Paints vs. Coatings – which one is right for your next project?
Why Not Paint? When it’s time to refresh the exterior appearance of a building, paint is an obvious choice for many building owners. But did you know that paint isn’t a protective coating? While paint can change the substrates appearance, it’s not designed for performance and protection.
Paint’s primary function is aesthetic enhancement for interior or exterior use on multiple surface types. Furthermore, paints are often formulated with resin blends and are generally applied at a thinner application than coatings.
On the other hand, High Performance Coatings primarily function to protect the exterior substrate of a building. They are formulated with higher quality polymers and typically applied at a thicker application than a paint, though there are thin mil wall coatings. The robust formulas of high performing wall coatings have the ability to withstand the environmental elements, providing additional waterproofing as well as aesthetic enhancement.
Durability Property | Coatings | Paints |
| Wind driven rain | > 98 mph | < 60 mph |
| Accelerated weathering | 14 years | 5 years |
| Flexibility | Good | Poor |
| Carbonation protection | Yes | No |
| Mild chemical attack | Yes | Poor |
| Mask substrate flaws | Yes | No |
| Elongation + recovery | Yes | Poor |
| Wet adhesion promoter | Yes | No |
| Permeability | Yes | NR |
Senergy’s Wall Coatings portfolio includes Color Coat, Tersus Color Coat, Senerlastic and Senerlastic Plus.
Senergy’s Color Coat is a 100% acrylic, highly durable, and abrasion resistant with high permeability rating designed for application over a Senergy Wall System, it is ideal for recoats.
Senerlastic is 100% acrylic-based smooth elastomeric coating that provides excellent flexibility and weatherability. It has the ability to bridge hairline cracks.
Senerlastic Plus is 100% acrylic-based siliconized smooth elastomeric coating that provides excellent flexibility and improved weatherability. It has enhanced resistance to mildew growth and bridges hairline cracks.
Lastly, Senergy’s Color Coat Tersus is a thin mil wall coating that is highly hydrophobic offering self-cleaning capabilities, it is well suited for recoat application in areas where dirt pick up are a concern.
Restoration Project: Randolph River Center
The building exterior was refreshed using Senergy's high performance coating, Senerlastic Plus. Learn more about the project.
Senergy's Renew Restoration Program offers building owners solutions for every stage in the building lifecycle, from refresh and repair to overclad and reclad. Learn more here or contact us to discuss your next restoration project.