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Best Exterior Paints of 2025
The article discusses the best exterior paints of 2025, emphasizing their durability and resistance to cracking, fading, dirt, and mildew. It highlights that modern exterior paints have significantly improved, now lasting for more than a decade compared to five years previously. Consumer Reports (CR) conducts rigorous testing to evaluate these paints, simulating a nine-year period of wear and tear to assess their long-term performance.
The testing methodology involves painting pine panels and placing them on the roof of CR's Yonkers, N.Y., headquarters for three years. These panels are positioned to face south and tilted to intensify exposure to sun and weather, with one year of this exposure being equivalent to approximately three years in real-time. Paints that achieve a 'very good' rating for appearance after this period are expected to last an additional three years or more.
Cracking resistance is identified as a crucial attribute for exterior paints and stains because cracks can expose a home's underlying siding or decking to water, potentially leading to serious damage, especially during freeze and thaw cycles. The article notes that while many homeowners rely on qualified contractors for painting projects, understanding the product chosen is important. Factors like climate, such as sunny, hot, and dry regions, require paints with UV-resistant properties, often acrylic-based formulas. Areas with ice and snow or humid conditions benefit from mildew-resistant paints. Desert homes and urban environments necessitate dirt-resistant paints.
The article also touches on oil-based paints, mentioning their common outdoor use due to their stability against expansion and contraction, unlike latex and acrylic paints. However, they are prone to cracking when exposed to UV light, and can yellow and lose luster over time. Proper disposal of empty oil-based paint cans at hazardous waste collection sites is also advised.
Cost-effectiveness is another point of discussion, with the article stating that paint performance does not always correlate with price. CR's exterior paint ratings offer a wide spectrum of options, allowing consumers to find products that perform well without necessarily being the most expensive. Additionally, the article explores current trends in exterior house colors, noting the continued popularity of the white-and-black farmhouse aesthetic, often reinterpreted with softer, creamy tones and dark bronze accents. Lighter colors like off-whites, creams, and beiges are gaining traction as they reflect more sunlight, potentially reducing home cooling costs. Other considerations for choosing paint colors include the architectural style of the house, the neighborhood's aesthetic, how the color appears in different lighting conditions throughout the day, and ensuring it complements the roof. The article concludes by providing a list of top-performing exterior paints based on CR's weathering tests.
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