PHILADELPHIA--(BUSINESS WIRE)--There are so many exterior paints and coatings available today that choosing the right product can be confusing. But, according to the Paint Quality Institute, this is one decision you really don’t need to fret over. “By using a top quality 100% acrylic latex paint, you’ll enjoy a variety of performance benefits, whether your home exterior is made of wood, aluminum siding, vinyl siding, or masonry,” says Debbie Zimmer, spokesperson for the Institute. Wood When applied to a properly prepared wood exterior, top quality 100% acrylic latex paint can protect and beautify a home for up to 10 years or more, says Zimmer, far longer than ordinary paint. That makes it a great long-term investment. One reason for its durability is the excellent adhesion of 100% acrylic latex paint. By getting a better “grip” on wood -- especially if it is primed beforehand – the paint resists peeling and flaking. And since acrylic is also very elastic, the paint can stretch or shrink with the wood without suffering damage. Top quality paints also contain beneficial ingredients that ward off troublesome problems on wood. An example is mildewcide, which helps prevent mildew growth. Aluminum Siding While aluminum siding is very durable, the factory-applied color eventually tends to chalk and fade. According to Zimmer, applying a coat of top quality 100% acrylic paint can not only restore the appearance of the panels, but also provide superior resistance to the UV rays that cause chalking and fading. Special additives in top quality paint offer another advantage when painting aluminum siding: They help the paint go on thick and uniform, with good “leveling”. That’s a technical way of saying that the paint will tend to duplicate the original appearance of the aluminum siding, be it smooth or textured. Vinyl Siding Although manufacturers often describe vinyl siding as “maintenance free,” the surface can eventually become marred, discolored or chalky. Even if it doesn’t, there may simply be a desire to change its color. In either case, there are two very important reasons to use top quality 100% acrylic latex paint on vinyl siding: the paint’s excellent adhesion and its superior flexibility. “Because vinyl siding has such a slick surface, you must use a paint with good adhesion to be sure it grabs onto the siding,” says Zimmer. “You also need a paint that is flexible enough to ‘move’ with the panels when temperature changes cause them to expand and contract. Top quality paint satisfies both criteria.” Some top quality 100% acrylic latex paints are even made with reflective pigments that protect vinyl siding from the sun’s UV rays, which forestalls fading. And, as with aluminum siding, the good leveling quality of top quality paint will mimic the smooth or textured profile of the vinyl panels. Masonry If you want the best performance on stucco, concrete or any other masonry surface, there are a host of reasons to use top quality 100% acrylic latex paint. According to Zimmer, these paints offer excellent chalk resistance, which helps prevent the color from fading, even where UV rays are strongest. “By contrast, a lesser paint can quickly fade under these conditions,” she says. Top quality 100% acrylic latex paints also have superior alkali resistance. Fresh masonry, in particular, is often so alkaline that it can “burn” some paints, changing the color and even deteriorating the paint film. By using a quality acrylic sealer and applying a top quality 100% acrylic latex paint, you can avoid these problems. On aged masonry, top quality 100% acrylic latex paints offer still another advantage: resistance to efflorescence, a white, crusty powder that can ruin the appearance of any paint job. So, whatever type of exterior you have on your home, don’t sweat your paint selection. By choosing 100% acrylic latex paint, you’ll get some great benefits that will protect your home and keep it looking freshly-painted for years to come.
