The Benefits of a Lighter Colored Home Exterior
We’re at that time of year when spring is upon us, and it's time to start thinking about refreshing that exterior paint job before summer, especially if it has been 5 to 7 years since the last time you painted.
If you’re trying to figure out where to start, let us provide you with a helpful suggestion- lighter is oftentimes better! Especially if you’re living in the Phoenix Metro Valley area, where temperatures can be as high as 117+ in the summer. We’ve painted quite a few home exteriors in our day, and here are all the reasons why we’re fans of going light.
‣ It’s best for disguising minor siding flaws. A lighter paint color can help diminish the appearance of cracks, dents, stains, and other small flaws to give your home a more well-kept appeal.
‣ The science is correct! Lighter paint absorbs less heat. According to the Department of Energy's (DOE) Cooling Your Home Naturally report, dark, dull colors can absorb 70 to 90 percent of the sun's radiant energy, which can then be transferred into the home. With that, you’re increasing your air conditioning usage and ultimately spending more money than necessary, and who needs that, right? Summer energy bills are already brutal enough. We actually contributed to an Arizona Republic article that went more in-depth on this topic.
‣ It makes your home’s best features stand out. Refreshing that exterior paint color has a lot to do with curb appeal and really taking pride in your home, whether you’re continuing to live in it or getting ready to sell. With a lighter paint color, you can make those special features like window shutters, bump-out additions, or an ornate front door really pop! It can also create a soft backdrop for your landscaping.
‣ Light paint colors are timeless. Certain paint colors are trendy and can come and go with time, but a fresh light color will never go out of style. It also can make your home look larger and more inviting, and those are pretty timeless traits as well.
A Few of Our Favorite Exterior Paint Colors
‣ Alabaster White by Sherwin-Williams- This creamy color pairs well with exterior stone or metal.
‣ White Dove by Benjamin Moore- This color has hints of grey and really pops when surrounded by greenery or high contrast accent elements, like dark-colored shutters.
‣ Agreeable Gray by Sherwin Williams- This is the perfect light greige color that has just the right amount of warmth to it.
Our favorite line of exterior paint is Dunn Edwards Evershield because it's proven to be so durable, even in the harsh Arizona sun. EVERSHIELD is a complete line of ultra-premium exterior, ultra-low VOC, 100% acrylic paint that provides maximum protection against UV color fade, mildew, efflorescence, water intrusion, and film failure (grain-cracking, peeling, blistering).
After seeing the results ourselves on the many homes we’ve painted, we highly recommend using this product on any exterior paint job.
So that about sums up our reasoning for going for a light exterior color and these are just a few of the many benefits to consider. If you have questions or need more insight on what color to paint your home, please reach out to us, we are happy to help!