We’re getting ready to paint the exterior of our house. It’s wood siding and stucco on the south side, and has been subject to fading and peeling. It’s now a sort of medium gray/brown/green, and we’d like to do it in a similar color (?) The porch and walk are brich.Any suggestions for a good paint? Or color suggestions?It’s a 1966 “Ranch” style tract house, in northern CA.
El
Replies
Only exterior paints good painting contractors in my area (outside boston) use are ben moore or california paints. California is the most popular exterior around here and it is also a local company. I think their new paint has tested to be the best on the market right now, ben moore was number two. Check out their website and talk to customer service for what would be best for covering your existing paint and the stucco. They would be the best source since they know the technical qualities of their paints.
Also, definitely go to a good local paint supply store, do not use the behr, etc from home depot and the big box stores. The paints they sell are less expensive for a reason, they stink. For a color idea, no one can know your tastes. I would suggest looking at houses when your driving around and seeing what colors look like on an entire house. Any color can be mixed for a few dollars more than the stock colors. Again the paint store will do a good job at mixing where HD, etc you are rolling the dice. The two best local paint stores I use both will help you choose a color, you could bring them a picture of your house and they will be able to offer a lot of suggests. They have been in the business for a long time, use their experience. That is worth the extra $$, the experience, quality and better paint.
Edited 4/16/2005 9:31 pm ET by DDay
Since you haven't been overwhelmed with responses here, you could post at "Breaktime", but the question has been asked a lot. Lots of Breaktimers seem to like Sherwin Williams as well as Benjamin Moore. You might try searching the archives--at the search prompt type "exterior paint" or the like and it will probably list a ton of threads.
As important or more important than the paint is the prep. Scrape of all loose paint, prime with a really good primer (priming as soon as you can after removing loose paint--the longer you wait, the more paint peels), and paint. Dark colors in hot sun may be a problem.
Edited 4/17/2005 9:43 am ET by Danno
Thank you!
For exterior paint, nothing lasts longer than 100% acrylic paint. Latex, latex-acrylic blends, and alkyd (oil) based paints all have a shorter life than acrylics.
Consumer Reports regualarly tests paints. Nearly any library will have back issues.
Thank you!
Sherwin-Williams Duration, twice as thick as regular paint and self primming.