Best Home Exterior Paint

Table of Contents

Why Your Exterior Paint Matters So Much

Think of your home’s exterior paint as its first line of defense. It takes a constant beating from sun, rain, wind, temperature swings, and everything else Mother Nature throws at it. A high-quality paint job is essential for more than just looking good.

It prevents moisture from seeping into siding and trim, which can lead to rot, mold, and structural damage. Good paint also protects against UV rays that can otherwise break down materials over time. Investing in the best home exterior paint means investing in the long-term health and stability of your home.

What Makes the Best Home Exterior Paint Stand Out?

Not all paints are created equal, especially when it comes to exterior applications. The paints considered among the best for home exteriors share several key characteristics. These features ensure they not only apply well but also perform exceptionally over time against the elements.

Durability Against the Elements

This is perhaps the most critical factor. The paint needs to withstand intense sunlight without chalking or fading excessively. It must also be flexible enough to handle temperature fluctuations without cracking, peeling, or blistering. Good exterior paint forms a tough, resilient film.

It should also provide excellent water resistance to prevent moisture penetration. Look for paints designed to repel water while still allowing some breathability, which is crucial for preventing moisture buildup behind the paint film.

Color Retention and Fade Resistance

Nobody wants their beautiful new paint job to look dull and faded within a few years. High-quality exterior paints use premium pigments and binders that are much more resistant to UV degradation. This means the color you choose will stay vibrant and true for a much longer period.

Fade resistance is especially important for darker colors or homes exposed to strong sunlight, but it’s a benefit for any color in the long run. The best home exterior paint maintains its aesthetic appeal year after year.

Resistance to Mildew, Mold, and Algae

In humid or damp climates, or on sides of the house that don’t get much sun, mildew, mold, and algae can be a significant problem. These growths don’t just look unsightly; they can also degrade the paint film itself. Premium exterior paints often contain additives that inhibit the growth of these organisms.

This feature keeps your home looking cleaner and newer for longer with less need for frequent washing. It’s a key characteristic to look for if you live in a moist environment or have areas of your home that stay shaded and damp.

Types of Exterior Paint: Which is Right for You?

The two main types of paint you’ll encounter for exterior use are latex (water-based) and alkyd (oil-based). Deciding between them is a fundamental step in choosing the best home exterior paint for your specific project.

Acrylic Latex Paints: The Popular Choice

Acrylic latex paints are the most widely used type for home exteriors today, and for good reason. They are water-based, which makes cleanup easy with soap and water. They dry relatively quickly, often allowing for a second coat the same day.

Modern acrylic latex paints are incredibly durable, offering excellent flexibility, adhesion, and resistance to cracking and peeling. Their flexibility allows them to expand and contract with the siding as temperatures change. They also generally retain color better and resist chalking. For most homes and surfaces, a high-quality acrylic latex paint is considered among the best home exterior paint options available.

Oil-Based Paints: The Traditional Workhorse

Oil-based (alkyd) paints were the standard for many years. They provide a very hard, durable finish and offer excellent adhesion, especially to previously painted oil surfaces or severely weathered wood. They are also very effective blockers of stains, such as those from knots or water damage.

When to Consider Oil-Based

While less common now due to regulations on VOCs and easier cleanup of latex, oil-based paints still have their place. They might be preferred for painting metal surfaces, certain types of trim, or heavily stained areas that need the blocking power. Some painters still prefer them for their flow and leveling properties, which can result in a very smooth finish.

Pros and Cons

Pros: Hard, durable finish; excellent adhesion to challenging surfaces; great stain blocking.
Cons: Difficult cleanup (requires mineral spirits or paint thinner); high VOCs (strong odor, bad for air quality); slower drying time; become brittle over time, making them prone to cracking and chipping, especially on large, flexible surfaces like siding. Due to these drawbacks, particularly the VOCs and brittleness, latex is generally considered the best home exterior paint option for most modern applications.

