Whether you’re planning to paint your house yourself or you intend to work with professional painters, selecting the right type of exterior paint is a critical part of the process. If you pick the wrong type of paint for your project, after all, you will have to live with results you may not like for at least a couple of years. However, choosing the ideal paint product can be challenging for those who don’t regularly shop for home improvement products.
In this guide, you will discover details about various types of exterior paints and how they differ from one another. By the time you reach the end, you should have a much better idea of which sort of paint ticks the boxes you want to check in regard to your upcoming exterior renovation project.
Combination paint and primer
In recent years, an increasing number of homeowners have been opting for combination paint and primer — which are almost always latex-based — when it comes to updating the looks of their homes. In general, fewer coats of these paints are required, as they have a primer built in. This eliminates the need to prime the entire surface of a house prior to painting it.
It is, though, worth noting that combination paint and primer products do tend to cost more than conventional exterior paints.
Oil-based paint with oil-based primer
There are select situations in which latex-based paint and primer combinations will not provide sufficient coverage. If, for example, you are painting raw wood siding that has never been painted before, an oil-based primer topped with an oil-based paint is probably the best choice for you. This is because oil-based products are thicker and provide better coverage than almost all other paint options.
Latex paint with additives
Depending on what material the cladding on your house is made from, you may or may not need to invest in latex paint with special additives to help it properly adhere. Both vinyl and aluminum siding, for instance, must be painted with specialty products as traditional latex paint will not adhere to them correctly.
“Super” paints
Super paints are relatively new to the market, but they are quickly increasing in popularity due to the many benefits they offer. These paint products are engineered to offer superior performance, from improved colorfastness to less chipping and cracking. If you are interested in spending a bit more on your renovation to get the most for your money, super paints might be the right option for you.
Choosing a sheen
All paints, interior and exterior, are available in several sheens. For painting the outside of a house, you should generally avoid anything too shiny — this means both gloss and semi-gloss paints are out. Most homeowners usually choose a satin sheen, which will reflect the light enough to show-off your home’s vibrant color, but won’t showcase every imperfection.
Let the expert team at Hatch Homes guide you every step of the way when it comes to your house painting project. Whether you don’t even know where to start or you simply need answers to a few key questions, we are here to help. Give us a call at your earliest convenience.