Exteriors

Most homes have painted exteriors. Wood exteriors are sometimes stained. Stain will allow the natural look and grain of the wood to show through, whereas paint will cover it up. In either case, both paint and stain come in a wide variety of colors.

When making a drastic change of tone or color, your service professional may need to apply extra coats of paint to get an even color across the wall. You may need fewer coats of paint when applying paint that is similar in tone to the existing layer.

Exterior paint durability

Outdoor paint durability depends on the type of paint, the quality of paint and the weather conditions you live in.

Here are some averages:

• Latex paint: Five to seven years.
• Oil paint: Six to eight years depending on the sheen. Semi-glossy and glossy surfaces will last longer and are appropriate for trim and moldings. Oil-based paints are more durable than latex, but the clean-up is tougher.
• Stain: Semi-transparent will last three to four years. Solid oil stain will last five years.
• Dark colors: In general, any color which takes a larger percentage of pigment in relation to the binder that turns color to paint. Dark browns and greens or vivid reds fade faster than lighter colors due to sunlight. The fading is purely cosmetic and does not affect the durability.

-- Tips courtesy of HomeAdvisor.com