Modern exterior repaint — Forest Acres

Dark colors on a south-facing exterior are unforgiving — every UV inhibitor in the can has to earn its keep. Standard exterior paint in a dark color will chalk and fade within four years on a Forest Acres south wall. We specced Sherwin-Williams Duration in deep base, which carries the highest UV-inhibitor load in the SW exterior line.

Prep was the biggest variable. The home has crisp panel-board seams running vertical on every elevation, and every seam was caulked five years ago with the wrong product — split open and pulling away. We cut every caulk line clean and re-caulked with a paintable urethane that flexes with thermal cycling.

Paint went on as two full coats — sprayed for an even mil build, then back-rolled wet to lay the fibers down so the finish doesn't show spray stipple in raking light. Trim, doors, and the front entry surround were hand-brushed because spray on trim always shows in this kind of modern detail.

Five days, on schedule. The black garage doors stayed masked the whole job — sprayed paint on dark glass is one of the most expensive mistakes a contractor can make.