & Lambert and one used ICI.

The Sherwin-Williams flagship exterior house paint, Sherwin-Williams Duration (*est. $50 per gallon) is easily the most recommended paint in forums. Duration is available in flat, satin and gloss finishes. It is guaranteed for as long as you own your house. Sherwin-Williams also claims that the paint is self-priming and only requires one coat. Pros say that's an inflated claim, but it doesn't deter their enthusiasm for the relative quality of Duration.

The DoItYourself.com Painting Moderator says Sherwin-Williams "is not overpriced nor overrated." He adds, "With all the hoopla on this site about Behr and others, I tested a couple gallons of different big-box [store] paints at my own house. I will never use any of them ever again." We found many similar comments.

Sherwin-Williams SuperPaint (*est. $42 per gallon) was the company's top paint prior to the introduction of Duration. Arch Painting answers consumer questions on its website and consistently recommends SuperPaint as a solution to reader questions. In general, SuperPaint does not receive the accolades that Duration house paint does. Reviews are favorable, but more mixed. One painter says, "SuperPaint is not my favorite to work with, but it is a good paint. Duration is excellent." SuperPaint has a 25-year warranty. It's available in flat, satin and gloss finishes.

Benjamin Moore earns about one-fifth of recommendations for the best house paint, which is easily the second highest total. Like Sherwin-Williams, the company dates to the 1800s. Most of the recommendations for Benjamin Moore are for the brand in general rather than for a specific formula. Several of its top paints are mentioned. Benjamin Moore's premium formulation has different names for each of its three luster levels. Benjamin Moore MoorGlo (*est. $45 per gallon) has a "soft gloss finish," and MoorLife (*est. $40 per gallon) is a flat paint. MoorGard 100% Acrylic Low Lustre Latex House Paint (*est. $42 per gallon) falls between the two in luster and price. These paints carry a lifetime warranty. A forum member inquired about the best exterior paint for intense sun. One respondent says that Benjamin Moore MoorGard has held up well in his northern California location. Consumer Reports isn't currently conducting tests on any Sherwin-Williams house paint, but it is including the three Benjamin Moore premium paints in ongoing tests (three years worth of simulated testing has been completed).

Many experienced painters are content to paint with either Sherwin-Williams or Benjamin Moore house paints. Yet, we were able to discern a small, but clear preference for Sherwin-Williams. For example, one painter says in a forum, "I was a big Ben Moore fan until S/W Duration. It is the best product going."

Only two other brands receive more than a couple of testimonials. A forum user asks for opinions about Valspar Duramax (*est. $30 per gallon) , and it receives several recommendations, but several readers suggest Duration instead. One reader points out that the comparison is unfair because of the price difference, and another says price is the only difference. However, Duramax is sold by Lowe's, and that causes a professional to chime in with a plea to avoid the brands sold by the big-box chains. A couple of readers also recommend California Paints.

Duramax has been tested by Consumer Reports for two years (simulating six years of exposure). Valspar says Duramax is self-priming, and a gallon will cover 300 to 400 square feet. It's available in flat and satin finishes and comes with a lifetime warranty. Another Valspar paint, Valspar Ultra Premium (*est. $25 per gallon or $116 for five gallons) , has undergone three years of testing at Consumer Reports -- that's nine simulated years. Valspar Ultra Premium could represent a viable alternative for those on a budget.

Glidden is another brand that receives testimonials, but other than Behr, it is also the only brand with any significant number of unhappy users. Professionals are not too impressed with Glidden compared to Sherwin-Williams and Benjamin Moore. Glidden is sold by The Home Depot and independent retailers.

Last year, Glidden dominated performance tests by Consumer Reports, but the company has since altered its formula and has been dropped from the magazine's rankings. Some of its formulations had been the same, but with different luster levels. Glidden exterior paints include Glidden Endurance (*est. $30 to $35 per gallon , depending on luster) and Glidden Spred Dura (*est. $20 to $30 per gallon , depending on luster). Glidden recommends the Endurance line for a variety of types of wood, but says the Spred Dura paints also work well on other materials, such as vinyl siding.

