Recent Posts
Benjamin Moore Exterior Paint Product Guide
Posted:
April 19, 2024
Categories:
Paint
Benjamin Moore exterior paints are known for their premium finish, excellent color retention, and outstanding durability. These high-grade products are loved by both homeowners and painting contractors. We’re confident you’ll find exactly what you’re looking for in Benjamin Moore’s wide selection of exterior house paints and specialty paints!
Benjamin Moore Exterior Siding & Trim Paints
Benjamin Moore’s most popular exterior paints are AURA Exterior, Regal Select Exterior, and Element Guard. Depending on your project budget and the substrates being painted, you might need to use multiple exterior paint products to achieve the best results. Once you understand the differences between Benjamin Moore’s exterior paints, it’ll be easy to choose the best paint for your project!
AURA Exterior Paint
Benjamin Moore AURA
Grade: Ultra-premium
Finishes: Flat, Low Lustre, Satin, Soft Gloss
Formula Type: Proprietary 100% acrylic with Gennex® Color Technology
Best Choice For: Multipurpose exterior use
AURA Exterior is Benjamin Moore’s top-of-the-line, ultra-premium exterior house paint. This proprietary acrylic paint product features exceptional fade resistance, moisture protection, and durability — for a rich, long-lasting finish. Ideal for major color changes, AURA’s thick formula hides color extremely well in fewer coats than competitors.
AURA paint colors contain more pigments than any other paint, with Color Lock® Technology for colors that resist heavy wear and tear. AURA is available in four sheens across more than 3,500 paint colors—including a curated palette of 75 vinyl-safe colors—and can be applied in temperatures as low as 35°F to extend the painting season.
Regal Select Exterior
Benjamin Moore Regal Select
Grade: Premium
Finishes: Flat, Low Lustre, Soft Gloss
Formula Type: Proprietary 100% acrylic with Gennex® Color Technology
Best Choice For: Multipurpose exterior use
Our best-selling paint, Benjamin Moore Regal Select offers a premium finish at a lower price point than the ultra-premium AURA. Regal Select is easy to apply and provides a long-lasting, smooth finish that hides brush strokes and roller marks. This versatile product performs well on nearly every surface — even hard-to-coat substrates like PVC siding, chalky materials, and pitted masonry.
Regal Select Exterior is also highly durable, resisting mildew, fading, cracking, and peeling. If you’re painting vinyl, check out this list of 75 vinyl-safe colors curated by Benjamin Moore for your convenience. Like AURA Exterior, Regal Select can be applied in temperatures down to 35°F, extending the painting season. Regal Select is available in all of Benjamin Moore’s 3,500 paint colors and three sheens.
Element Guard
Benjamin Moore Element Guard
Grade: Premium
Exterior Finish: Flat, Low Lustre, Soft Gloss
Formula Type: 100% acrylic
Best Choice For: Multipurpose exterior use
Whether you’re facing unexpectedly cold days, an unrelenting heat wave, or constant humidity, this unique exterior paint protects from moisture and successfully extends the painting season. Benjamin Moore Element Guard is the ultimate exterior paint product for difficult weather conditions. Element Guard resists rain as soon as 60 minutes after application — ideal for humid, rainy, and cold climates.
Engineered with Benjamin Moore’s proprietary Gennex® Color Technology, Element Guard is available in any of Benjamin Moore’s 3,500+ paint colors. This tough, moisture-resistant finish brings the beauty and quality of Benjamin Moore paints to the most challenging exterior paint jobs! For more detailed information, check out our Element Guard Review.
Specialty Exterior Paints
In addition to their multipurpose exterior paints, Benjamin Moore offers a variety of specialty paints for specific applications. From front door paint to metal paint, you’ll be able to find a premium Benjamin Moore product for any project on your list.
ADVANCE Interior/Exterior Paint
Benjamin Moore ADVANCE
Grade: Premium
Exterior Finish: High Gloss
Formula Type: Waterborne alkyd enamel
Best Choice For: Exterior doors and trim
Benjamin Moore ADVANCE is a water-based alkyd paint that cures to a hard, durable finish. The high-gloss sheen is rated for both interior and exterior use, and it’s our paint pros’ top choice for front doors due to the outstanding quality and durability of the finish.
We recommend ADVANCE for projects that can afford a long dry time, as this product is not ideal for projects on a time crunch. ADVANCE requires 16 hours of dry time before recoating, and it’s also recommended to wait the full 16 hours before re-installing or closing the door. The slow dry time is what allows the paint to level — resulting in a remarkably smooth finish that hides lap marks. For more details, check out our guide on How to Paint Your Front Door.
Floor & Patio
Benjamin Moore Floor & Patio
Grade: Premium
Finishes: Low Sheen or High Gloss
Formula Type: Epoxy or urethane-modified acrylic floor enamel
Best Choice For: Wood or concrete patio floors
Benjamin Moore Floor & Patio is a premium quality, quick-drying latex floor enamel for both interior and exterior areas that experience high foot traffic — such as porches or patios. Floor & Patio from Benjamin Moore is an excellent choice for outdoor spaces that need a solid coat of paint that will retain its color and stand up to foot traffic. If you’re interested in a wood stain instead of paint, check out our review of Benjamin Moore Woodluxe Exterior Stains & Finishes.
Benjamin Moore Direct-to-Metal Paints
Benjamin Moore Ultra Spec HP D.T.M & Super Spec HP D.T.M
Grade: Premium direct-to-metal paints
Finishes: Low Lustre, Semi Gloss, Gloss
Formula Type: Acrylic Latex (Ultra Spec) or Soya-Alkyd (Super Spec)
Best Choice For: Bare metal surfaces
Benjamin Moore Ultra Spec and Super Spec direct-to-metal paints are high-quality products for painting exterior metal surfaces like garage doors or porch railings. These specialty metal paints include effective rust-inhibiting properties for a long-lasting finish on bare (unpainted) metal. We recommend Ultra Spec DTM Acrylic Enamel for non-ferrous metals like galvanized steel, aluminum, copper, or bronze. Benjamin Moore Super Spec Alkyd HP DTM is our choice for ferrous metals like cast iron, wrought iron, or stainless steel. For more details on these products, check out our guide on How to Paint Metal Surfaces.
What is the best sheen for exterior paint?
As a general rule, exterior siding is best painted in a flat or low lustre sheen to hide imperfections and get the best coverage per gallon. Trim, shutters, and doors are usually painted in a satin or semi-gloss sheen for added dimension and easier maintenance. Semi-gloss and high-gloss finishes are typically used on the front door or architectural focal points for an elegant look that is also durable and easy to clean.
If you plan to use semi-gloss or high-gloss paint, surface preparation is very important to avoid highlighting any blemishes. Be sure to fill all dents, caulk all gaps, and sand the surface thoroughly to prepare for a glossy finish.
Order Benjamin Moore Exterior Paint Online
Avoid the hassle of waiting for a paint order to be mixed, and order your Benjamin Moore paint products online! Ordering paint ahead of time is a great time-saver. You can pick up your paint order at your convenience, or arrange for delivery from Ring’s End to your door. We carry a large selection of Benjamin Moore products and ship anywhere in the U.S.
Ring’s End also offers Benjamin Moore paint color samples to help you choose the perfect colors for your project. Let our paint experts know if you have any project-specific questions or questions about Benjamin Moore products and we’ll be happy to help! You can reach our team using our online chat or by texting (203)-PRO HELP.