While the warm Florida weather can keep your body comfortable throughout the year, it can also wreak havoc on your home. Homes located in Florida face extreme heat, humidity, sun exposure, thunderstorms, torrential rainfalls, and the occasional tropical storm. All of these factors can greatly impact the exterior surface of your home, which makes choosing the right paint of extreme importance for any homeowner.

Exterior Painting Starts with Proper Preparation

It's vital to first realize that no brand our type of exterior paint is going to last without proper surface preparation. Following are the preparation steps we take for every exterior painting project we work on. You'll want to do as many of these steps as you can when you paint your house.

Our exterior painting services start by trenching out the perimeter of your home's foundation so that we can apply paint to your foundation. Most homeowners won't address the foundation of their home when they paint because honestly it's a lot of work. This is a step most homeowners will skip.

Next, we pressure wash the entire exterior of your home to remove any mildew, dirt, and other debris. We also chip off any loose paint and give any glossy areas a good scuffing. This is a critical step in the preparation process. You want to make sure all mildew, dirt, and loose paint is removed, and that all glossy areas are lightly sanded, to ensure the paint will adhere properly.

Next, we caulk around doors, windows, fascia boards, and all other gaps found on the exterior of your home. This is necessary not only to create a great look but also to protect the exterior materials of your home.

We finish our preparation by covering up bushes, shrubs, walkways, decks, patios, etc. to ensure we don't get any paint on anything.

The Best Exterior House Paint in Florida

When you think about all the elements that your home has to stand up against, it becomes clear that you need to invest in the best exterior house paint. This includes one that will resist fading, dirt buildup, and even mildew.

Stop Dirt Buildup

Maintaining that newly painted look is all about choosing an exterior house paint that is resistant to dirt buildup. Glossy paints by nature a well-known for shedding dirt and maintaining a fresh look. More specifically, acrylic gloss exterior house paint is less porous than other paints, which makes it perfect for stopping any dirt and debris buildup.

Resist Mildew

With constant rain and sky-high humidity, mildew is a real problem for Florida homeowners. Investing in exterior house paint that is specifically noted to be mildew-resistant is a must. This type of paint actually contains fungicides that work to kill mold spores and are developed with a special film to help prevent mold and mildew growth.

Prevent Fading

One attribute that any good exterior house paint should have is fade resistance. These paints are specifically melded with high-quality pigments and binders to prevent fading. To go the extra mile, pick colors that have inorganic pigment that is more stable. These include beiges, tans, browns, and other earth tones.

While this likely doesn't come as a shock to most homeowners, it's important to realize that you'll need to invest in quality exterior paint. Trying to slide by with paint that hasn't been shown to stand up against the Florida elements is simply a waste of your time and hard-earned money.

Take Your Home's Exterior into Consideration when Choosing a Paint

To choose the best exterior paint for your home, it's imperative that you take your home's exterior materials into consideration. There are three main types of exterior materials that we commonly deal with.

Stucco / Cement Walls

When it comes to exterior paint for stucco homes, you'll ideally need a high build elastomeric paint. This type of exterior house paint adheres well to this uneven material, has great coverage, and lasts a long time. If elastomeric isn't within your budget, acrylic latex paint can be a great backup option.

Wood

Whether it's wood trim or an entire wood exterior, it needs to be sealed properly to keep the water out. Acrylic latex paint is the gold standard when it comes to painting exterior wood surfaces. This paint is extremely durable, provides excellent coverage, is cheaper than oil-based alternatives, and will expand and contract with the natural movement of your wood.

Metal / Screen Enclosures

When metal is in the picture, you need to be using a rust-inhibiting oil-based primer. This helps to consistently resist corrosion. Then, an acrylic enamel paint that is also oil-based should be used as a topcoat.

If you're like most homeowners, your home may have a variety of these materials integrated into its exterior. This means that you'll need different paints for the varying surfaces. Just taking the time to switch up exterior house paint when it comes to different materials will go a long way in ensuring that your investment lasts for many years to come.

Do You Need the Exterior of Your Florida Home Painted?

If your Florida home is due for a fresh, durable coat of exterior paint, then give us a call at (727) 799-1133! Our painting professionals are more than happy to provide you with a free on-site estimate and answer all of your questions. We're invested in making your home and the rest of your community look amazing.