Outdoor Painting

Your home’s exterior is the first thing people see. Not only do you want it to look appealing to guests and neighbours, but you also want to keep up its curb appeal in case you want to sell the house one day. If your home’s exterior is looking dull and old, it might be time to repaint it- and this includes the fence, wood trim and any other exterior surfaces that looks worn down. But with so many colour choices available, it can often be overwhelming trying to choose the best outdoor paint for your home or business. Here are some tips on selecting the best outdoor paint for your home depending on the surface:

Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) Content

Paints generally contain Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs). These are compounds that easily become vaporized. Generally they are created by burning fuels such as gasoline, wood, coal, or natural gas. However they are also present in some consumer products like paint. There are many other common sources of VOCs. As these compounds are harmful, especially to children and the elderly or those with conditions such as asthma, it is recommended that you look for paints with low VOC content.

Bare Wood Painting

To know if you’ll need primer before painting wood, choose the colour and brand first. Read the label and go with the primer they recommend. Some paints are better when they are used primer of the same brand. A primer will fill in the pores in the wood and help form a good adhesion base for topcoats. Primers are also lightly pigmented to help the topcoat color of your choice cover much better.

 

Fence Painting

The best paint for fences, arbors or gazebos is semi-transparent oil stain. Since these surfaces are fully exposed to the weather, it’s important to go with something that will withstand the elements. Film-forming finishes like solid stains and paint will last longer, but will inevitably peel and need to be renewed more often.

 

Smooth Siding Painting

If you’re looking to paint smooth siding (cement board or wood), you’ll want to get 100% acrylic latex flat paint. It will better resist the corrosive effects of sunlight much more than otjher oil-based options. Always look for a brand that says 100% acrylic latex to distinguish it from other acrylic options, which won’t perform as well. This kind of paint will also feature a non-reflective finish, so the surface will be matte rather than shiny.

 

Smooth Trim Painting

The best paint for smooth trim (wood, composite, or other manufactured type) is 100% acrylic latex (not flat, however), in either semigloss or gloss. Since painting trim requires a lot of work, you’ll want to go with a premium paint that provides long-lasting protection. These tend to be more durable that flat latex since they have a higher resin content. We advise avoiding oil-based trim paints because even though they brush out smoother, they’ll actually fade within a few years, meaning all your hard work will have to be redone sooner than later.

 

Floors and Stair Treads Paint

If you’re going to paint your porch’s floors or stair treads, using a stain is best suited for a deck. Floor paint needs to be suited to sustain a lot of use, as people walking on it often wears down the paint and will more quickly cause it to fade.

 

If you require exterior painting in Calgary or surrounding areas trust the professional painting contractors at Hotshot Construction. We can provide proper knowledge and information on which paint is best suited for which surfaces, while outlining an appropriate budget and project scope.