How To Choose Exterior Paints For Indian Homes

A fresh coat of paint on the exterior walls is all that you need to give your home a new identity and save it from the extreme and ever-changing weather conditions. You may have a colour in mind. You also have set a budget for the job. Now, how do you know what else must be taken into account before you make a final decision. 

Climate: Climate is one of the major criteria of choosing the exterior paints. Paint companies nowadays offer paints that are designed to withstand a particular type of weather condition. For instance, there are paints which could sustain heavy rainfall. Then, there are those that can withstand harsh summers without chipping or fading or wearing off. In fact, some paints are also designed to regulate the indoor temperature depending on the condition on the outdoors. So, before you pick the paint for your home, look for the label to know the temperatures it could withstand.

Colour: Colour is also one of the key factors that determine the paint you will have for the exterior walls. While warm colours tend to retain warmth indoors, the cool colours could ensure that the temperature indoors is low. Warm colours would include red, yellow and green, the cool colours could be shades of blue, or dark colours.

We would suggest that you pick a sample of the colours you choose and apply it to the exterior walls. Let it sit for a few days and dry, and look which colour looks the best to your exterior walls.

Also read: The Role Wall Colours Play In Your Life

Application: To get the best results, you might have to apply two-three coats of the paint on your exterior walls. For cold places, pick paints that dry quick, while for hot areas you could work with colours that take time to dry and do not fade quickly.

Environmental impact: For this, check the label of the paint you are picking. Low on Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) is what you must pick. High VOC levels could be fatal for the environment as well as the people. Experts suggest that water-based or acrylic paints have lower VOC levels.

Quality: Paint quality would determine the age of the colour and also the health of the walls. Look for certain listings on the label. These include hiding power, chalking resistance, colour retention and blister resistance.

Hiding power would ensure that the paint offers full coverage to the surface, while the higher chalking resistance would mean that the paint would be able to resist the chalk power that occurs over time when the colour breaks.

Also read: Home Sutra: How To Paint Your Home?

Here are two types of paints that work well for the exterior.

Water-based paints

*These work well for regions that are not located in extreme weather conditions.

*Water-based paints are likely to expand and contract depending on the intensity of sun.

*These dry quickly in say 3-5 hours and produce less odour.

*These paints are breathable and do not trap moisture. So, no cracking or peeling off.

*When mixed with all-acrylic binder, these paints can stay for a longer duration.

*These can be easily cleaned with water.

Oil-based paints

*Oil paints penetrate well in the wall ensuring the colour is long-lasting, and the finish even.

*Because of the texture, this paint is stain-resistant.

*These work well for various surfaces, including chalky walls, wooden surfaces and rusting metal.

*These take over one day to dry.

Also read: Don’t Let It Seep In: Ways To Avoid Wall Seepage