Painting Practices: Why Two Coats of Paint Is Usually Ideal for Exterior Painting

February 4, 2025

a homeowner painting the outside of their house

Are you planning to paint your home’s exterior? There is perhaps no better way to give your house a refreshed appearance and boost your overall curbside value! That said, it’s important to make sure you’re doing things by the book. Most people mistakenly don’t realize that it’s possible to use too much paint, instead thinking that more paint leads to a better-quality job. Continue reading to learn more about why you don’t want to use too many coats of paint, along with a few benefits of using two high-quality coats.  

How Many Coats of Paint Will I Need for My Painting Project?

Most professional painters agree that in the majority of cases, two coats of paint are ideal for ensuring complete coverage when painting your home. There are a few general exceptions to this; sometimes if you’re adding a fresh coat of paint over the exact same color, you can get away with just a single coat. On the other hand, a newly built home will always benefit from a second coat that serves as a protective finish from the elements. However, you should never neglect to add a second coat due to time constraints, negligence, or other reasons unless you’ve been advised that it isn’t necessary.

It’s also worth noting that when it comes to painting, quality is far more important than quantity. Simply adding more and more layers of paint won’t do your results any good, and it would essentially be a waste of effort and money. Three or more coats of paint would be far too heavy to remain properly adhered to the wall, and it might even lead to functional damage.

The Benefits of a Second Coat of Paint

It’s true that adding a second coat of paint will take a little extra time and effort, but it’s incredibly worthwhile. Some notable advantages of a second coat of paint include:

  • The second coat often creates a much richer color, which is ideal if you’re changing colors. An additional coat can also hide any errors made during the first round of painting.
  • Paint actually adheres better when applied to an underlying layer of paint, compared to an unprepared, rough, or unclean wall.
  • The second coat of paint protects the first layer, which in turn protects your home’s foundation from wear and tear.
  • It’s cost-effective; believe it or not, the cost of adding a second coat is very minimal in comparison to just one coat.

The bottom line is that in most cases, three coats of paint are too many, and one might end up being too few – for most house painting projects, two coats of paint will suffice. If you still have doubts, though, don’t hesitate to consult a team of professionals for their insight; they will be able to almost immediately inform you how much paint is needed!

About Platinum Painting of McKinney

Our team here at Platinum Painting of McKinney has assisted homeowners in McKinney and all around the DFW metroplex for over 15 years, offering a wide variety of interior and exterior painting services. If you have a vision for your home, we’re more than happy to help you achieve it! If you have any questions about the blog or you’d like to get in touch with our team to set up a FREE in-home estimate, please visit us online or call today for more information. Telephone: (469) 617-6476.