Glidden hasn't been tested against comparable paints from Benjamin Moore or Sherwin-Williams, and now with a new formula, its quality is uncertain. Nevertheless, these Glidden paints may still be reliable budget alternatives. Glidden has a vague, indefinite limited warranty. We found no evaluative information, but Glidden says that ICI Paints Dulux is a comparable product. ICI Paints is the parent company of Glidden and operates its own paint stores.

California Paints is a regional brand based in Massachusetts. In spite of the name, the paint is not sold in California. California 2010 (flat, *est $38 per gallon) is the company's top performer in comparative tests. It still looks good after nine simulated years, as did the company's satin and Eggshell formulas (*est. $42 and $40 per gallon, respectively). All comments we found elsewhere about California Paints are favorable, but we found very few comments overall, and no specifics.

California's Fresh Coat Velvet (*est. $35 per gallon) has shown promise after three simulated years of testing. California says Fresh Coat is mildew, water and alkali resistant. The paint works on every type of material. It adheres and endures well, according to the manufacturer. The preliminary tests confirm some of those claims. If you live east of the Mississippi, California Fresh Coat is worth considering, especially in a northern state with brutal winters. The price is very competitive. California Paints are sold by independent retailers. A California Paints representative says, "We do not have a written warranty but stand behind our products."

Pratt & Lambert Accolade (*est. $40 to $50 per gallon , depending on luster) receives a few favorable comments. Pratt & Lambert paints are sold by independent retailers and some Ace Hardware stores. Pratt & Lambert was acquired by Sherwin-Williams in the mid-1990s, but the company operates independently. Their paint has a lifetime warranty.

We found no more than one recommendation for any other brands. Ace Hardware sells its own brand of paint. The small number of people who report using it say that it's very good. Ace's competitor, True Value, has its own brand as well, but comments on its merits have been mixed.

Sears' own house-paint brand has held up fairly well in some simulated testing, but professionals have ventured few opinions about it. Pittsburgh exterior paint has received a number of positive comments but hasn't found its way into any head-to-head tests. Several other well-known brands -- Olympic Premium, Kelly-Moore Acry-Shield Semigloss, M.A.B Sea Shore and Kilz Casual Colors -- are currently being tested by Consumer Reports, but they get little attention in reviews or forums. Other well-known brands, such as Rodda, Muralo, Dutch Boy and PPG, have received little attention in either reviews or tests.

Exterior house stain

Stain is considerably less popular than paint, although it can provide a beautiful finish. Stain is thinner than paint. Reviews and professional opinions of stains don't add up to more than a bit of anecdotal information. In testing, Olympic Premium Solid Color (*est. $20 per gallon) produced considerably better results than any other stain. Unfortunately, this specific product is only sold by a limited number of independent retailers. (Note that Olympic also makes a paint product called Premium.)

According to PPG, the manufacturer of Olympic, Olympic Maximum Solid Color Stain (*est. $25 per gallon) is "comparable" to Olympic Premium. The company says the difference is that Olympic Premium is not recommended for horizontal surfaces (such as a deck), but that either stain should work for odd angles on a house.

Unlike Olympic Premium, Olympic Maximum is sold by Lowe's and some independent retailers. Olympic says Maximum is guaranteed to prevent water damage and graying for a minimum of 20 years on siding. As a solid-color stain, it allows the texture of the wood to show, but hides the natural color of the wood. Recent testing shows, however, that Maximum didn't wear well after just three years of simulated aging.

Members of the iVillage GardenWeb forum debate the value of the testing and of Olympic stain. The strongest sentiment is that products sold by the big-box stores should not be trusted (an assertion we saw repeatedly made by professionals).

You can choose solid-color, semi-transparent or clear stains. No clear stains were tested, but opaque stains trounced the semi-transparent stains in the rankings. Behr Plus 10 (*est. $20) and Cabot O.V.T.0600 (*est. $30) finished a distant second and third in the rankings. Thompson's WaterSeal (*est. $20) tops the semi-transparent stains. Its endurance is much shorter than what you'd get from an opaque stain, but it does reveal the natural wood grain.

Important Features: Exterior paint

Reviewers say the following about shopping for exterior house paint.

• Spend more now to spend less long term. Experts say that a top-quality paint will last several times longer than a cheap one. If you plan to keep your house for years, or hope to sell it without having to repaint again, premium paint is a better long-term value. It's also cheaper and easier to maintain. The labor involved in painting your home costs far more than the paint, so spending an extra $50 or $100 on good paint can be a drop in the bucket.

