The exterior paint of your home functions in many ways like the clothes you wear: to create an important first impression. If you’re considering a do-it-yourself project of repainting your house, you first need to carefully review and select the kind of paint you’ll use. There are several factors to weigh when choosing a paint type, such as drying time vs. durability. The type of paint used in previous layers is also important, as is cost. Here are the basic kinds of paint you’ll see:

• Stains
  Solvent or water-thinned stains can provide semitransparent, transparent, or solid finishes for wood, and some may include preservatives.
• Primers
  New wood or metal should be sealed with a suggested primer. In general one coat of primer and one coat of finish will be more durable than two coats of finish.
• Oil
  Oil paints have a long drying time (12 to 48 hours), which can make sudden rains a danger, but are extremely durable. Strong odors and difficult cleanup also make this more of a choice for professionals than amateurs.
• Alkyd
  A solvent-thinned, synthetic-resin paint; alkyds have many of the properties of oil-based paints, but dry more quickly. They also work well over older oil or alkyd layers.
• Acrylic
  Technically, a type of latex paint, acrylics dry very quickly and will work on almost any building material.
• Latex
  A popular choice for amateurs, latex paints offer easy cleanup, solid durability, and fast drying times. However, latex paints may be incompatible with an existing oil or alkyd layer.

Be sure to thoroughly review the options before beginning your painting project. Hardware and home stores are often willing to help you make the right choice. More information and tips for homeowners can also be found on my website. If you have any questions about your home, don’t hesitate to call me.