What is the best exterior paint? The answer to the best exterior paint depends on the exterior surface that the paint is being painted on. Using the right exterior paint for the right exterior surface means you will have the best results.
Paint on the exterior is so much more than color; it becomes a protective bond that helps the property from the harsh elements it will have to face from each season. Your home’s exterior will face harsh UV rays, extreme weather, and crazy storms. When making the decision for the best exterior paint color, we factor in the following:
- Durability
- Low VOC’s
- Dry Time
- Lasting color
- Weather resistance
- Climate Suitability
- Surface Suitability
We happen to work with a lot of paint and have seen the end result of many of them. Our top pick for exterior best overall is Benjamin Moore Soft Gloss Finish. This paint is fantastic because it can be used on many outdoor surfaces, including wood, siding, brick, stucco, concrete, and metal. The best part: it’s available in so many colors, and by so many, we mean hundreds.
- Best Exterior Paint Overall: Benjamin Moore Ben Soft Gloss Finish
- Best Exterior Paint for Doors: Glidden Door and Trim Interior/Exterior Oil Paint
- Best Exterior Paint for Brick: Valspar Duramax Flat Masonry and Stucco Tintable Exterior Paint + Primer
- Best Exterior Paint for Stucco: Behr Premium Elastomeric Masonry, Stucco, and Brick Exterior Paint
- Best Exterior Paint for Siding: Sherwin-Williams Emerald Exterior Acrylic Latex Paint
- Best Exterior Paint for Trim: Behr Premium Semi-Gloss Enamel Interior/Exterior Cabinet, Door & Trim Paint
- Best Exterior Paint for Wood: Valspar Tintable Gloss Exterior Porch and Floor Paint
- Best Exterior Paint for Metal Doors: Rust-Oleum Door Paint
- Best Exterior Paint for Concrete: Zinsser WaterTite LX Low VOC Mold and Mildew-Proof Water Based Waterproofing Paint
Why did Benjamin Moore Ben Soft Gloss finish the best overall?
The great thing about this paint is its great coverage for various outdoor surfaces. It also has a mildew-resistant finish, which is necessary for protection in any weather conditions. When working outside, you also don’t have much time between coats, and this paint is great because it is ready in just two hours of application. Another bonus is that it can be installed even when temperatures are nearly freezing. It is also very easy to apply, making the strokes easy on the painting crew and leaving you with great coverage and lasting color.
What is the best exterior paint for Doors?
The best paint for doors is Glidden High Gloss door and trim paint. This paint has a very glossy sheen and also mildew resistant properties. This paint is a painter’s favorite because it is extremely easy to apply with its gel flow and drip technology. You will not see any brush marks when using these paints; you will only see premium gloss sheen. This paint is oil-based, which is great for the prevention of moisture and mildew.
Our favorite place to use this paint is on the front door of a home to give that great first impression. We recommend 2 paints always when using this product. One downside is that it comes in quart size, so you must ensure you buy enough paint.
Product Details:
- Base: Oil
- Sheen: Extra high gloss
- Coverage: Up to 75 square feet
- Dry Time: Six hours to touch
What is the best paint for Bricks?
The best paint for bricks is Valspar Duramax Elastomeric. Bricks can be a handful to paint for painters. With this paint, you do not need a primer to achieve a great look.
You will, however, need 2 coats of paint, and you will need to wait at least 4-5 hours in between each coat of paint. This paint is a fan favorite because it includes both the paint and the primer in one can make it easier to get the job done. This paint is a great choice for a damp climate thanks to its resistance to rain and wind.
Product Details:
- Base: Acrylic latex
- Sheen: Flat
- Coverage: Up to 130 square feet
- Dry Time: One to two hours (wait four hours before the second coat)
What is the best exterior paint for Stucco?
The best paint for Stucco is Behr Premium Elastomeric because this paint is designed to let go of the moisture that builds up, keeping the home dry. This paint is an excellent choice for masonry, brick, and stucco. The paint creates a strong, durable finish with elasticity for up to 100 mph winds meaning that the paint won’t crack when faced with harsh winter weather.
Just like other masonry paints, this paint is designed to release any moisture that builds up on the home’s exterior. The best thing is you can wash the walls with soap and water, making it easy to keep clean.
Product Details:
- Base: Acrylic latex
- Sheen: Low luster
- Coverage: 125 square feet
- Dry Time: Four hours
What is the best paint for Siding?
The best siding paint is Sherwin-Willaims Emerald Exterior Acrylic Latex paint. We love it so much because it has a primer mixed into the formula, and it comes in various colors ( 200 to be exact) and 3 different finishes; flat, satin, and gloss. It is probably the most expensive paint, so don’t be shocked if your painter quotes or if your bill at the store is much higher than the other market options for exterior paint. What we love about this paint is that after you apply it, it dries up to form a tough coat that can withstand and still provide great color without fading or peeling when dealing with harsh elements.
Product Details:
- Base: Acrylic latex
- Sheen: Flat, satin, and gloss
- Coverage: Not listed
- Dry Time: Four hours
What is the best exterior paint for Trim?
The best paint for trim is Behr Semi-Gloss Enamel Interior Exterior Cabinet, Door, and Trim. This paint is easily the best because it resists dirt and grime. No one likes to see dirty kitchen cabinets. The not-so-good part is that you will need to prime and sand it before you begin to paint and when you do paint, make sure it is two coats. This paint will need two hours to dry in between coats, sometimes even longer. You can use Behr Semi Goss indoors and outdoors, making it a great choice for trim, shutters, and windows.
Product Details:
- Base: Acrylic
- Sheen: Satin and semi-gloss
- Coverage: Up to 100 square feet
- Dry Time: Dry to touch in one hour; wait two hours for a second coat
What is the best paint for Wood?
The best paint for wood is the Valspar Tintable Gloss Exterior Porch, Floor, and Patio. We love this paint because of the way it enhances any wood that it is applied on. It also comes in a variety of colors. The formula of this Valspar paint is made from polyurethane-fortified enamel; it dries to have a glossy finish while still providing you with durability and strength for harsh weather. It also stands up well to scratches and other wear and tear, making it a great choice for traffic areas. When it’s time to clean, this paint makes it easy, as you will need soap and water.
Product Details:
- Base: Latex
- Sheen: High gloss
- Coverage: Up to 400 square feet
- Dry Time: 24 hours (for furniture)
What is the best exterior paint for Metal Doors?
The best paint for metal doors is Rust-Oleum Door paint. With this paint, all you need is one coat, and Voila, you have a new door. You have so many colors to choose from, which makes it easy to satisfy any home exterior. You will need to prime before installing this paint, though. When you paint with Rust-Oleum paint, you don’t just add color but also add layers of protection against rust. Bonus: No Chips are left behind; this paint leaves you with a chip-proof door.
Product Details:
- Base: Acrylic
- Sheen: Satin
- Coverage: Up to 105 square feet
- Dry Time: One to two hours to touch; four to six hours to handle; 24 hours to fully dry
What is the best paint for Concrete?
The best paint for concrete is Zinsser Watertite LX low VOC mold and mildew-proof Water Based Waterproofing paint. This paint gets the job done; whether it is your basement or garage floors or those exterior concrete surfaces, it creates a waterproof barrier by creating a watertight seal on both the outside and inside, making this paint score at the top of its category.
The Zinsser paint comes backed up with a 20-year waterproof warranty and a 10-year mold and mildew warranty. Clean up once again; with soap and water.
If there is one thing we love about today’s market painting, it is their easy maintenance with just soap and water.
Cheers to that! Now you know the best exterior paints for each particular exterior surface. See you on the next blog!
