The Best Paints for Wood Siding and Trim

• A 100 percent acrylic latex paint bonds firmly to wood siding and forms a flexible, breathable barrier that is waterproof and that resists the destructive heat and UV rays of the sun. Because they are vapor permeable, these paints won't blister when the sun heats up water vapor that might become trapped behind lower-grade coatings. A 100 percent acrylic film is flexible enough to expand and contract through recurring heat cycles rather than cracking or flaking. Daily exposure to UV won't cause the paint film to begin dissolving, which can appear as surface chalking. And 100 percent acrylic paints usually contain UV-resistant pigments to help keep the paint's color from fading prematurely. One hundred percent acrylic paints may cost twice as much as bargain-priced latex paints, but they will typically last 50 to 100 percent longer.
  
  

Choosing Colors for Wood Siding and Trim

• Most of the pigments used in latex or oil-based paints will fade over time when exposed to UV rays, so choose colors wisely. Deep colors will lose saturation after years of exposure to sunlight. Bright yellows often turn weak and muddy looking, bright reds may take on a maroon cast and plum may shift to dark lavender. The transition is less pronounced in neutral colors, which is why so many homes are painted in off-white shades. A 100 percent acrylic paint will offer better fade resistance than a conventional latex or oil paint.
  
  

The Best Paint for Exterior Masonry Walls

• Mineral silicate paints won't work with wood or other organic surfaces, but they are particularly well suited for sun-exposed concrete walls, cement-based stucco, fiber cement siding or masonry block walls. A mineral silicate paint bonds into the wall's pores and is unaffected by heat or UV rays. Depending on the color selected, a mineral silicate paint will reflect the sun's destructive heat away from the surface and help the wall stay cooler. The color palette for mineral silicate paints is much smaller, but mineral-based pigments are not vulnerable to UV rays, which means that whatever color you choose should last for decades.
  
  

Best Weather Conditions for Application

• The best time to apply a 100 percent acrylic latex paint or a mineral silicate paint is on a dry, sunny day with temperatures between 50 and 88 degrees Fahrenheit. Some manufacturers' instructions allow painting on days as cold as 35 degrees or as hot as 100 degrees. When the air temperature is in the 90s, however, the sun may heat exterior walls to a much higher temperature. Likewise, if the morning air temperature is in the 30s, the walls themselves may be much cooler if they have not have absorbed enough heat from the sun to warm up from an overnight frost. Applying paint in either weather extreme may lead to premature failure of the paint finish.