Repainting the exterior of your home is one of the best ways to secure and possibly increase its resale value. It also helps protect your home from moisture damage, mold and mildew.
Paints for exterior use are specially formulated to resist moisture, huge temperature changes, chipping and peeling. They have softer resins to prevent smearing and scuffing.
Oil-Based Paint
When it comes topeinture exterieure balma, you will likely want something that can withstand the harsh elements. This means it must be able to stand up to winter cold and summer heat as well as rain showers, thunderstorms and basic washings. This is why the resins used to bind these paints must be soft enough to fight fading and mildew. Oil-based paints can also be textured or grained, allowing you to achieve a unique aesthetic with the paint itself.
Some downsides to using oil-based paints include the high levels of VOCs (Volatile Organic Compound) they emit into the air. This means you will need to use a mask and work in a well-ventilated area when applying them. Additionally, they take a bit longer to dry compared to latex and require mineral spirits, turpentine or paint thinner for clean-up. Also, white oil-based paint tends to yellow over time and is not as resistant to moisture. However, these disadvantages can be offset by the durability and longevity that some of these paints provide.
Alkyd Paint
Alkyd paints contain a resin binder that makes them durable and resistant to wear-and-tear. This feature makes them a popular choice for high-traffic areas of your home, such as hallways and playrooms. They’re also moisture resistant and resist fading, keeping their sheen and vibrant color for a long time.
However, their volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are harmful for the environment and can cause breathing disorders and nausea if inhaled. In addition, they require solvents for thinning and clean-up, which are flammable and toxic to use.
Fortunately, many manufacturers are now offering water-based alkyd paints. These are less harmful for the environment and people, but they don’t have the durability of traditional alkyd paints. Sherwin-Williams Advance and Sherwin-Williams ProClassic are great examples of new water-based alkyd paints that have all the application, sheen, and nonyellowing properties of traditional oil-based paints while meeting environmental regulations. They’re also easy to apply and dry quickly.
Acrylic Latex Paint
Acrylic latex paint is a type of water-based exterior paint. It is resistant to fading and peeling and can be used on walls in any climate. However, if you live in a cold region where temperatures can drop significantly, it may be a good idea to consider using specialized exterior paints that are designed for those conditions.
Unlike oil-based paints, which contain a solvent that evaporates during the drying process, water-based acrylic latex contains no chemical solvents. This makes them safer to work with and allows you to easily clean up your brushes and surfaces with soap and water.
The acrylic resin in these paints provides them with superior durability and weather resistance qualities. The pliable nature of acrylic paints means that they can expand and contract with temperature fluctuations, making them less prone to cracking and peeling than other types of paint. Acrylics also resist the sun’s UV rays better than latex, meaning that they hold their color much longer than other paints.
Epoxy Paint
Epoxy is an excellent choice for concrete surfaces, both indoors and outdoors. It’s resistant to chemicals, impact damage, chipping and abrasions. It also resists moisture and dust, which makes it ideal for floors in homes, garages, or workrooms.
Epoxy paint has acrylic in the formula, which allows for custom coloring and dries just like standard latex paint. However, epoxy is a two-part material and requires professional help to apply. It has a polyamine hardener and epoxy resin that must be mixed together before application.
Conclusion
A lot of big box stores sell kits for homeowners to DIY their own epoxy floor. These products aren’t as durable as professionally applied epoxy coatings and can have a pot life of only 30 minutes, which means you’ll need to use it within that window or risk bubbling and debris sticking to the still-dry coating. It also takes days to dry, which can be detrimental for businesses that rely on in-person client visits.