A Pro’s Take on SuperPaint and When To Upgrade
Sherwin-Williams SuperPaint is the perfect exterior paint for lowering material costs. There is no better option for those looking for a price-point product. It is also the best paint to use when painting vinyl siding. While we don’t use SuperPaint for wood, its ‘VinylSafe’ technology is a budget hero for the beautiful 1990s vinyl siding neighborhoods in Landover and Forestville Farms.
SuperPaint is also used in commercial new construction applications. Whenever a new large building goes up, we often see 200 to 500 gallons of paint stacked at the Sherwin-Williams on Hillboro Street, ready for delivery. When you need a lot of paint, every dollar you save adds up. Local painters in Raleigh sense your inclination toward lower prices and will reduce material quality first. Painters looking to reduce expenses will also recommend it.
This staple has been around for a long time. In many ways, it is Sherwin-Williams’ most popular exterior paint. While its name is familiar and sales are strong, it is not the best choice for quality exterior repaints.
Colors and Performance
SuperPaint has been reformulated numerous times over the past few years. As an exterior paint contractor, I have found these changes not to be beneficial. Due to water consistency, lack of coverage, and severe overspray, we stopped using SuperPaint many years ago.
After several reformulations, the performance started to suffer. After SW launched new exterior paints and SuperPaints, performance dropped too low for our high-quality exterior repaints. SuperPaint claims to contain around 43% solids. However, with gloss finishes, the consistency is too watery to brush. The reformulation clearly reduced pigment, most noticeable in off-white shades in an extra-white base containing little to no added colorant.
| Project Factor | SuperPaint (Value) | Latitude/Duration (Authority) |
|---|---|---|
| Substrate Suitability | Vinyl Siding, Brick, Stucco | Masonite, Wood Siding, Fine-Finish Trim |
| NC Climate Resistance | Moderate; prone to mildew after 3 years | Superior; high zinc-oxide levels for Raleigh humidity |
| Sheen Retention | Dulls rapidly in NC UV Index | Retains gloss and color integrity for 8+ years |
| Raleigh Best Use | Commercial/New Construction | Residential Repaints in North Raleigh/Cary |
*Pro Tip: Because labor accounts for ~70% of your quote, upgrading to a premium resin adds less than 5% to the total bill but doubles the lifespan of the finish.
Coverage
SuperPaint does not cover well in light colors. If you are painting trim or a bright color, be prepared to spray to ensure coverage. Even then, once the paint dries, the undercoat will likely still show through. Or be prepared to brush three very thick coats of paint for proper hide.
Brush Work
Now, the best use for this paint is low-cost production-style painting. Detailed brushwork is not its strong suit. The thin consistency is easy to brush but hard to control. Spatters and paint spills are common when brushing SuperPaint.
Spraying
Spraying is the best way to apply this product. However, it has tremendous overspray due to it being thin. So, you save money on the price but have to use more and lose more paint due to overspray.
Finish and Sheen
All finishes are available. This includes flat, satin, gloss, and high gloss. Flashing is an issue in satin finishes. Therefore, we recommend applying two generous coats of paint for a uniform shine.
Colors
There are no limits to colors. It is tintable in extra white, deep, and ultra-deep bases. All light and dark colors are available to choose from.
SuperWhite
Super White is a stock exterior color. Sherwin-Williams offers this color in SuperPaint for slightly improved hide.
Prepackaged Black
Stock tricorn black is available prepackaged. It covers and retains its color the best. It is our go-to color for shutters and front doors.
Longterm Durability & The Best Upgrades
Superpaint will only last 4 to 6 years on a properly prepared exterior surface. Its durability isn’t as strong as that of comparable outdoor paints, like Benjamin Moore Element. But if Sherwin-Williams is your preferred brand, upgrade to Latitude for greater protection; SW Latitude is a worthy choice.
SuperPaint Cost and Low Tier Comparisons
SuperPaint exterior will save upfront costs and is not the worst performer on the market when compared to DuraCraft and A100. But, like other low-performing paints, it will increase home maintenance costs over time. If you are selling or renting, this may not be a concern. Upgrading your paint is a must for those who want to control future maintenance costs.
