Want answers to your most pressing painting problems? PPC’s Ask Your ProPartner™ columnist Dennis Fiorilli is here to help. This time: exterior painting FAQs.

I would really like to take my exterior paint work to the next level this year. What advice do you have?

Exterior painting can be a time-consuming task, and typically requires constant maintenance against outdoor elements. Using good quality products will help you do better work and be more productive.

Higher quality exterior paint is specifically formulated to provide color and gloss retention, mildew resistance and the flexibility to withstand expansion and contraction due to weather. The
type of paint you’ll use depends on the kind of surface to be painted and the type of finish you want. Your choice will also depend on the project budget and environmental conditions.

I have a customer who wants the highest quality exterior paint for their home. “Only the best!” they say. What do you recommend in those cases?

Emerald® Exterior Acrylic Latex offers best-in-class overall performance in exterior paints. Its exclusive cross-linking 100 percent acrylic technology provides exceptional durability and hide, and offers extreme resistance to blistering, peeling, chalking, and dirt pickup.

Its self-priming application properties help save time during the painting process and its UV and weather-resistant qualities are designed to reduce common exterior coating issues, such as blistering and peeling.

A recent addition to the line is Emerald Rain Refresh™ Exterior Acrylic Latex with Self-Cleaning Technology™.

Self-cleaning? How does that work?

Emerald Rain Refresh is formulated to be self-cleaning by shedding dirt upon contact with rain or water. That means it easily washes away dirt to make upkeep easier and achieve a cleaner look to increase the curb appeal of your customer’s home.

It’s a perfect way to offer your customers a simple and convenient solution to maintain clean exteriors for a freshly painted look all year long.

Do you have any other exterior coatings with this Self-Cleaning Technology?

Yes, we do. In 2023 we introduced WoodScapes® Rain Refresh™ Solid Color Stain. Along with enabling dirt and debris to wash away from the coated surface upon contact with rain or a water source, the self-cleaning formula blocks tannin bleed and offers excellent adhesion, all while keeping wood surfaces cleaner.

Bottom line: Using WoodScapes Rain Refresh with Self-Cleaning Technology can really distinguish you from your competition by giving homeowners a finish that looks new longer with less maintenance.

For concrete and masonry, try Loxon® Self-Cleaning Acrylic Coating, which brings a dirt-shedding formula to this highly durable, weather- and UV-resistant coating.

Scheduling around the weather is another big challenge for me on my exterior paint jobs.

For sure, Mother Nature can really wreak havoc on exterior paint jobs, causing weather delays and limiting the painting season when temperatures are too extreme for standard exterior coatings.

With this in mind, we have developed a product called Latitude® Exterior Acrylic Latex. This innovative paint is formulated with ClimateFlex Technology™ to develop early moisture resistance in as little as 30 minutes so you can paint with confidence even when rain or heavy dew is forecast. It applies smoothly even when air, surface and material temperatures are as low as 35°F or as high as 120°F.

Latitude has outstanding hide, coverage and block resistance. In addition, it contains agents that inhibit the growth of mildew on the surface of the paint film so you can paint with confidence despite the forecast.

What about decks?

Whether your customer has a new deck or an old one that needs refreshing, the SuperDeck® Deck Finishing System features premium products perfect for every stage of the job. Here are two topcoat stains that will help you take your work to the next level:

• SuperDeck Waterborne Solid Stain: Offers long-lasting protection against weathering, chipping, or cracking with easy application, quick drying time and easy cleanup. Mildew resistant and tolerant of damp surfaces, so you can get most jobs done in one day. Plus, it’s tintable to a variety of attractive shades to coordinate beautifully with virtually any exterior color palette.
• SuperDeck Waterborne Semi-Transparent Stain: Penetrates deeply, giving properly prepared decks excellent protection from sun and premature weathering. This technologically advanced formula weathers similarly to an oil-based stain. It wears away gradually rather than peeling and blistering at the end of its lifecycle. It can be applied on damp wood, so most jobs can be finished in a single day. And it is mildew resistant.

Dennis Fiorilli is Director of Product Excellence at Sherwin-Williams and PPC’s Ask Your ProPartner™ columnist. This article was originally published in the Spring 2024 issue of PPC magazine. ©2024 Fusable. For more answers to pro questions, visit the PPC magazine archive.