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What’s the Best Paint for Exterior House?

When you are considering paint for exterior house painting, you might wonder, “What is the most durable paint?” There are two types of paints you can use for exterior house painting, which are oil-based (or solvent-based) and water-based (or latex paint). Oil-based paints are great because they are water-resistant, they are durable, they block out stains, and they adhere to walls better. They are a good paint if you have wood siding that bleeds easily, metal siding that rusts, or exterior walls that are stained. If you are wanting to paint exterior walls that already have oil-based paint on them, then you will need to re-paint those walls using oil-based paint.

One of the best things about water-based paints is that they expand and contract, so the paint won’t crack when it gets too hot or cold outside. Other great things about this type of paint is that they are easy to clean (all you need is soap and water), the paint is breathable, which means you don’t have to worry about the paint cracking or trapping moisture, and they won’t get ruined by certain weather conditions. If your existing wall was painted with an oil-based paint, you can paint over it with a water-based paint.

For exterior walls that come into contact with a lot of outside elements, water-based paints are probably the better option. If you aren’t looking to change your exterior for a long time and want it to last a long time, you can’t go wrong with oil-based paints. Choosing between the paints can be difficult, so it might be a good idea to contact a professional to see which one would work for your exterior house painting project.

House Painting Spray Vs. Roller

After choosing what type of paint would be best for your project, you’ll need to consider what method you want to use for house painting for outside. Two popular methods that are used are paint rolling and paint spraying. Lots of people ask, “Is it better to roll or spray exterior house paint?” when deciding between the two. To find out which one would be the best for your home, its a good idea to look at their benefits.

Paint Spraying Benefits

• Faster Method: With the sprayer, you are able to paint walls a lot quicker and can access areas like corners a whole lot easier.
• Smooth Finish: When the paint comes out of the sprayer, it forms an even mist that will cover the whole wall. This will create a more smooth finish.
• Less Paint: Because the sprayer can dispense an even amount of paint on the wall, you will use less paint when painting your walls.
• Won’t Leave Marks: Rollers and brushes can leave behind marks on the walls, but with paint sprayers you don’t have worry–you will always get an even application that won’t leave marks.

Paint Rolling Benefits

• Uniform Coating: When using a roller, you can be sure that the paint will be coated uniformly.
• Good for Smooth Areas: If your exterior walls are pretty smooth, using a roller is a good idea.
• Different Materials: It come in a wide range of materials so you can get different types of textures for your walls.
• Easy to Use: All you have to do is roll the roller in the paint and start painting–its very easy to use!

House Painting Vs. Siding

If you are considering painting versus siding for your exterior walls, there are a couple of things to consider. You need to consider the cost, the ease of installation, how long it takes to prepare the walls, and how durable each one is. The cost of house painting is less expensive than siding and it won’t take as long to paint versus installing siding. However, siding is really durable and it doesn’t take a lot to prepare the walls for this type of material. Choosing between the two can be tough, which is why you should talk to a professional who can help you make a decision.

Can I Paint My House Myself?

Signs You Have a Leak

• Water Stains: An obvious, though sometimes easily missed, sign of a roof leak is a water stain. This could be on the ceiling or somewhere towards the top of one of your interior walls. Pay attention for discoloration on your ceilings, but also look for spots that may be bubbling, peeling, or visibly damp. They are also indicators of a leaking roof. 
• Dripping: Another more obvious sign of a roof leak is the notorious drip. It could be due to a hole in the roof, but it could also be intermittent with freezing snow and ice. In either case, it’s important to have it checked and repaired as soon as possible. 
• Exterior Water Spots: More often than not, we look for leaks inside the home, but don’t forget to check the exterior as well. Take a look at the place just under the last layer of shingles. If you are seeing visible water spots and water damage, there is likely a leak.
• Growths: A very clear sign of a roof leak is growths. Mold and mildew grow where there is water, which means if your walls or your shingles are starting to sprout, you have a leak. On roofs, this can look like black spots. 
• Missing Shingles: Missing shingles or bald spots on your roof could be an indication of a roof leak. When the shingles on your roof become damaged or old, they are less effective at protecting the decking. More importantly, they are less effective at keeping water out. So when you see missing shingles, granules in your gutters, or other signs like this, call out to a roofing contractor. 

After a storm is the best time to schedule a roof inspection. While it may not seem like anything is actually wrong with your roof, there could be underlying or hard-to-see damages that a professional contractor can find. In some cases, it may not be the roof that is causing the leak, but rather rusted flashing or a damaged gutter. A roofing contractor with JPAUL ROOFING AND CONSTRUCTION can help find any possible damage and provide reliable roof leak repair services.

What Causes a Roof Leak

There are many things that can cause a roof leak. The most common culprit behind roof damage and roof leaks are usually wind and hail, but there are other factors as well. 

• Hail Damage: Here in Texas, possibly the number one cause of roof leaks is actually hail damage. Hail can pack a hefty punch, removing granules, breaking shingles, and just generally causing significant damage.
• Wind Damage: The wind can be just as impactful as something like hail. When gusts get up into the 70 and 80 mph range, your roof can suffer. Loose shingles can be blown off, others can be ripped and torn. 
• Old Age: The simple truth is, the older a roof is, the less effective it will be. Older shingles, seams, and flashing will not be able to withstand heavy winds, downpours, and excessive hail. 
• Improper Installation: One thing that may not always be acknowledged is the fact that a poorly installed roof can result in leaks. In fact, it can result in multiple leaks which would require the need for multiple, expensive repairs.

Though there can be several causes for a roof leak, there is really only one thing you can do when you do find a problem. Contact JPAUL ROOFING AND CONSTRUCTION for assistance. We can provide residential roof repairs as well as emergency services if the problem is severe.