How we supply it: Exterior paints are arranged through a partner paint dealer who quotes, supplies and bills them and pays us a referral commission. We ask the dealer for the technical data sheets so you can compare grades on the five points above, then have the paint sent for the dry-season slot your painter books.
In one line: Exterior emulsion is a water-based acrylic paint formulated to resist sunlight, rain, plaster alkali and algae on outside walls.
Five things to compare on the data sheet
| Spec | Look for | Why it matters here |
|---|---|---|
| Binder | 100% acrylic | Holds up to strong sun and driving rain |
| Anti-algal and anti-fungal | Stated on the can | Green-black streaks grow on damp, shaded walls |
| Dirt pick-up resistance | Stated, or a satin finish | Road dust sticks to soft matt films |
| Crack bridging (elastomeric) | Stated elongation | Hairline plaster cracks let rain in |
| Warranty terms | Written, with system conditions | Most require the maker's own primer and coat count |
Why exterior paint is a different product
Exterior emulsion is a water-based acrylic paint formulated to resist sunlight, rain, plaster alkali and algae on outside walls. Interior emulsion lacks the UV resistance and biocides, and chalks within a season or two outside.
Coastal walls get salt-laden air, strong sun and three months of heavy north-east monsoon rain from October to December.
Exterior finishes
| Finish | What it does | Where |
|---|---|---|
| Smooth exterior emulsion | Weather-resistant colour coat | Most plastered walls |
| Elastomeric emulsion | Stretches over hairline cracks | Walls with shrinkage cracks, parapets |
| Textured coating | Thick film that hides uneven plaster | Feature walls, older buildings |
| Cement paint | Low-cost powder paint | Compound walls, utility blocks |
Estimating exterior paint
Typical estimate: two coats of exterior emulsion cover about 4–5 m² (43–54 sq ft) per litre in total on primed plaster; textured plaster takes more.
- Area: building perimeter × height, plus parapets and sunshades, minus openings
- G+1 house, 26 × 36 ft footprint, 20 ft high plus a 3 ft parapet: about 2,850 sq ft gross, 2,550 sq ft after openings
- That house: roughly 47–60 litres of exterior emulsion for two coats
Painting sequence outside
- Let the plaster cure and dry for about 3–4 weeks, then wait for a few dry days.
- Wash off dust; treat existing algae with the biocide wash the paint maker specifies.
- Fill hairline cracks with crack-fill compound; cut out and repair wider cracks.
- Apply one coat of exterior primer.
- Apply two coats of exterior emulsion from top to bottom, finishing each wall face in one session to avoid lap marks.
- Give parapet tops, sunshade tops and sills extra care; water sits there longest.
Checks before and after
- Cans say exterior, with batch and date; use one batch per wall face.
- The data sheet confirms anti-algal protection and names the primer to use.
- Tape a square of plastic sheet to the wall overnight; water droplets under it mean the wall is too damp to paint.
- Ask for a tinted primer so the supervisor can see coverage coat by coat.
- A week after finishing, rub with a wet cloth: no chalk or colour should come off.
Handling paint on scaffold jobs
- Keep cans in a shaded room; scaffold work tempts painters to leave them on the terrace in the sun.
- Close lids between sessions so skins do not fall into the next coat.
- Keep a sealed can per shade for repairs after the first monsoon.
Why exterior paint fails early
- Painting damp plaster during or straight after the monsoon.
- Interior emulsion used outside to save money.
- No primer on new plaster.
- Ignoring sunshade and parapet tops where water ponds.
- Painting west walls in afternoon sun, so the paint dries too fast and laps show.