If you've lived in Austin for a few summers, you've seen what the sun does to a house. Paint fades on the west side first, trim starts to peel, and a paint job that should look good for years starts to look tired much sooner. The good news is that most early paint failure comes down to two things you can control: the paint you choose and the prep work underneath it.
Exterior painting starts with choosing the right paint and preparing your home carefully.
What Austin weather does to exterior paint
- Intense sun and UV break down the paint film and fade the color, especially on south- and west-facing walls.
- Long stretches of 100-degree days make siding and trim expand and contract, which leads to cracking.
- Sudden storms, hail and humid spells push moisture into any gap, which causes peeling, bubbling and wood rot.
A paint that holds up in milder climates may not last as long here.
What to look for in exterior paint for Texas
- 100% acrylic: Acrylic paint stays flexible as your house heats up and cools down, so it is less likely to crack.
- Strong UV and fade resistance: This keeps the color from washing out.
- Mildew resistance: Important after humid, rainy weeks.
- Good adhesion: The paint needs to grip well on wood, trim and fiber cement siding.
- The right color: Lighter colors absorb less heat and usually show fading less than very dark colors.
Why we use Sherwin-Williams Duration Exterior
On our exterior painting jobs, we use Sherwin-Williams Duration Exterior. It is a premium 100% acrylic paint built to resist fading, peeling and mildew, and it works well on wood trim and on James Hardie fiber cement siding. We've found it holds up to Austin weather and gives homeowners a finish that stays looking fresh.
Prep matters as much as the paint
Even the best paint will fail if it goes over dirty or rotted surfaces. On every job we:
- Power wash to remove dirt and chalky old paint.
- Replace rotted trim, fascia or siding boards before painting.
- Caulk gaps around windows, doors and trim to keep water out.
- Prime bare wood and repaired areas.
- Apply two finish coats.
How long does exterior paint last in Texas?
A quality paint job with good prep typically lasts 7 to 10 years, and often longer on fiber cement siding. Watch for these signs that it's time to repaint: faded or chalky paint, peeling or cracking, caulk pulling away from trim, and bare or soft wood.
Painting James Hardie siding
James Hardie siding holds paint longer than wood, but factory finishes eventually fade too. When it's time, we clean the siding, check and replace caulk, and repaint with a 100% acrylic paint suited for fiber cement.