If you ask 10 people what the best house paint for exteriors is, you may get 10 different answers.
Everyone has their own experience and preference for their go-to paint brand.
So we turned to the painting contractors who have their boots on the ground (and brushes on the wall) to find out the best house paint for siding and stucco. If you are looking at starting a painting business from scratch, then contact us for more information like this.
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In some regions of the country, stucco is a prevalent choice for home exterior siding material.
It’s easy to see why when you take into consideration it’s inherent durability and long life expectancy.
The nice thing about a stucco home is the longevity of the paint job. You don’t have to paint stucco as frequently as wood sided homes. But when it is time to paint, it’s going to cost more money.
Stucco paint jobs require more paint (and labor time) than a wood sided home. Stucco tends to soak up more paint because of its porous nature. It also requires more paint to cover well because of the texture of stucco. When applying the paint, it usually needs to be “back rolled”.
Back rolling is a technique where the paint is sprayed on and then rolled into the stucco.
We’re looking for a good quality paint that can evenly coat the nooks and crannies found in stucco and seal the gaps of a rough stucco surface.
So we asked our network of contractors to weigh in on what they believe is the best house paint for stucco siding.
An overwhelming amount of contractors and business owners across North America agreed that Sherwin Williams: Loxon™ is the best house paint for exterior stucco.
This is partially due to the Loxon™ line being purpose-engineered to withstand harsh weather conditions, resist mildew, and defend against efflorescence (the deposit of metal-salts carried by moisture).
Must-have properties for painting businesses that guarantee their work!
Many contractors noted the superior color retention properties of Loxon™, and the fact that it was intentionally designed to be used on stucco and masonry-type surfaces.
Traditionally, repainting stucco surfaces called for multiple applications of new paint – beginning with elastomeric acrylic-based paint (for old stucco) OR a water-based masonry sealer (for newer stucco).
Sherwin Williams Loxon™ offers a more economic solution, being able to sufficiently cover stucco surfaces without the addition of costly base layers.
This saves consumers money on both materials AND labor costs, making it an attractive option when trying to update the exterior appearance of their home.
One additional quality that helps bring the Loxon line in at #1 is the “breathable” coat which prevents moisture buildup that could shorten the lifespan of exterior repaints.
For more technical information on the Sherwin Williams Loxon Line, click here.
During our poll, several brands and paint lines came up as potential candidates for the number 1 spot.
Editor’s note: this article was, in no way, sponsored by any paint provider. The options for the final vote were decided via a preliminary open vote – followed by a closed vote for the top 6
Wood and concrete (fiber cement) siding are listed as two of the top five most popular siding options for houses in North America.
Sought after for their pleasing aesthetics, it’s a safe bet that those in the painting industry encounter these materials regularly when setting up estimates for prospective customers.
So what’s the highest voted paint for wood & concrete siding?
Sherwin Williams was the #1 voted best house paint for wood & concrete siding.
It’s popularity stems from the hard coating it forms during the curing process for a long lasting paint job, coat coverage to avoid the need for multiple coats, and ease of application.
The advanced acrylic formulation of Sherwin Williams Duration is known to bond to a given surface with a durable coating that prevents cracking & peeling, while extending the lifetime of the paint job and reducing the cost of future repaints (due to reduced prep time).
Though the cost of Duration paint tends to retail in the mid $70/gallon range, it performs as self-priming. It’s an expensive paint and you get what you pay for… A high quality paint job.
While most paints are advertised as requiring only a single coat, SW Duration delivers on that promise. When compared to other popular brand name paints with “1-coat claims”, contractors stated that Duration was miles ahead of the competition.
Most contractors report the paint as “easy to apply”. It feels far thicker than most paints they have experience with. Drips & runs are minimalized (practically null) – even when applying the paint to the underside of horizontal surfaces.
This can be a real time saver for painting contractors.
When buying paint, look for sales on Sherwin Williams products that can help bring the cost of a gallon of paint down considerably. Many painting contractors have volume discounts and can get much better prices, passing those savings along to customers.
Lower per gallon, the 1-coat promise, and the extended lifetime of a high quality paint goes a long way in delivering a product that is difficult to beat.
The results for our Wood & Concrete siding paint poll were a bit of a landslide during the closed voting period. The top 5 paints were voted on.
Sherwin Williams was the clear winner in all of the contractor polls conducted. Their quality and strong customer service department is what keeps their annual growth steady beyond $10 billion.
Not only do we support these results, we stand behind them. We recommend Sherwin Williams products in all of our residential repaints.
Looking for more information? Scroll down to go through the most frequently asked questions we get about exterior paints!
Q) Is Sherwin Williams Paint better than Behr?
Generally, professional painting businesses will recommend Sherwin Williams for residential repaints. Behr paint tends to be lower priced, and for the budget-minded DIY’er, it should suffice for most jobs. However, when comparing top of the line paints from each manufacturer, contractors agree that Sherwin Williams is the best all around.
Q) What paint (type) should I use on a house exterior?
Majority of professional painting businesses will recommend acrylic (latex) paint rather than oil based. Modern acrylic paints provide a better finish & longer lasting paint job unless the surface (to be painted) mandates an oil-based paint (e.g. distressed or aged material). Latex paints tend to have better adhesion, increased ease of application, as well as a longer life expectancy when compared to oil based paints.
Q) What is paint made of? (We asked a chemist)
For this answer, we’re going to focus on acrylic paint – which is the most commonly used type of paint for home exteriors.
Acrylic paint can be categorized into several components:
Q) Does exterior paint need primer?
No. Primer should be used on local failures where the previous paint has peeled and the wood is exposed. Those areas require proper preparation.
See our article on prepping an exterior properly
Q) Do paint jobs really come with lifetime warranties and guarantees?
Yes and no. The lifetime warranties and guarantees are manufacturer warranties that cover chemical failures.
If a chemical failure occurs, the manufacturer will pay for the cost of the materials (paint) used. However, labor is NOT covered by a manufacturer’s warranty.
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Q) What is “sheen” and what’s best for exterior?
Sheen is the gloss or finish of the paint.
Q) What temperature (outdoor) should it be when I paint my house?
Depending on the paint type (oil or acrylic), you’ll need to apply paint to your home’s exterior while the temperature stays between 40°-90°F (oil) or 50°-85°F (acrylic). Curing paint is a chemical reaction with temperature dependent rates. Too low, and the chemical reaction won’t occur. Too high, and side reactions may occur – creating undesired products – consequently weakening the paint.
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