Factors to Consider When Choosing the Best Home Exterior Paint

Beyond the type of paint, several other factors should influence your decision-making process. Tailoring your choice to your specific circumstances is key to finding the actual best paint for your house.

Climate and Weather Conditions

Your local climate plays a huge role.

Hot, Sunny Climates: Prioritize paints with excellent UV resistance and color retention to prevent fading and chalking. Flexibility is still important as materials expand and contract with heat.
Rainy, Humid Climates: Mildew and mold resistance are paramount. Look for paints specifically formulated with fungicides. Water resistance is also crucial to prevent moisture damage.
Cold Climates: Flexibility to withstand freeze-thaw cycles is essential to prevent cracking and peeling. The paint needs to perform well at lower temperatures during application (check the can’s temperature range).
Coastal Areas: Salt spray and high humidity require paints with excellent resistance to corrosion, fading, and mildew.

Choosing a paint designed for your specific climate zone significantly increases its lifespan and performance. This is a major step towards finding the best home exterior paint for your geographical location.

The Surface You’re Painting

The material of your home’s exterior also dictates paint choice.

Wood Siding and Trim: Requires a paint with good adhesion and flexibility to move with the wood. Latex is usually preferred. Proper priming is critical, especially on bare wood.
Fiber Cement Siding: Excellent surface for paint. Usually requires a high-quality acrylic latex that bonds well. Check the siding manufacturer’s recommendations.
Vinyl Siding: Typically shouldn’t be painted darker than its original color (can cause warping due to heat absorption). Use a paint specifically designed for vinyl siding, which contains special pigments and is flexible.
Stucco and Masonry (Brick, Concrete): Requires a breathable paint that can handle the alkalinity of the surface. 100% acrylic latex paint is usually recommended, sometimes a specialized elastomeric paint for stucco prone to cracking. Alkali-resistant primer is often needed.
Metal (Gutters, Railings): Oil-based or specialized direct-to-metal (DTM) acrylic latex paints are often used. Rust-inhibitive primers are essential for ferrous metals.

Matching the paint type and primer to the surface material ensures proper adhesion and durability. This is a non-negotiable step in securing the best home exterior paint performance.

VOC Levels and Environmental Impact

Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) are chemicals released into the air by many paints, especially traditional oil-based types. They can contribute to air pollution and indoor air quality issues. Low-VOC or Zero-VOC paints are increasingly popular.

Choosing paints with lower VOCs is better for the environment and the health of those applying the paint and living in the home. Many high-quality acrylic latex paints now offer low or zero VOC options without sacrificing performance, making them a strong contender for the title of best home exterior paint for the environmentally conscious.

Top Contenders for the Title of “Best Home Exterior Paint”

While the absolute best paint is subjective and depends on your specific needs, certain brands and product lines consistently receive high ratings from professionals and DIYers alike for their quality, durability, and performance. These are worth considering in your search.

Sherwin-Williams

Sherwin-Williams is a dominant player known for its extensive range and high-performance products.

Sherwin-Williams Duration: A popular choice offering excellent durability, mildew resistance, and advanced acrylic technology. It’s known for its thick, high-build film that can bridge small cracks. Often cited as a strong contender for overall best home exterior paint by professionals due to its reliability and longevity.
Sherwin-Williams Emerald: Considered their top-tier exterior paint. It boasts exceptional durability, fade resistance, self-priming capabilities over many surfaces, and advanced dirt and mildew resistance. It’s more expensive but offers premium features and performance.

Benjamin Moore

Benjamin Moore is another widely respected brand known for its quality ingredients, rich colors, and excellent performance.

Benjamin Moore Aura Exterior: Their flagship exterior paint. It provides unparalleled durability, fade resistance (using their proprietary Color Lock® technology), and mildew resistance. It offers excellent coverage and can often be applied in fewer coats. It’s a premium product with a premium price tag, often considered among the best home exterior paint options available for those prioritizing ultimate performance and color vibrancy.
Benjamin Moore Regal Select Exterior: A step down from Aura but still a high-quality acrylic latex. It offers excellent durability, hide, and mildew resistance. It’s a favorite balance of performance and value for many homeowners and painters.

