Bob Smasler

[Dennis McDonaugh]

Bob, I need to paint my front door, it faces north and is under a covered porch. I want a tough, durable, glossy paint that will stand up to the South Texas sun. Does marine epoxy paint fit that description? And, if I use it can I get by with the one part paint or is two part the way to go? Thanks.

[Bob Smalser]

On a covered porch facing North it may not get any sun except on the bottom.

I wouldn't hesitate to use a 2-part epoxy primer like this...

http://pic3.picturetrail.com/VOL12/1104763/2595357/88346117.jpg

...as epoxy is the cat's meow for minimizing seasonal movement.....but I'd topcoat it with alkyd porch and deck enamel like Kelly Moore 1300 Series.

Why?

So it is easily renewable in the future. No paint lasts forever and poly and epoxy are horror stories to remove when the time comes.

The epoxy primer will lengthen the life of the alkyd enamel considerably.

[Dennis McDonaugh]

Thanks Bob, I never thought about having to take it off later. The door doesn't get any direct sunlight, but its faded a lot in four years anyway. I'll give the primer a try.

[Dennis McDonaugh]

Thanks Bob, I never thought about having to take it off later. The door doesn't get any direct sunlight, but its faded a lot in four years anyway. I'll give the primer a try.

[Bob Smalser]

That combo is my preferred one for plywood on boats and it works very well.

Both the epoxy primer and the hard-drying porch and deck enamel are easily sanded within two days of application, one of the most important qualities for a smooth, easily-renewable finish.

Most common alkyd and latex house paints sand like chewing gum for their first year, in contrast.

http://pic3.picturetrail.com/VOL12/1104763/3075025/59367496.jpg

http://pic3.picturetrail.com/VOL12/1104763/4639129/58622485.jpg

[Phil Maddox]

Except for the "glossy" part, Sherwin Williams makes a paint called "Duration" that is great for what you want. I did some testing with S-W right before it came out and the tests are still perfect. I am no longer a contractor and I have no affiliation with S-W.

Renewability is not this or any other Latex/Acrylic paint's forte, they are comparitively soft. However, based on some of the accellerated testing I witnessed, you can expect the paint to last 10+ years.

Alkyd paints can chalk, that is why I stopped using them on exteriors.

FWIW

Phil