• Buy five-gallon buckets. You'll need many gallons, and the economy size is cheaper per gallon than one-gallon cans, according to Consumer Reports. However, when we checked with retailers, we found the savings is typically less than a dollar per gallon.

• Get any color you want. Many paints can be tinted in nearly infinite variations of colors. If you want to match your existing color, bring paint, a chip or a picture to the store. Paint sellers have equipment that tells them which colors to blend to make an exact color match. This does not cost extra.

• If you're uncertain about color, buy some test paints. Many retailers sell miniscule pre-mixed containers of paint for this purpose. You can see how a color dries on your house before buying massive quantities.

• Match the existing type of paint, if possible. Experts generally say to use oil (alkyd) over oil or latex (acrylic) over latex. If that's not a consideration, buy acrylic paint.

• Don't try to compare ingredients. Manufacturers aren't required to divulge all the contents of paint, and exact formulas are trade secrets for competitive reasons. Experts say to buy paints with more solids that are more finely ground, but you won't be able to make a formal comparison without chemical analysis.

• Consider your special needs. Experts say that different formulations are best for different prevailing needs. If, for example, you need paint with exceptional adhesion or fade resistance, discuss that with your paint salesperson or contractor.

• Choose the degree of luster you want. The main choices are flat, semi-gloss and gloss. The marketing terminology varies among brands, and can be confusing. Paints marketed as "satin" and "eggshell" have more luster than flat, but less than semi-gloss. Glossier paints often cost more than flatter paints.

• Consider low-VOC paints. Health problems from paint fumes aren't a major concern when painting outdoors, but VOCs do harm air quality. Better paints historically have higher concentrations of VOCs, but professionals say that technology is improving, and the situation is changing. Manufacturers do specify the amounts of VOCs in paint. Other potentially harmful chemicals aren't usually specified. Acrylic paint is safer than alkyd paint. Unfortunately, we didn't see any of these included in hands-on tests.

• Consider low-odor paints. Paint odors (or possibly chemicals) bother some people. They can cause headaches or nausea. If you've had past problems and will be doing your own painting, a low-odor paint could be a solution. GreenHomeGuide.com has recommendations, and some paints are marketed as low-odor, but your best bet is probably doing your own testing in a specialty store.

Our Consensus Report shows how many times products are top-ranked by reviewers included in our
All The Reviews Reviewed chart.

# of picks	Model (with retailer links)	Details from Amazon.com
3	Sherwin-Williams Duration (*est. $50 per gallon or $245 for five gallons)	-
2	Sherwin-Williams (general) varies	-
2	Benjamin Moore (general) varies	details
2	California 2010 (*est. $40 per gallon)	-
1 each	Behr Plus 10, Valspar Ultra Premium , Kelly-Moore Acry-Shield, ICI Paints and Stains (general), Pratt & Larsen (general)

Experts concur that the quality of the house paint is much more important than the brand. Tests show that the leading brands leapfrog each other in best quality with new formulations. The Paint Quality Institute and many individual painters say that no paint is the absolute best, but the premium paint in the manufacturer's lineup is better and often doesn’t cost much more than their lesser formulas.

Sherwin-Williams is the bestselling paint company, manufacturing the Sherwin-Williams brand, as well as Dutch Boy, Pratt & Lambert and others. More professional house painters who aim for quality over price prefer Sherwin-Williams paint in general; for premium quality and endurance, they choose Sherwin-Williams Duration paint.

Benjamin Moore paints are also favored by many professionals. Some recommend Benjamin Moore when customers want high quality, but aren’t willing to pay for the absolute best. Sherwin-Williams and Benjamin Moore have, by far, the most support in both contractor and user forums.

Behr has some advocates, but many more detractors. Professional painters express strong disrespect for the quality of Behr exterior paint in several forums. Consumer reaction is more mixed, but Behr is the only brand we found with multiple consumer complaints.

California and Glidden house paint fare well in recent formal testing, but they haven’t received much support from users. California is a regional brand, and we found little comment about it in general. Professional and user reaction is mixed, but the sample is small.

Specific stains are almost never reviewed. Olympic Premium Solid Color Stain tops a recent formal test.

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