Other Notable Brands and Product Lines

While SW and BM often top the lists, other brands offer excellent exterior paints that might be the best home exterior paint for your budget or specific needs.

Behr (Home Depot): Behr Marquee and Behr Premium Plus are popular DIY options known for good coverage and durability at a more accessible price point. Marquee guarantees one-coat coverage over similar colors.
Valspar (Lowe’s): Valspar Duramax and Valspar Signature are strong contenders, offering good durability and features like flexibility and mildew resistance. Duramax is known for its maximum flexibility and adhesion.
PPG Paints: Offers professional-grade options like PPG Porter Acri-Shield and PPG Manor Hall, known for their durability and coverage.

Researching product lines within these reputable brands and reading reviews specific to your climate and surface type is key.

Beyond the Can: Preparing and Applying Your Best Home Exterior Paint

Even the best home exterior paint will fail prematurely if applied over a poorly prepared surface. Preparation is arguably more important than the paint itself for a long-lasting finish.

Surface Preparation is Key

Cleaning: Thoroughly wash the exterior to remove all dirt, grime, mildew, and chalky residue. A power washer can speed this up but use caution not to damage the siding. Mildew can be treated with a bleach and water solution (or commercial cleaner). Rinse thoroughly.
Scraping and Sanding: Scrape away any loose, peeling, or blistering paint. Sand edges smooth to feather them into the intact paint. This creates a smooth, stable surface for the new paint to adhere to.
Repairs: Patch holes, fill cracks, replace damaged wood or siding. Ensure all surfaces are sound before painting.
Priming: Apply the appropriate primer. Bare wood, new siding, patched areas, or stained surfaces must be primed. Primer improves adhesion, blocks stains, and provides a uniform surface for the topcoat. Don’t skip this step!

Application Techniques and Tips

Check the Weather: Paint in dry, mild conditions. Avoid painting in direct hot sun, strong wind, or when rain is expected. The temperature range specified on the paint can is crucial.
Use Quality Tools: Good brushes, rollers, or sprayers make a significant difference in application quality and ease.
Apply Two Coats: While some premium paints promise one-coat coverage (often over similar colors), two coats provide better durability, protection, and color depth. The second coat ensures complete coverage and builds a thicker, more protective film.
Work Methodically: Paint from top to bottom. Follow the grain on wood. Maintain a wet edge to avoid lap marks.

Proper preparation and application maximize the performance and lifespan of even the best home exterior paint.

Cost vs. Value: Is the Most Expensive Always the Best Home Exterior Paint?

Higher quality exterior paints undeniably cost more per gallon upfront. Premium paints from brands like Sherwin-Williams (Emerald, Duration) or Benjamin Moore (Aura, Regal Select) can be significantly more expensive than budget options.

However, consider the value over time. Premium paints typically last much longer – 10, 15, or even 20 years or more with good preparation. Cheaper paints might only last 5-7 years before fading or peeling. While a gallon of high-quality paint might cost twice as much as a budget option, it could last three times as long or more. This means the cost per year of protection and beauty is often significantly lower with a premium product.

Additionally, premium paints often offer better coverage, meaning you might need fewer gallons, and they often apply more smoothly, saving labor time. So, while the initial cost is higher, the best home exterior paint in terms of quality often represents a better long-term value.

Conclusion

Choosing the best home exterior paint for your project involves considering durability, color retention, resistance to environmental factors, the type of paint, the surface being painted, and your local climate. While specific products from reputable brands like Sherwin-Williams and Benjamin Moore often top the lists for performance, the ultimate “best” paint is the one that perfectly matches the unique needs of your home and your budget.

Investing in a high-quality exterior paint, coupled with thorough preparation and proper application, is one of the most effective ways to protect your home, boost its curb appeal, and ensure it looks beautiful for years to come. Don’t just pick a color; choose a product that offers the resilience and protection your home deserves.