A fresh coat of paint can breathe new life into your home’s exterior and dramatically increase its curb appeal. While repainting a home can be quite an endeavor, it’s recommended that homeowners consider doing it every five to ten years.
When it’s time for exterior house painting, you’ll have plenty of choices to make. Color and finish are obvious ones, but the kind of paint you choose might be the most important one of all. You’ll have to decide between traditional acrylic paint and an elastomeric exterior coating.
Read on to learn the pros and cons of these two options.
Elastomeric Coating
Elastomeric coating is similar to traditional house paint but is around ten times thicker. It’s applied in liquid form and hardens into a flexible protective shell.
Pros
These kinds of coatings offer plenty of advantages. They’re one of the best exterior house paints.
Waterproof
Once they’re dried and bonded, elastomeric coatings form a waterproof seal. They’ll protect your home’s exterior from rain and other inclement weather.
Durable
These coatings do more than stand up to water. They prevent sun damage and resist cracking and blistering.
Due to their thickness, they have the longest exterior house paint life expectancy. They can last for a decade or more. This means you won’t have to worry about your home needing touch-up paintwork.
Versatile Application
Elastomeric coating is highly versatile and can be applied to a wide range of materials. It’s perfect for stucco and concrete but can also be used on siding and some wooden structures.
Fewer Coats Required
You’ll need fewer coats of elastomeric coating than traditional paint. Thanks to their density, they offer plenty of coverage with fewer applications. If a surface is primed and the coating is properly applied, one coat may be all you need.
Seals Cracks
These coatings can even mend hairline cracks in your home’s exterior. They’re highly flexible, so they’re able to spread over the crack and seal it with ease.
Cons
While elastomeric coatings are an excellent option, they have a few drawbacks. Consider these before settling on a paint type.
Much More Expensive
The main drawback of these kinds of coatings is their price. They’re around 50% more expensive than traditional acrylic house paint. This dramatically increases the price of your paint job, but the extra durability might be worth it.
Non-permeable
Being watertight is both a blessing and a curse. You’ll love this property when it’s shielding your siding from the pounding rain, but it also makes certain structures prone to rot and decay.
If there’s a weakness in the coating, water can make its way underneath your elastomeric paint job. Since it isn’t breathable, the water is trapped and can contribute to rotting. This is especially true if you use it on wood.
Lumps Can Form
If your coating isn’t applied correctly, lumps can form as it dries. Attempts to correct this can damage the coating and cause it to crack.
Difficult to Work With
Elastomeric coatings may look similar to other paints, but they’re much harder to apply. The product instructions are often unclear, they usually require a primer or a base-coat, and need to be back-rolled to ensure maximum coverage.
If you want an elastomeric coating, it’s imperative that you work with an experienced house painter like the technicians at Designs 4 You. Mistakes during the application process could ruin your work.
Acrylic Paint
Acrylic paint is one of the most common types of house paint. This kind of paint is made of acrylic resins, acrylic polymers, water, and pigment.
It’s been a paint of choice for homeowners and house painters for decades.
Pros
There are plenty of good reasons to trust an acrylic house paint. A painting professional may find it’s more suitable for your project than an elastomeric coating.
Breathable
Acrylic paint doesn’t create a watertight barrier after it dries. This makes it a great paint for wood, as it won’t contribute to rotting and mold.
Affordable
Acrylic paint is significantly less expensive than elastomeric coatings. Those looking for painting services on a budget will appreciate this.
Can Be Painted Over
You can apply any kind of paint over top of a layer of acrylic paint without much issue. You can even apply multiple coats of acrylic paint without affecting its permeability.
This is valuable knowledge in case you need another layer of touch-up paint in a few years.
Colorful Pigment
For those looking for a vibrant paint job, acrylic is an excellent choice. The pigment is bright and eye-catching.
Can Also Be Used Inside
Acrylic house paint isn’t just exterior paint. You can also use it inside your home. You may want to continue your color motif or save money on interior painting products.
Cons
Acrylic is another smart choice for exterior paint. Some jobs even require it. However, it’s not without its disadvantages. A painting pro at Designs 4 You will help you decide if it’s right for you.
Less Durable
These kinds of paints are less durable than elastomeric coatings. You may only get a few years out of acrylic before it needs another layer.
Won’t Seal Damage
An elastomeric coating’s sealing properties are unique, and acrylic just can’t match them. You’ll need to patch chips and cracks before painting over them with acrylic paint.
Multiple Coats Required
When it comes to painting homes, the rule of thumb is that at least two coats of exterior paint are required. While this may not be true for elastomeric coatings, it’s the case for acrylic paint.
Exterior House Painting From Designs 4 You
You want your home to look as beautiful as possible, and few projects can affect its appearance as dramatically as new paint.
You’ll have to weigh the pros and cons between elastomeric coatings and acrylic paints. They each offer some distinct advantages, but elastomeric coatings are longer-lasting and more durable. However, they need a skilled hand to properly apply them.
No matter which paint type you choose, trust your exterior house painting project to the professionals at Designs 4 You. Reach out today for a free estimate.
