The properties of facade paint will depend on its composition, and the quality and quantity of fillers and binders will have the main influence on the cost. Today, the following types of paints are distinguished for house facades:
- Vinyl paints. The main binder in them is a vinyl acetate copolymer or a polyvinyl acetate dispersion. Inexpensive vinyl paints today began to lose popularity, as much more resistant options appeared..
- Acrylic paints. They are the reason that vinyl paints are gradually losing the confidence of homeowners. The binder is a dispersion of acrylate copolymers. Acrylic paints have many advantages – they are vapor-permeable, adhere well to the base, and are water-resistant. Most often, acrylic paints are used for cement-fiber or concrete surfaces, but they are not suitable for lime plaster and silicate facades..
- Silicone paints. They are also called organosilicon, silane or siloxane. The binder is a silicone resin dispersion. They perfectly protect the facade from dirt, and the wall from moisture penetration. Used for brick, concrete, mineral and lime substrates.
Mineral paints can be distinguished separately:
- Lime. The binder is slaked lime. Inexpensive, but the durability and strength of lime paints is low, so now they are rarely used, most often – for the restoration of historical monuments.
- Silicate paints. The binder is potassium silicate, that is, water glass. Silicate paints differ in that the color palette is limited, and they are more difficult to apply than others. Do not use silicate paints if the facade was previously painted with silicone or acrylic.
- Cement paints. Their binder is colored or white Portland cement. For greater resistance to moisture and weather conditions, slaked lime and water repellents are added. However, cement paints are brittle and can quickly flake off..
In addition, there are such facade paints as:
- Oil. Include drying oil or vegetable oils in their composition. Oil paints are quite difficult to apply, they dry for a long time, fade over time, so now they are less and less popular.
- Alkyd paints. It contains alcohol, vegetable acid and anhydride. Alkyd paints are elastic, but the higher this indicator, the longer it will take to dry..
- Polysilicon paints. They are similar to silicone, but they have an added acrylic resin. As a result, polysilicon paints are easier to work with, they have good vapor permeability and high resistance to precipitation..
There are also acrylic-silicone paints that combine the advantages of both types. They are highly vapor permeable, resistant to moisture and abrasion, hardly get dirty and have self-cleaning properties..
As for the choice of color, then most often the paint is chosen lighter than the roof. In addition, it must match the color of the doors and windows. Experts advise to start with trying the paint on one of the walls, preferably not on the front facade, but on the back of the house. Remember that the paint may look slightly different after drying, you should also pay attention to how it looks in the shade and in the sun.
Before painting the facade, of course, you should check how the old paint holds and, if necessary, remove it with a spatula or sandpaper on wood, just scraping it off. After scraping off the old paint, residues can be removed by rinsing off with a strong pressure of water. If there is fresh plaster on the facade, then you will have to wait for it to dry completely. It is highly advisable to use a primer so that the paint adheres better to the surface..
Do not forget that the primer must match the type of facade paint you have chosen. It is very simple to check the strength of the base – you can stick a strip of ordinary stationery transparent tape on the facade and tear it off. If the old paint or plaster does not remain on the tape, it means that you can paint.
When choosing a facade paint, you should pay attention to the water absorption coefficient. The optimal indicator is 50 g / m2. The most resistant to ultraviolet light are acrylic-silicone, polysilicon and acrylic paints. The optimal vapor permeability coefficient is 120 g / m2. Abrasion resistance is measured in cycles. The optimal figure will be 5000 cycles..
The consumption of paint for the facade depends on its composition and type. For example, acrylic paint will take about 150 grams per square meter of surface. However, the consumption will depend on many factors, including the type of surface. Also, remember that you may need to paint in two coats. To accurately calculate the amount of paint you need, you can simply multiply the area of the facade by the amount of consumption indicated by the manufacturer on the can. However, it is better to add 10-15% so as not to buy later. Or use a special program for calculating the amount of paint.
What types of paint would be the most suitable for painting the facade of a house? Which brands are known for their durability and quality? Any tips for choosing the right color that complements the architecture and surroundings?