This guide to today’s top exterior coatings is part of our [INSERT LINK]Exterior Excellence special report in the Spring 2025 issue of PPC/Pintor Pro magazine.

Depending on your specific project needs and budget, you’ll get professional results with these coatings.

Emerald^® Exterior Acrylic Latex

Delivers best-in-class overall performance in exterior paints. Emerald Exterior’s exclusive cross-linking 100 percent acrylic technology provides exceptional durability and hide, and offers extreme resistance to blistering, peeling, chalking, and dirt pickup. Available in flat, satin and gloss, this premium paint and primer allows you to achieve stunning exterior results that stand the test of time in fewer coats.

Emerald^® Rain Refresh™ Exterior Acrylic Latex

The latest addition to the line, Emerald Rain Refresh with Self-Cleaning Technology™ is an ultra-durable coating 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.

Duration^® Exterior Acrylic Latex

Formulated with PermaLast^® technology, Duration Exterior Acrylic Latex provides more durability and a thicker coat than ordinary latex paint. It provides excellent hide and protection from cracking, peeling and blistering. Available in flat, satin and gloss, it’s perfect for most applications including trim and accent features.

SuperPaint^® Exterior Acrylic Latex

Formulated with Advanced Resin Technology for outstanding adhesion, hide and color retention, SuperPaint Exterior Acrylic Latex withstands the elements and resists frost, peeling, blistering, fading and cracking, with low temperature application down to 35° F. Available in flat, low-lustre, satin, gloss and a high-gloss sheen ideal for reducing sticking on doors, windows and trim.

Latitude™ Exterior Acrylic

Latitude Exterior Acrylic with ClimateFlex Technology™ develops 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 (1.67°C) or as high as 120°F (49°C) to help keep projects on schedule.

Specialty coatings

When conditions require a solution beyond standard architectural paints, you can count on Pro Industrial™ high-performance coatings for excellent results. Here are three to consider for exterior projects:

• Acrolon™ 100 Waterbased Urethane is an advanced high gloss, abrasion-resistant 2K urethane with excellent weathering properties. Recommended for warehouses, manufacturing plants and other commercial facilities, Acrolon 100 works hard wherever durability is critical. With fewer than 100 g/L VOCs, it meets the most stringent VOC regulations.
• DTM Acrylic Coating is designed to withstand the harsh conditions of busy commercial and institutional environments. The fast-drying formula lets facilities return to service sooner than conventional acrylics, and no priming is needed on properly-prepared metal substrates. It meets the most stringent VOC regulations and offers excellent corrosion and flash rust resistance, weathering properties, and moisture and corrosion resistance.
• Pre-Catalyzed Waterbased Urethane Gloss provides toughness, flexibility, abrasion resistance, and excellent UV resistance. Designed for both interior and exterior applications, it offers single-component convenience with performance comparable to a two-part water-based urethane. It has less than 100 g/L VOCs.

Wood finishes: SuperDeck^®

Whether you’re staining a new deck or updating an existing one, the SuperDeck Exterior Wood Care System features premium products perfect for every stage of the job. It’s a complete deck care system including several topcoat options along with a deck wash, stain and sealer remover, and the SuperDeck Revive® Deck and Siding Brightener that will help you restore the natural beauty and color of the wood.

New for 2025 are a number of enhancements for the popular SuperDeck Waterborne Solid Color Wood Stain. These include:

• Improved application experience with soap and water cleanup
• Better durability and scuff resistance
• Increased dirt pick-up resistance on the surface of the wood
• Improved mold and mildew resistance
• Highlights the texture of wood with complete color in a low lustre finish

This waterborne solid color wood stain provides maximum weather protection and beautifies with full-coverage color. Solid color resists fading while preventing UV and water damage to exterior wood surfaces. Visit your Sherwin-Williams store for expert guidance on which SuperDeck coatings and cleaning solutions are right for your next deck project.

Wood finishes: WoodScapes^®

WoodScapes Exterior Stains are the ideal choice for pros who want to give their customers’ properties a rich, beautiful appearance that stands the test of time.

The thick formula of WoodScapes Solid Color and Semi-Transparent stains helps you attain a uniform finish with great coverage. These self-priming stains penetrate deeply for exceptional protection and resistance to peeling, and can be applied in temperatures as low as 35° F (1.67° C).

WoodScapes Rain Refresh™ is the latest innovation in the WoodScapes collection and offers yet another excellent exterior wood finishing option. It’s formulated with Self- Cleaning Technology™, so dirt and debris wash away from the coated surface upon contact with rain or a water source.

Designed for easy application, this WoodScapes stain has great adhesion and resistance to peeling. The outstanding hide, coverage and block resistance make it easy for you to achieve a nearly flawless finish. That means better coverage in fewer coats to get you onto your next project more quickly.

Like all WoodScapes products, this mildew resistant stain acts as a preventative measure against mold and blocks tannin bleed to keep your surfaces fresh and clean. Your customers benefit from a more consistent finish over time, while you can worry less when painting.

Concrete coatings: Loxon^®

In some cases, high-quality architectural paints may be a perfectly suitable solution for substrates like stucco, tilt-up, concrete block, cement siding and other types of masonry.

But protection issues like corrosion, alkalinity and moisture protection/ infiltration prevention mean these jobs often require a specialized coating. Two popular examples from the Loxon collection of high-performance products:

• Loxon Self-Cleaning Acrylic Coating: Engineered for above grade masonry surfaces that require a clean, attractive look, this advanced coating is formulated to be self-cleaning by shedding dirt upon rain or water contact, and it has excellent weathering protection including resistance to UV. Plus, there’s no need to prime first, as Loxon Self-Cleaning Acrylic can be applied directly to bare or previously coated concrete.
• Loxon XP® Waterproofing Masonry Coating: This direct-to-concrete and masonry high-build coating offers maximum performance in one less coat compared to conventional coatings, with no need for priming.

PRO TIP: Have questions about a specific job? Stop by your local Sherwin-Williams store for expert product and application advice.

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More in our Exterior Excellence special report

[LINK]How to calculate cost per year of service
Before you specify paint based on price, consider this: Lower- quality paints require more coats to cover and, because they aren’t as durable, need maintenance much sooner. This is especially true with exterior coatings.
[LINK]The right ingredients, applicators and finish
In this part of the story, we take a look at the basics: the ingredients that make up paint and the importance of picking the right sheens and the right applicator.

This article was originally published in the Spring 2025 issue of PPC/Pintor Pro magazine. Oregon lighthouse painter photo by Bill Laste. Other photos courtesy Sherwin-Williams. ©2025 Fusable.