If you’ve ever decided to start an Exterior paint project you probably very quickly found out that there are a ton of different options to chose from when it comes to paint brands. Most people simply end up making their decision due to one of two factors. Which paint is the cheapest or which paint do they sell at the nearest home improvement store. While those are certainly two options a discerning Consumer might wonder why paint contractors in Baltimore never use these options. To get straight to the point most paint contractors in Baltimore Maryland are going directly to the nearest Sherwin Williams store for any Exterior paint project that they plan to tackle, and with good reason. In this article, we will discuss why these brands stand out above the rest, and which products you should purchase for your paint project!
Why Sherwin Williams
Sherwin Williams vs. Behr/Valspar
Let's answer the easiest part of this question first. Why pick Sherwin Williams over something like Behr or Valspar? To put it simply Behr and Valspar paints are marketed directly to homeowners. As such they have been specially formulated to be relatively easy to use and low cost. While on the surface this sounds like a win-win situation the problems actually show up during the application process and the long-term durability of these products.
Easier to apply usually just means that it dries significantly slower than a professional-grade paint. This means for a professional painter the time in between paint coats is almost unforgivable, and even for a savvy DIY’er, your project might take significantly longer than you were hoping. It also introduces other more technical problems into the mix that we won’t be considering in this article. Less expensive is usually an indicator of how good a product will be regardless of if you’re buying paint. The same principle applies here. Professional-grade paint can last for up to 10 years while cheaper alternatives may have you planning a trip to the paint store after 2 or 3 years. If you plan on changing the colors of your home again after that amount of time then this might be a good option for you. If on the other hand, you don’t want to deal with that hassle all over again anytime soon. You might consider upgrading your paint.
Let's not fail to mention that the exterior of your house is subject to the elements between the harsh sunlight in the summer, rainstorms that could show up any day of the week here in Maryland, and the potential for snow in the winters, your paint could take a pretty severe beating. These weather conditions can cause the color of your paint to fade significantly. If you love the color you plan on painting your house and you want it to last, then you have even more reason to upgrade your paint.
Sherwin vs. Benjamin Moore
This debate could go on for ages, and in fact, it has. Benjamin Moore loyalist and Sherwin Williams devotees would gladly go to war defending their favorite paint brand. The reality is that these paints have more in common than most people want to admit. From a quality standpoint, these paints go toe to toe. From an application standpoint, it's really up to personal preference. In fact, most Paint contractors in Baltimore would gladly use either of these products. Lastly from a homeowner's perspective, these paints cost roughly the same amount, so why would one choose one brand over the other? Honestly, in most cases, it comes down to which paint is more readily available to you.
However, there is one very big difference to consider. In the event that you are hiring a painter to handle your paint project for you, Sherwin Williams offers the contractor a pretty significant discount to purchase the paint for you. As a Homeowner, this means that you can receive the same amazing quality paint but at a significantly cheaper cost. In my opinion that is a true win-win situation. It’s for this reason that from the standpoint of a paint contractor Sherwin Williams takes the cake.
Which Products Should You Buy From Sherwin Williams
Fortunately, there is a variety of great exterior paint products that you can purchase from Sherwin Williams, this means that you should be able to find one that most accurately fits your budget and will provide you with the long-lasting high-quality finish that you truly want. All of these products are recommended for use on aluminum and vinyl siding, wood siding, clapboard, shakes, shingles, plywood, masonry, and metal.
Our Top Picks:
$$
Super is a go-to paint in almost any situation. I imagine that’s how it got its name. In all seriousness this paint is great, but in all honesty, it isn't our go-to for exterior paint projects. It has a great-looking finish and is very durable but my choice of exterior paints is a little further down this list.
$$
Resilience comes in slightly more expensive than SuperPaint and a lot of the same things that we said about SuperPaint can be said here as well. This paint also boasts about its "MoistureGuard" technology to help prevent mold and mildew from growing on the paint it also has improved resistance to picking up dirt.
$$$
Duration is an amazing paint that easily justifies the higher price tag. Think Super Paint but taken to the extreme. This paint is even more durable with its patented PermaLast technology which ensures long-lasting performance and beauty. Duration is self-priming and provides a mildew-resistance coating. This paint is incredible in its application as well. We highly recommend this paint!
$$$
This paint quite literally does it all. There is no area in which this paint falls short. Its matches duration in durability while setting the standard for what all other paints strive to look like as a finished product. The only thing that should stop someone from buying this paint is the price tag. Yes, it is very expensive. But considering what your exterior paint is expected to stand up to it makes a pretty compelling argument for itself. This paint is for the homeowner who doesn't want to paint again for a very long time!
$$$$
This is it! The cream of the crop. Take everything that we just said about emerald and add on to the fact that his paint boasts the ability to clean itself during a rainstorm! No rain in the forecast? A simple rinse with the water hose should suffice to clean up your house before any company arrives. Need I say more? This paint comes with a nearly absurd price tag, but factor in the fact that you won't need to hire someone to pressure wash your house anytime soon and you might convince yourself to go with this product!
My Honest Recommendation
In my humble opinion, when it comes to exterior paint projects, the best value on this list is the Duration line of paint. This is my number one recommendation as a Professional Painter here in the Baltimore Maryland area. This paint really nails it in all the areas that I'm looking for as a professional painter. No, it's not the cheapest option but in the end, it usually only add $100-300 to the total price tag while adding a tremendous amount of value to the overall project in terms of durability and the protection of your house.
Need help choosing? I would be more than happy to answer any questions you might have so feel free to follow us on Facebook and Instagram where you can send me any questions you might have about paint products that you would like to use on your project!
However, if you live in or around Baltimore Maryland, and after reading this article you thinking "Why don't I just get an estimate for my exterior painting project?" Aurora Painting would be more than happy to help you out with that! Feel free to schedule a call below when you're ready to bring the exterior of your home back to life!
Schedule a Call!