BEST PRACTICES FOR CHOOSING THE RIGHT EXTERIOR PAINT PRODUCT
BY NICK FORTUNA
When it comes to enhancing a property’s curb appeal, few things are as effective as a fresh coat of exterior paint, but for building owners and managers, selecting the right color is only part of the equation.
Along with appearance, durability should be top of mind when choosing an exterior paint product, according to Anthony J. Miller, marketing manager for commercial spaces at Pittsburgh-based PPG. A building’s façade faces a variety of harsh weather conditions depending on the region, including wind, rain, hail, snow and ultraviolet light from intense sun exposure, he explained.
Exterior paint products that haven’t been specially formulated and tested to withstand those conditions are likely to fade and degrade over time, Miller said. A paint job that is fading, cracking or peeling can signal to visitors that a building has been poorly maintained, creating a bad first impression. Conversely, exterior paint that’s built to last can make a building a more attractive place to live, work, shop and congregate.
“Once the paint is on the building, there’s not a whole lot you can do to make it last longer, so you’re better off choosing a premium product upfront that will hold up to the elements,” Miller said. “You get what you pay for when it comes to exterior paint.”
Building owners and managers should ask a sales professional for help in selecting the right color scheme, including trims and accents, Miller said. For instance, PPG has a team of market researchers tasked with staying on top of the latest color trends and forecasts.
For 2022, PPG has named “olive sprig” as its color of the year, describing it as a “mid-tone, neutral, lush green with an organic green undertone.” Olive sprig works indoors and outdoors and is a “relaxed but enticing green that emulates the feeling of soothing aloe vera or a fragrant plant,” according to the company.
Broadly speaking, Miller said color trends for building exteriors haven’t changed much in recent years. Multifamily residential and office buildings tend to feature relaxed, neutral colors such as earth tones, while retail buildings usually reflect brands’ individual color schemes, he said. Bold color choices often come from independent retailers seeking to draw attention to their businesses, he added.
Depending on weather conditions, a building’s exterior may need to be repainted every five to eight years, although premium products offer an extended service life, Miller said. He recommended that building owners and managers select a 100% acrylic latex paint, which goes on thick and forms a barrier against the elements.
“In the South, there’s obviously a lot more sun exposure and heat on buildings, so we tend to repaint in the South a bit more often than in the North,” Miller said. “Sun exposure can really affect how long paint lasts, so if your product is susceptible to fading, the color certainly will look quite a bit different a year or two after the building has been painted.
“The South also typically has a little bit brighter color palette, so there’s more of a need for a refresh than in the North, where the color palette isn’t as bright.”
A building’s façade typically requires two coats of paint or more, depending on the product’s quality, but some products on the market are rated as one-coat-hide capable, meaning a second coat may not be necessary.
A premium exterior paint product should “knit together” well to form a thick, cohesive film, which provides durability and is difficult for dirt to adhere to. Paint products formulated to resist dirt, moisture, mold, mildew and tannins will maintain their bright appearance much longer than cheaper alternatives, Miller said.
“There are exterior paints that go beyond just holding up to wind, rain and sunlight and do a really good job of resisting dirt,” Miller said. “They keep your exterior looking cleaner and brighter, like it has a fresh coat of paint even years after the building was painted.”