EXTERIOR PAINT BUYERS GUIDE

Your exterior paint goes a long way towards the beauty and curb appeal of your home. But it's about more than just picking your favorite color. Which exterior paint will protect the home that protects you? This guide will help you make an informed decision about exterior paint and hopefully provide you with all the data to choose the perfect paint.

Did you know that the protective layer of paint that stands between your home and the ravages of the elements is only about the thickness of a human hair? Two coats of latex house paint is only about 0.004 of an inch thick, but it's all that stands between your home and damage from sun, rain, sleet, snow and wind. Don't let your home stand out in the elements unprotected.

If you're ready to tackle your home's exterior paint there are a few things you'll need to know before you begin.

TYPES OF EXTERIOR PAINT:

• OIL BASED/ALKYD: These will give you a hard finish that is both durable and water resistant. Most often used by pros, these paints give great results but you will need chemicals to clean your gear after work. Oil based products need to be stirred… a lot. This prevents separation and will ensure better coverage. You will need to uses brushes or rollers specifically designed for use with oil based paints.
• LATEX/ACRYLIC: Newer latex paints can be nearly as durable as their oil based counterparts. It's easier to apply and resists fading in direct sunlight. If you choose a latex paint for your home make sure the label says its for exterior use. Latex exterior paint is easier cleaning, needing only soap and water.

To know if the older paint on your home is oil based or latex, try this method. Find a place where your existing paint is peeling and break off a piece. If it snaps right off, it's probably oil based. A latex paint will bend a bit before it snaps off.

CHOOSE YOUR COLOR AND SHEEN:

• COLOR: When you consider the color that you will be painting your home there are a few things you may want to keep in mind.
• First, take a look at your immediate neighborhood. You don't have to paint your home to match your neighbors, but if your neighborhood has a general tone, you may want to choose colors that stay within those confines. Of course, your choice of color is a personal matter, so you do you.
• Remember that most homes are not painted in a single color. You have the main color of the walls, then you'll also have a contrasting trim color. Sometimes you may even opt for a third accent color.
• SHEEN: Whether eggshell, semi gloss or gloss, each different sheen has a benefit for your home’s exterior.
• SATIN/EGGSHELL: This sheen has the least reflectivity of the bunch, making it great for use on your siding. It hides imperfections and the muted shine makes it harder for dirt to grab hold.
• SEMI-GLOSS: Perfect for windows and trim, semi-gloss is more durable and easier cleaning. It really stands up to the weather as well. It's extra shine adds a nice accent to your home's look.
• HIGH GLOSS: When it comes to doors, shutters and anything you may touch, high gloss gives an added level of durability and touchability. Super easy to clean and beautiful to look at, high gloss needs to be applied carefully as it's sheen magnifies any imperfections.

ATTRIBUTES OF GOOD EXTERIOR PAINT:

• APPLIES EVENLY: If your paint is too thin it will run. If it's too thick you’ll end up with ridges and clumps. A quality paint will go on smoothly and evenly.
• COVERS EASILY: The fewer coats the better. A good, quality paint will cover well in two coats. That'll save you money.
• DRIES SMOOTHLY & QUICKLY: A lesser quality paint will tend to dry unevenly. A good quality paint will dry evenly, quickly and without leaving drips or runs.
• LOW VOC's: Volatile Organic Compounds are much less prevalent now than in the past. These VOC's can cause dizziness and headaches and some have been linked to pollution, smog and even cancer. Things are much better now. Regulations have reduced the amount of VOC's present in newer paints. But to be safe always use gloves, eye protection and a respirator (if the fumes are too much).
• MILDEW & STAIN RESISTANCE: Paints with mildew inhibitors and stain resistance will save you elbow grease in the long run.

TIME TO PREPARE:

Here's where the hard work really begins. That means prepping your surface by scraping, sanding or peeling the existing paint off with a heat gun. Here's what you'll need to do:

1. Begin with cleaning your surfaces with a light detergent and a scrub brush. Paint adheres best to surfaces that are clean and dry.
2. Once your walls are clean and dry it's time to scrape or sand away any loose paint. If you leave cracks or chips in your old paint, they will develop into cracks and chips in your new paint. BE AWARE: If your home was built before 1978, you may have lead based paint somewhere in the layers of previous paint. Lead based paint dust is very dangerous if breathed in. If your home is pre-1978, test your paint for lead with a kit that you can pick up in most hardware stores. If the test shows lead in your paint it would be best and safest to have it stripped by professionals.
3. Repair or replace broken siding or trim.
4. Fill any holes or dents.
5. Caulk gaps and joints.
6. PRIME YOUR WALLS! Don't skimp and skip this step. Priming allows paint to adhere better. This has the benefit of saving you money. Exterior house paint will cover better using fewer coats if you prime your walls first. Make sure you use primer clearly labeled for exterior use. Use only oil based primer if you intend to use oil based paints and latex primer for latex paint.
1. Some newer paints have the primer built right into the mix.
2. If you have to cover knots in your exterior siding use a BIN Shellac based primer over them first. This way they won't show through.

Once you've gotten the work done, you can expect that a well done paint job will last between 10 to 15 years, longer if you're painting over stucco. So unless you change your mind about the color, you won't be repeating this process anytime soon. That is why it is so very important to take all the variables into account and make your choices accordingly. If you change your mind, it's not going to be cheap.

But a new paint job will improve the look and feel of your home, making it seem practically new again. It will certainly improve your "Curb Appeal", a new paint job can increase the selling price of your home by up to $6000. That's a significant bump and well worth the effort.

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