Choosing the Right Exterior Paint

Acrylic vs. Elastomeric vs. Masonry Coatings

Meta description: Learn which exterior paint type works best for Benbrook homes—acrylic, elastomeric, or masonry coatings—based on siding material, cracking, moisture, and long-term durability.

In Benbrook, exterior paint has a job that goes way beyond “looking nice.” It has to handle blazing sun, heavy rain bursts, humidity swings, and expansion-and-contraction that can stress even a good coating system. That’s why choosing the right type of exterior paint matters just as much as choosing the right color.

Homeowners often ask us about three categories: standard exterior acrylic paint, elastomeric coatings, and masonry coatings. They’re not interchangeable, and using the wrong one can lead to peeling, trapped moisture, or a finish that shows every crack you were trying to hide.

Exterior Acrylic Paint: The Best All-Around Choice for Most Benbrook Homes

If your home has fiber cement, wood trim, engineered wood siding, or previously painted siding in decent shape, a high-quality 100% acrylic exterior paint is usually the go-to.

Why acrylic performs well here

Acrylic paints:

• resist UV fade better than many cheaper coatings
• flex with mild movement without cracking
• breathe enough to let moisture vapor escape (important in humid stretches)
• offer excellent adhesion when prep is done right

Where acrylic shines

• Fiber cement siding and trim
• Wood fascia and soffits
• Previously painted siding with good adhesion
• Areas with strong sun exposure where fade resistance matters

Acrylic is often the safest bet for long-term performance because it balances durability with breathability.

Elastomeric Coatings: Great for Hairline Cracks—When the Surface Needs It

Elastomeric coatings are thicker, more rubbery, and designed to bridge small cracks—especially on stucco or masonry surfaces that tend to show hairline checking over time.

When elastomeric makes sense

• Stucco with lots of fine cracks
• Masonry surfaces where crack-bridging is the priority
• Walls that need a thicker film to smooth out minor imperfections

The caution in Benbrook: moisture management

Elastomerics can be fantastic, but they’re not a cure-all. Because they form a thicker membrane, they can trap moisture if the wall has ongoing water intrusion (cracked stucco, bad flashing, irrigation spray, or drainage issues). That can lead to bubbling or coating failure later.

So the best use case is: fix moisture problems first, then use elastomeric where crack-bridging genuinely adds value.

Masonry Coatings: Best for Brick and Block, Not for Everything

“Masonry paint” or masonry coatings are designed specifically for porous surfaces like brick, CMU block, and some concrete. They can help create a more uniform finish on rough, absorbent surfaces and hold up better than standard wall paint on those materials.

Where masonry coatings are a good fit

• Painted brick exteriors (especially when repainting responsibly)
• CMU block walls or privacy walls
• Certain concrete features and foundations

What to watch for

Brick is porous and needs to breathe. Paint choices must respect that. On some homes, breathable systems or specialty primers matter to prevent peeling and blistering—especially on shaded sides where moisture lingers longer.

Also, painting brick puts you on a maintenance cycle. That’s not “bad,” it’s just reality.

How We Choose the Right System for Your Benbrook Exterior

When Stellar Painting evaluates an exterior in Benbrook, we base the coating plan on the substrate and what the current surface is doing—not just what a label says.

We look at:

• Material: fiber cement, wood, stucco, brick, or mixed
• Existing coating: chalking, peeling, previous elastomeric layers
• Cracks: hairline vs. structural movement
• Moisture risk: sprinklers, gutters, shade, drainage patterns
• Exposure: west-facing sun, trees, wind-driven rain zones

Then we choose the product system that bonds properly and performs for the long haul.

Common Mistakes We Help Homeowners Avoid

A few problems we’re called to fix:

• Using elastomeric on surfaces that should breathe more, leading to blistering
• Painting over chalky masonry without proper cleaning and bonding primer
• Using standard acrylic over active stucco cracking and expecting it to “hide” it
• Skipping primer on bare or repaired areas, causing early peeling

The right coating doesn’t replace prep. It rewards good prep.

The Bottom Line: Match the Paint Type to the Surface

If you want one simple way to think about it:

• Acrylic: most siding and trim, general durability
• Elastomeric: stucco/masonry with hairline cracks, when moisture is controlled
• Masonry coatings: brick/block/concrete surfaces that need a compatible system

If you’re not sure what your home needs, that’s normal—most people shouldn’t have to be paint chemists to get a lasting result.

If you want help choosing the right exterior paint system for your Benbrook home (and getting prep done the way it needs to be), CALL NOW to schedule a free estimate with Stellar Painting.