Rain, mildew, and constant moisture.
If you live in the Pacific Northwest, you know that a bad paint job won’t last more than a season due to our wet living conditions. While many brands advertise their products as being “weatherproof,” it is essential to consider other factors when selecting the exterior paint for your home.
In this guide, we will break down those considerations, including the best paint type and how to maintain your home’s paint in the damp climate of the Pacific Northwest. Let’s ensure your next exterior paint job lasts for years to come.
Table of Contents
- 6 Tips for Choosing the Best Exterior House Paint for the Pacific Northwest
- Commonly Asked Questions About the Best Exterior Paint for the Pacific Northwest
- What Is the Best Exterior Paint Brand for the Pacific Northwest?
- Two Brothers Painting: The Pacific Northwest’s Trusted Painting Contractors For More Than 20 Years
6 Tips for Choosing the Best Exterior House Paint for the Pacific Northwest
When selecting the best exterior paint for your Pacific Northwest home, it is crucial to consider several key factors. Let’s explore what these factors are and how they can influence your paint decision.
#1: Consider Your Home’s Style
Depending on your home’s architectural style, specific color palettes will stand out more effectively than others.
For craftsman and colonial homes, subdued colors such as warm browns, olives, rust reds, or charcoal work well and can blend in with the warm colors in nature.
For mid-century modern homes, charcoal, sage, mustard, and teal can be great choices paired with wood features.
Contemporary homes do well with white, black, grey, or cool blues that can stand out in the surrounding green environment.
Victorians are known for their classic jewel tones, such as navy, burgundy, hunter green, with cream accents, which can pair well with the greenery found in the region and provide a pop of color on gloomy Pacific Northwest days.
Farmhouses and cottages pair well with natural or muted colors that blend seamlessly into the PNW surroundings, such as soft white, sage green, dusty blue, or warm grey.
Take a look at other homes in your neighborhood that have the same architectural style to see what would work best for your home.
#2: Factor in the Neighborhood Aesthetics
Your neighborhood’s aesthetics can significantly influence the color of your exterior. It is essential to maintain harmony with the colors in the area.
Take a look at the nature around your home that can complement the colors of the neighborhood. Trees, landscaping, mountains, plains, and other natural elements can all impact the aesthetic and help you decide on a particular color palette for your home.
#3: Take Climate Into Account
Climate can significantly impact the durability and longevity of exterior house paint in the Pacific Northwest. To achieve the best results when painting, it is essential to paint when conditions are not too rainy, humid, or excessively hot.
Beyond the weather during painting, several factors can be impacted by the climate, such as whether your paint will hold up. Some considerations include:
- Mold and mildew: Due to rain and high humidity, mold and mildew can grow rapidly. Choose an exterior paint color that is mildew-resistant to prevent its growth, and apply a primer to protect against damage caused by moisture.
- Sun exposure: The sun can cause fading and cracking to the exterior paint, so it is vital to find a paint that offers high UV protection.
- Snow exposure: Depending on your home’s location in the Pacific Northwest, snow and ice can be a common occurrence. Choose a color or type of paint that will not fade due to ice and snow collection points.
Temperature fluctuations: It is essential to select a paint color that can withstand the summer heat and the cold days of winter. Additionally, darker colors can absorb heat, which can be beneficial in winter, while lighter colors reflect light, which is better suited for warmer environments.
#4: Choose the Right Type of Paint
Exterior paint colors vary not only by color but also by their makeup and features. Let’s examine the various types of paint and consider which ones might be more suitable than others.
Acrylic Latex Paint
Acrylic latex paint is an excellent choice for homes in the Pacific Northwest due to its strong protection against moisture and mildew, which we know can be problematic in the area.
The paint allows moisture to escape from the surface, which helps reduce blistering and peeling. In addition to its excellent protection against mold and mildew, it is also:
- Water-resistent
- Durable
- Flexible
- UV Protective
Urethane Enamel Paint
The Sherwin-Williams Emerald Urethane Enamel paint is formulated explicitly for Pacific Northwest conditions, making it an excellent choice for exterior use. Its benefits include:
- Durability
- Color resistance
- Fade and chip-resistance
- Chemical resistance
- Long-lasting finish
Rodda Paint
Rodda paint is a favorite for many Pacific Northwest painters. Its benefits are desired for exterior painting in the region. Its benefits include:
- Durability
- Color resistance
- Moisture-resistance
- First-resistance
- Mold and mildew resistance
- Low VOC and odor
- And more.