The rising cost of paint is making homeowners and contractors make tough decisions. And prices are expected to continue to rise. In fact, our paint prices have not seen a significant decrease in over 10 years. Since SuperPaint has been around for so long, its price has increased by 400% over the past 25 years.
For many years, SuperPaint was Sherwin-Williams’s highest-grade exterior paint. But like many products, the changes forced obsolescence and the quest for better performance. The first significant change was a price increase. The contractor price in the early 2000s was around $16.00 per gallon; today, expect to pay between $30 and $45.00 per gallon.
SuperPaint Performance Issues
This exterior paint is a medium-grade siding paint. However, simply put, your trim, doors, and windows need better paint. Additionally, SuperPaint leaves a sticky finish after it dries. So, using it to paint doors and windows is less than ideal.
Using it on brick, stucco, and other concrete surfaces can be brilliant. These surfaces don’t need strong protection. However, it should not be applied to wood surfaces that require added protection. Hardboard and Masonite siding need a paint upgrade.
Adhesion and Stain Resistance
The best thing about SuperPaint is how well it sticks to different surfaces. It has a unique ability to stick to thin vinyl and PVC without damage or warping. However, unpainted wood surfaces still need a proper primer.
The not-so-good news is that its stain resistance is poor. Bright white colors show dirt and rainwater stains the worst. Gutters also stain easily from roof water runoff. So, premature black streaks and dirt stains are part of what it means to use SuperPaint.
Expansion and Contraction
For the first 3 to 5 years, SuperPaint excels in elasticity due to its high vinyl polymer content. Being able to expand and contract helps with expansion joints in siding and trim. In many ways, SuperPaint stretches almost as well as caulk. But don’t get too excited, because after 5 years, the paint will begin to crack around the expansion joints.
Sheen Retension Loss
Painting outdoors in a satin finish adds protection to your home. But a shiny SuperPaint finish exposed to the sun will start to dull faster than higher-quality options and will degrade much faster. Rapid paint sheen loss makes future matching touch-ups impossible.
Paint is composed of pigments (color) and a binder (the resin/glue). The binder is responsible for the “sheen”. It creates a smooth, continuous film that allows for Specular Reflection (light bouncing off a surface in a single direction, like a mirror).
When exterior paint is exposed to Ultraviolet (UV) radiation, the high-energy photons break the chemical bonds within the polymer chains of the binder. This process, called scission, creates free radicals that react with atmospheric oxygen. This chemical reaction essentially “burns” away the top layer of the resin.
After 3 years, touch-up paint simply will not match. So, if the outside has to be painted for any reason, the entire area must be completely repainted.
Mold and Mildew Resistance
Organic growth is prone to accumulate faster. It’s because it is a softer paint that primarily consists of vinyl polymers. Higher-grade Sherwin-Williams paints contain added acrylic and zinc oxide to better withstand our wet, humid climate.
All exterior paints for houses contain at least a low level of zinc oxide. The issue is that the additive is only a protective agent and does not prevent mold, mildew, or algae. SuperPaints will retain moisture well after zinc oxide has degraded.
Do We Recommend it?
We are a local painting contractor here in Raleigh, NC. We have painted houses year after year for the past two decades. So, we have a lot of experience. Needless to say, we also have our opinions based on our professional expertise.
We only use SuperPaint for new construction and commercial exterior painting. We don’t recommend Sherwin-Williams SuperPaint if you’re considering repainting your home. It’s no longer a premium exterior paint.
If your local painter mentions it or wants to use it for your home, ask to upgrade. 60 to 80% of any painting service is labor. Paying for less durable paint is a true disservice. We will go so far as to say that the painter who is recommending it should also be put to the question. You are reading this article for information. These are not claims but realities based on our experience.
If you live in Raleigh or nearby, contact us. We offer expert service and have extensive experience with other products and applications. We back all our services with a warranty, but only when we apply premium paints.
