Long-Lasting Exterior Paint Colors

Choosing the Longest-Lasting Exterior Paint Colors

Painting the exterior of your home is an investment, so you will want to make sure it will look good for many years to come. To get the science behind having the color last, I went to the experts in paint product development. Here is what they had to say about picking the perfect color for your home's exterior.

Color is an essential and powerful tool in creating exterior curb appeal. Color can enhance attractive features in a home or commercial building. However, beyond aesthetics, longevity is critical to consider when choosing exterior colors.

Even though paint technology has improved considerably, it is a fact that color strongly influences paint performance. The performance changes because different colors absorb and reflect ultraviolet (UV) light differently. Some colors absorb more, while others reflect more light. The more a color absorbs UV light, the more prone it is to fade.

Dark colors:

  • Pose more maintenance problems.
  • Absorb heat
  • Suffer more moisture problems than lighter shades.
  • They fade faster, making them more difficult to touch up

 The opposite is true for lighter colors, which last longer, absorb less heat, and fade less than dark colors.

Tips for Choosing Longest-Lasting Exterior Paint Colors

Here are other things to consider when choosing exterior paint colors that last longer:

Be aware of color limitations

Specific colors are problematic for exterior use. Always follow the manufacturer's guidelines on which paint colors they recommend or do not recommend for application to structures' exteriors. Some colors are alkali-sensitive and unsuitable for masonry and other highly alkaline surfaces. Most paint manufacturers have symbols, icons, or words printed on the color chips that provide this information.

Consider the exposure of the surface to be painted

A structure's environment and orientation to the sun significantly impact color retention. Southern exposure surfaces receive the most UV light, which can produce the most significant color loss problems. UV light affects Areas shaded or facing another direction but to a lesser degree.

Some colors tend to fade more quickly than others

Beiges, browns, tans, and other earth-tone colors are more stable on exterior exposure. The inorganic pigments used in these colors are less likely to break down than organic colors such as reds, blues, greens, and yellows. The breakdown is more significant in dry, hot climates, such as Arizona and Nevada, where the intense UV exposure exerts a heavy toll on exterior paint.

Always use high-quality paints for superior color retention

All else being equal, high-quality paints are outstanding for holding their color when exposed to the elements. High-quality paints exhibit better adhesion to the surface and are more resistant to chalking – a process that can rob an exterior paint of its color. Investing the time to select your property's paint quality and color carefully will pay off measurably.



Read Time: 2 min
author avatar
Kate Smith
Kate Smith is an optimistic, expressive, artist, designer, writer and color fanatic. With her warm and witty style, Kate teaches you to clearly see, understand and be inspired by color. Then she guides you step-by-step to develop your own unique color sense-ability and achieve results you never dreamed possible.
  • This article is extremely beneficial to our company. It’s important to note the considerations for longer lasting exterior paints.

  • Wendy says:

    What would you recommend for shutters to keep their color true?

  • Sharon says:

    Hi
    I live in HOT Southern California, where typically we have ONLY 1
    season, HOT!!
    I had originally wanted to paint my house beige after reading that light colors do not absorb the heat and take the sun well, But… My next-door neighbors’ house is beige, but their house is stucco, where mine is siding.
    Does it make a difference if 2 houses are the same color, or in the “same family of color” & they are neighbors?
    Although the trims will be different, their trim is dark brown & mine will be white. small & subtle, but the BIG parts will be the same~
    is that ok?? OR should I think about another color?
    Thanks for the advice in advance!~~~
    Sharon

    • Kate Smith says:

      Hi Sharon, It is okay to also have beige and there are so many beiges to choose from that your home does not need to be identical to your neighbors. Take a look at

      Benjamin Moore Stone Hearth, Pale Oak, Manchester Tan, or Shaker Beige
      Sherwin Williams Accessible Beige, Balanced Beige, Wool Skein, or Tony Taupe

      Find a beige that is right for your home first and then different from your neighbor’s home so your place stands out in a beautiful way. I hope that helps.

      • Linda A. Davis says:

        Twelve years ago, I painted my house Sherwin Williams “Poised Taupe,” which is next to “Tony Taupe” on the samples. “Poised Taupe” faded in the Florida sun to a lavender color! I have red shutters and white trim…it was vey nice new. Now I am looking for another color that won’t fade lavender. I thought about going more of a true brown or gray in the same deep tone as “Poised Taupe.” I went dark as the light taupe shows mildew. I wanted to keep the red shutters but can change them.

  • Paint should be decided properly. There can be so many issues with house painting especially when a person is dealing with long lasting paints. Thank you very much for providing this information here.

  • esme says:

    love this post

  • esme says:

    It is truly ideal to have decent durable outside home paints,Thanks for sharing

  • Sarah says:

    Check your spelling and grammar for God’s sake…. unreadable is unreliable.

    • Kate Smith says:

      I had my assistant look, and she said she found a couple of errors and updated the article to make the points clearer. Thanks for letting us know, Sarah.

    • Jennifer says:

      OMG, are you serious? Get over yourself. I started my career as a typographer/proofreader so am very critical of grammar, kerning, line space, whatever. This woman is offering advice and you’re nitpicking grammar? Give me a break!!! Yes, that’s 3 exclamation

  • Lucy Kalaj says:

    Which color do you think is in trend as of 2021?

  • It’s an amazing blog post that gives so many ideas and information about exterior paints. It is really ideal to have nice long-lasting exterior home paints. Thanks for sharing such an informative and detailed article.

  • One of the best articles I have read. Thanks

  • Alan says:

    Comex is now owned by Sherwin Williams. Take this pic to a SW and they can tell you the color.

    • Caroline E Anderson says:

      Hi Alan,
      Did you find out the name of the color of the home above?

  • Damion says:

    Is there anything you can do to make a darker color last longer? Is there such a thing as a clear coat for a house? Our house is aubergine and we love the color but it only seems to last about 5 years.

  • Kathleen says:

    Debbie, the trim is probably just white. I’m sure you could use an off-white or beige/gray color too and it would have the same look.

  • Kathleen says:

    I really like the color of the house too. What was the brand and name of the paint used?

  • debbie says:

    I really like the color of the house in this picture. Can you tell me the name of the color and trim?
    Thank you

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