US exterior painting trends, color guides, costs per sq ft and HOA-friendly palettes. Articles written by US-based contractors covering Sherwin-Williams, Benjamin Moore and Behr, with region-specific tips for Sun Belt, Pacific Northwest and New England climates.
Exterior painting & siding: cost per square foot across Los Angeles, Houston, Phoenix, Miami, Dallas, Chicago, Denver and Seattle. Hardie board vs vinyl siding vs stucco repaint comparisons.
US paint brands in depth: Sherwin-Williams Emerald, Benjamin Moore Aura Exterior, Behr Marquee, PPG Timeless - paint sheen guides and climate durability from Sun Belt heat to Pacific Northwest rain.
HOA, permits & climate: HOA-approved palettes, city permit requirements, and picking exterior colors that hold up in Florida humidity, Arizona sun, or New England winters.
The 20 best deck stain colors for 2026, organized by opacity (transparent to solid) and brand. See cedar, redwood, gray, and brown shades on your own deck photo, free.
Best solid color deck stain 2026: when to pick opaque over semi-transparent, top brands tested (Behr, BM Arborcoat, Olympic, Cabot, SuperDeck), 12 colors with codes. Test free on your deck photo.
Behr deck stain colors span four lines, from grain-showing semi-transparent to full-cover DeckOver. The top 2026 shades are Cordovan Brown, Chocolate ST-129, Coffee ST-103, Slate Gray, and Cape Cod Gray. Test any on your own deck photo free, no signup.
The 15 best Behr exterior paint colors for 2026 with exact codes, led by Hidden Gem (Color of the Year). Test any shade free on your house photo in 30 seconds.
Behr Marquee Exterior 2026 is built to last 10 to 12 years with a lifetime limited warranty. This review focuses on real-world longevity: chalk-binding adhesion, fade resistance on dark colors, and whether Marquee genuinely outlasts the other tiers on forever homes.
Behr Premium Plus Exterior is Behr's cheapest tier at roughly $34 to $46 per gallon. The budget-paint thesis: if your prep is perfect and your color is light-to-mid, the cheapest gallon on the rack is the smart call. The catch is that prep is non-negotiable here in a way Marquee buyers can fudge.
The 10 best exterior green paint colors for 2026, ranked. See why each made our designer short-list, the best house style for each, then preview them free on your home.
The 15 most popular Sherwin-Williams exterior paint colors for 2026, ranked by what homeowners actually pick. Each shade with LRV, why it sells, and how to test it free on your house photo.
Sherwin-Williams Woodscapes review 2026: an exterior siding and fence stain, NOT a deck stain. Solid vs semi-transparent, colors, durability, price, and how it compares to SuperDeck and Cabot.
The 15 best beach house exterior paint colors for 2026: soft coastal blues, seafoam, sandy neutrals, crisp whites and weathered grays with exact SW and BM codes. Test free on your home photo.
EPA RRP Rule requires certified contractors for any renovation in pre-1978 homes. Jan 12 2026 enforcement tightening means stiffer penalties and more frequent audits for lead paint compliance. Full guide for contractors, agents, landlords.
Sherwin-Williams exterior paint 2026: Emerald vs Duration vs SuperPaint vs A-100, the 15 best SW exterior colors (Universal Khaki, Iron Ore, Naval, Alabaster, Repose Gray), and how to test 174 SW shades on your house photo, free.
How to choose exterior house color in 2026: 5-step pillar guide. Match your roof, test 3 colors on your real photo with AI, follow the 60-30-10 rule. Free, no signup.
15 outside house color ideas for 2026 with SW, BM and Behr codes, trim and accent pairings, plus the architectural style each scheme flatters most.
15 best gray exterior paint colors for 2026: Repose Gray, Agreeable Gray, Revere Pewter, Iron Ore and more. Test each on your house photo, 30 seconds, free.
The 7 best front door colors for gray houses in 2026 are: 1) Tricorn Black SW 6258, 2) Naval SW 6244, 3) Heritage Red SW 2902, 4) Evergreen Fog SW 9130, 5) Bee Yellow SW 6683, 6) Warm Wood Stain, 7) Alabaster SW 7008. Match warm or cool gray undertone.
Hire an interior or exterior painter in 2026: real cost per sq ft, 7 vetting questions, scam red flags, state license rules, and a 3-quote shortcut.
Universal Khaki SW 6150 is the 2026 Sherwin-Williams Color of the Year, a warm greige. Test it on your home photo free with AI in 30 seconds.
Behr Hidden Gem is the 2026 Color of the Year, a muted sage-green that brings outdoor calm to interiors and softens exteriors. LRV around 35 to 40. See it on your actual house with a free AI preview in 30 seconds.
Benjamin Moore named Silhouette AF-655 its 2026 Color of the Year: a deep, sophisticated espresso brown at LRV ~6 from the Affinity Collection. Full spec sheet, 8 trim pairings, exterior and interior uses, comparisons to Cracked Pepper, Iron Ore, and Tricorn Black, plus a free way to preview AF-655 on your own house photo.
Upload a photo and see the result in 30 seconds. 1 free HD simulation with 3 variations (magic wand), no sign-up required.
Upload my photo nowFree - no credit card required
