Home - Garden
Crucial Mistakes To Avoid When Choosing Paint For Your Home's Exterior
By RACHEL CANTOR
Acrylic Or Oil
Acrylic paint is cost-effective and tends to be more forgiving when it comes to exterior painting. However, it may require more frequent refreshing over time.
Oil paint can be a better choice if you’re looking to fend off unsightly scratches and damage. While it can create a durable finish, oil paint can be harder to clean up or correct.
Dual Product
A two-in-one paint and primer may seem handy, but it can cost you time and money in the long run, as you might have to apply more coats for full coverage.
To paint your exterior like a pro, opt to prime the surface with a dedicated, standalone primer, which is cheaper and can provide benefits like odor prevention and mildew control.
VOC Level
Volatile Organic Compounds in paints evaporate and turn into gas, allowing the paint to dry. Unfortunately, they can cause health problems and damage the environment.
While oil-based paints will typically be higher in VOCs, you can look for brands and products that use phrases like VOC-free, low-VOC, or zero-VOC in their description.
Architecture
By ignoring the tradition of your home’s architectural style, you may choose colors that don’t complement the structure, disconnecting your home from its heritage.
Choose complementary colors. For example, if you have a Greek Revival-style home, opt to paint the shutters a traditional green or incorporate exposed features for a Craftsman home.
Material
Understanding the material you’re working with is crucial. Without knowing how the paint will adhere and respond to the material, you risk compromising look and durability.
For example, Paint expert Mauro Henrique tells This Old House, that he uses “a 100% acrylic base” for vinyl siding and agrees that acrylic is great for wood siding.