Best tips to choosing perfect outdoor paint

At its core, a home is shelter. It keeps us dry during a storm, warm when it’s cold, and shaded from the sun. Its outdoor areas, on the other hand, often show just what it means to be protected from the elements. Siding that’s pelted by rain or snow can dull over time, just as decks and patios can warp and splinter. Furniture and planters follow suit, and soon a backyard can be the most forgotten space of a home.
Now that the hot days of summer have given way to sweater weather, it’s the ideal time to give your exterior some TLC. And since most of these weather-worn issues can be solved with a fresh coat of paint, it’s important to pick the right one.

“Exterior paints are formulated to handle outside weather, mildew, chipping, and fading,” says Julia Buerger, merchant of spray paint, exterior paint, and primers for The Home Depot. “Exterior latex-based paints will also give consumers the longest durability, as they’re formulated to expand in warm weather and contract in cool weather, preventing cracking or peeling.”

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From prepping surfaces in advance to painting everything from a deck to planters, follow these lessons to ensure your home is protected.

How to Prep and Maintain Outdoor Surfaces

As with any paint project, Buerger says that it’s important to prepare all surfaces ahead of applying a brush stroke. Not only will this allow the paint to adhere more easily to the item—whether it’s the wood surface of a deck or the curves of metal furniture—but it will make the coat last longer. Follow her three tips to get started, and one tip for maintaining the job once it’s finished:

Work in the right climate. “In temperatures colder than 50 degrees, the paint will take longer to dry,” she notes. “In warm temperatures, the paint may dry too fast, causing lap marks. Wind, rain, and humidity can also affect the drying time and final appearance.”

Get the surface ready. “Make sure to prepare the surface before painting by cleaning, sanding, and priming the materials as needed,” Buerger says.

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Don’t forget about primer. “Apply a coat of primer before painting,” she says. “This is the base coat for paint, and it smooths out the surface and helps with paint adhesion.”

Get in a cleaning routine. “To keep the paint job looking fresh, hose off dirt, leaves, and rainwater that accumulates over time,” she adds. “It’s also helpful to pressure wash the home’s exterior about once every five years to keep mildew at bay.”

How to Choose the Right Outdoor Paint for Your Project
Painting a deck or patio: If you’re looking to refresh a wood deck or patio with a coat of paint, Buerger recommends using a 100 percent acrylic latex paint for the best weather-resistant coverage and protection from foot traffic. “This type of paint typically contains a higher resin content, which is the chemical compound that supports adhesion to the painted surface,” she says.

Painting a front door: Since this is a surface that will get daily use, Buerger advises using a paint that has a high-gloss finish. “It can withstand nicks, add shine, and highlight architectural details,” she notes.

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Painting a pool: Did your pool see a lot of splashes this summer? The right paint to repair a typical concrete pool is “a polymerized cement-based product,” Buerger notes, because it can handle the seasons in between next summer’s splashes. “You’ll also want to make sure to use paints that provide stain and abrasion resistance,” she adds.


Painting outdoor furniture: This solution is slightly more complicated, because the right type of paint depends on the furniture material. “If the furniture is metal, then an oil-based exterior paint will be most effective in preventing rust,” she says. “For wooden and wicker furniture, a latex-based exterior spray paint will give you smooth and even paint coverage.”

Painting planters: Completing this project, Buerger says, depends on the type of look you have in mind. “If you’re wanting a more detailed design, then you’ll want to use an exterior acrylic latex paint and a brush,” she says. “For full-coverage of one paint color, an exterior acrylic latex spray paint is a good, quick option.”

If you’re spending time at home improvement stores looking at tiles, then you’ve likely noticed a grout color sheet in the vicinity, too. Those sheets are usually free, and they’re worth bringing home with your tile samples.

“The sheets show a true-to-life printed block of color for each grout color option provided by the manufacturer,” she says. “Whatever you do, though, don't pick your grout color there in the store aisle. Take the color sheet home and look at the grout color options in your specific room, so you can choose based on the lighting. Have your tiles handy to lay down next to the grout line printout for a fairly accurate representation of the finished product.”

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Grout color can be used as a way to contrast minimalism or accentuate maximalism. Depending on your personal tastes, it’s possible to go as unique or as traditional as you please. For a compromise between extremes, Waller recommends this trick: “Go a shade or two lighter or darker when choosing a grout color for your tile,” she says. And when you nail down a color, pay attention to the size of your grout. It will determine how your choice is received.

 “If you're worried that your color might be a little over the top, just make the grout line a little slimmer, so that it tones down the statement,” Waller explains. “In other words, use 1/16-inch spacers when tiling instead of 1/8-inch—that way your grout line will be thinner in the finished space. The grout will still be visible, but just a little more refined.”