Brick is great, but let’s admit it – plain brick can be a little bit boring! No matter the kind of look you’re aiming for, changing the color of the exterior going to be your best bet if your goal is to achieve something special. So, from homes to high-rise office blocks – here’s everything you need to know about exterior paint.

What is exterior paint?

Apart from being there to color the outside of a building, exterior paints are specially developed outside paints that are formulated to protect a building’s shell. Top-quality paints will also sport dirt and stain resistance capabilities, plus they’ll also use acrylics to provide better adhesion and resistance to blistering, and elastomeric resins to reduce moisture penetration.

Best exterior paints

If you’ve got your heart set on using paint, here are a couple of tips for you: There are numerous different sheens available, which you’ll have to whittle down based on the type of surface you’re painting and the look you want to achieve. 

If you’re looking to soften the exterior, using matte outside paint is a great choice. Then, if you’re looking for a slight gloss (e.g., for your window frames or shutters) satins are perfect. Next, the durable finishes that gloss exterior paints offer are ideal or garage doors and other functional metals. Finally, if you’re looking for highly-decorative exterior paint, high gloss paints are the kind that can make a front door stand out.

Stain vs. paint? The reason you should use stain instead of outside paint.

While painting may sound like the obvious choice for your exterior, there are a few factors you have to consider. The problem with paint is that it takes a lot of maintenance to keep the outside of your building looking its best. Both outside paint and exterior paint need touching up every few years (which is how we came about coining the phrase “paintenance”). It’s a lot of work, which is why if you’re looking for a long-term solution, going for a stain rather than an exterior paint might be a better choice for your building.

How do stains work in relation to exterior paint?

Stains work in a similar way to paint when it comes to applying to the exterior of your building. The main difference is, however, that stains rely on the capillary effect that allows moisture to penetrate the surface of the building, and then escape as water vapor. This means that the stain, contrary to film-forming exterior paints becomes part of the architecture, reducing the risk of cracking and spalling.

If you’d like to know more about how our stains can provide a perfect solution to the exterior of your building, get in touch. We’ll be happy to talk you through.