Exterior Paint Types

There are several types of paint and paint categories for painting the exterior of your home or office.

Ask your exterior painting contractor what they recommend for your particular painting project.

1) Water-based, Oil/Alkyd-based paint, exterior stains (semi-transparent, semi-solid or solid stains), elastomeric coatings

2) Paint finish: flat, low lustre, semi-gloss or high-gloss

Typically water-based paints are used for exterior painting. Water-based (acrylic paints) have much greater color fade resistance than oil-based coatings. They are also flexible and breathable and tend to last much longer.

Alkyd (synthetic oil) or oil-based (linseed oil) paints used to be used, but with the advance of acrylic paints and the environmental law changes, oil-based products are almost gone. People would use these (if available in their area) when they already have an oil-based coating and are repainting.

Solid stains are basically the same as paint - just thinner, but otherwise paint. The semi-transparent and semi-solid stains are used when you want to see the wood grain come through. These can only be used when you are going over bare wood.

Elastomerics are high-build paints used mainly on stucco or other masonry surfaces. They are really thick and fill the cracks and protect against wind-driven rain. Mostly used on commercial exteriors.