Benjamin Moore Aura Exterior Paint
Benjamin Moore’s Aura Exterior Paint is more expensive than others, but it offers exclusive benefits that set it apart from its competitors. In addition to durability, mildew resistance, and fade resistance, this paint has:
- Color Lock® Technology
- A high-build formula
- Self-priming features
- Gennex® color technology
- Super adhesion
- And more.
#5: Do a Test Run
Once you have narrowed down your choices, it is essential to conduct a test run with the paint to ensure it meets your requirements. You can buy samples and test them at various points around your home’s exterior.
Applying paint between features, such as windows and doors, can help isolate the color. Observe how they hold up, examine them in various lighting conditions and at different times of day, and gain a better understanding of their cohesion with the elements around them.
#6: Work With Experienced Professionals
When it comes to painting exteriors, it is crucial to work with experienced professionals who are knowledgeable about the painting process. Finding quality painters like Two Brothers Painting will leave you feeling confident that your home will look professional, clean, and well-maintained for years, boasting a beautiful exterior.
At Two Brothers Painting, we understand the conditions of the area that can cause issues, such as:
- Peeling
- Blistering
- Moisture
- Dirt and mildew
- Vinyl siding warp
- Fading
- Lapping
- Paint incompatibility
- Wrinkling
- Surfactant leaching
- And more
When working with Portland painting experts like Two Brothers Painting, you can be confident that we will mitigate any of these problems by providing the best exterior paint suggestions and applying the paint in the best way for the region. Contact us to receive a complimentary quote and discover how we can assist with your upcoming exterior house painting project today.
Commonly Asked Questions About the Best Exterior Paint for the Pacific Northwest
What Is the Best Exterior Paint for Northern Climates?
Due to the high humidity and frequent rainstorms in the Pacific Northwest region, finding paint that holds up and requires minimal touch-ups can be challenging. To find paint that will not only look great, but last, search for paint options that are:
- Durable
- Weather-resistant
- Mildew resistant
- Uv-Protectant
What Is the Best Exterior Paint Brand for the Pacific Northwest?
When it comes to choosing the right brand of paint, it can be overwhelming, as everyone claims to be the best choice. Not every brand is excellent for exteriors, specifically in the Pacific Northwest.
When it comes to the overall best, Sherwin-Williams Duration tends to take the lead. Its durability, long-lasting color retention, and resistance to fading, cracking, and peeling make it an excellent choice for exterior house paint in the Pacific Northwest region.
What Are the Best Exterior House Paint Colors for the Pacific Northwest?
An easy way to choose an exterior house paint color when living in the Pacific Northwest is to opt for warm, earthy tones. Including elements and palettes inspired by the gorgeous nature around you will complement your home’s color.
For earthy tones, consider Rich browns, deep grays, muted greens, and classic whites.
For nature-inspired hues, the colors of the surrounding trees, mountains, and water can be a great choice. Deep greens, blues, and greys bring in both evergreen and coastal influences.
For warm neutrals, light gray, beige, or white pairs well with darker accents for a balanced look.
How Can I Maintain My Exterior House Paint in the Pacific Northwest?
Although paint will need a refresh over time, there are several ways to maintain the paint on your Pacific Northwest home to ensure it lasts as long as possible. Some easy ways to keep your exterior paint looking vibrant are:
- Cleaning your exterior regularly: By power washing your home once a year, you can maintain its color and remove any built-up dirt or mildew.
- Inspect your home regularly: Check for cracking, peeling, and faded areas, especially after rain, hail, or snow.
- Touching up any damages you find: Repairing peeling or faded parts of your exterior may help extend the paint’s longevity and prevent further damage.
- Using high-quality sealants: Ensuring seals around windows and doors are correctly sealed to prevent cracking, peeling, or bubbles caused by moisture damage.
Considering the use of oil-based paint: They are excellent options for providing weather resistance and durability. Their features repel water, helping to maintain the integrity of the paint throughout the harsh Pacific Northwest weather.
Two Brothers Painting: The Pacific Northwest’s Trusted Painting Contractors For More Than 20 Years
When it comes to exterior painting, you should feel confident that you are hiring a team of professionals who will deliver long-lasting and beautiful results. With over 20 years of experience, Two Brothers Painting knows how to get any painting job done with professionalism, efficiency, and precision.
When it comes to exterior painting, we offer comprehensive residential and commercial exterior painting services, including touch-ups, repairs, and more. We serve customers throughout the Portland metro area, including:
- Portland
- Beaverton
- Lake Oswego
- West Linn
- Tigard
- Wilsonville
- And more surrounding cities.
Contact us today to schedule a visit from our team to inspect your property and provide an estimate for your upcoming exterior house painting project. We are excited to help your home or business stand out with exterior paint that lasts for years to come.