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Sherwin-Williams exterior grades

Coatings designed for Florida to protect, preserve and beautify.

Sherwin-Williams sells exterior paint in tiers, and the tier matters more than the color. Here is what separates Emerald, Duration, Latitude and SuperPaint, plus the Pro Industrial water based alkyd urethane enamel we reach for on doors, trim and metal, and the clear Loxon silane we use on bare brick, pavers and masonry — and where each one earns its price on a home in Pasco or Hillsborough County.

Mediterranean-style Florida estate with a terracotta tile roof, royal palms and a paver driveway
Grand Florida estate behind a row of royal palms Illustration of a one-gallon can of Emerald Exterior Acrylic Latex

Emerald® Exterior Acrylic Latex

Top tier

Their flagship exterior coating. Cross-linking resin technology gives it extreme resistance to blistering and peeling, and it is self-priming on properly prepared surfaces.

  • TechnologyCross-linking acrylic; self-priming
  • WarrantyLifetime limited
  • SheensFlat and satin (gloss in some markets)
  • CoverageExcellent hide, heavy film build

Where we use it: full-repaint exteriors where you want the longest service life, on homes with heavy sun exposure, and whenever a deep or saturated body color is going on stucco.

Film build, per coat: 250–300 sq ft/gal · 5.3–6.4 mils wet · 2.1–2.5 mils dry

White waterfront estate with green shutters and palms Illustration of a one-gallon can of Duration Exterior Acrylic Coating

Duration® Exterior Acrylic Coating

Premium

Built around PermaLast® technology and acrylic co-polymers for a thicker film than ordinary latex, with strong resistance to cracking, peeling and blistering plus a mildew-resistant coating.

  • TechnologyPermaLast® acrylic co-polymers
  • WarrantyLifetime limited
  • SheensFlat, satin and gloss
  • CoatsSelf-priming: one on repaints, two on bare surfaces

Where we use it: our workhorse for full exteriors. The thicker film bridges hairline stucco cracks well, and the mildew resistance matters in Florida humidity.

Film build, per coat: 250–300 sq ft/gal · 5.3–6.4 mils wet · 2.1–2.7 mils dry

Aerial view of a Mediterranean home with terracotta roofs and a pool Illustration of a one-gallon can of Latitude Exterior Acrylic Latex

Latitude™ with ClimateFlex™

Weather-adaptive

Formulated for hostile weather windows. ClimateFlex combines early moisture resistance with ExtremeTemp technology, so the film resists moisture within 30 minutes even at 35°F.

  • TechnologyClimateFlex™: early moisture + ExtremeTemp
  • Application range35°F to 120°F air, surface and material
  • Moisture resistanceWithin 30 minutes at 35°F
  • SheensFlat, satin and gloss

Where we use it: the Florida rainy season. When an afternoon storm can arrive before a coat has fully set, the early moisture resistance protects the work. The 120°F ceiling also helps on west elevations in July.

Film build, per coat: 350–400 sq ft/gal · 4.0 mils wet · 1.4 mils dry

Cluster of white coastal homes in Alys Beach, Florida Illustration of a one-gallon can of SuperPaint Exterior Acrylic Latex

SuperPaint® Exterior Acrylic Latex

Solid value

Advanced acrylic resin technology for adhesion and color retention, with a dirt-resistant and mildew-resistant coating that resists frost, peeling, blistering, fading and cracking.

  • TechnologyAdvanced acrylic resin; dirt resistant
  • WarrantyLifetime limited
  • SheensFlat, low lustre, satin, gloss, high gloss
  • Application rangeMost sheens down to 35°F

Where we use it: rental and investment property, outbuildings, budget-driven repaints, and homes being prepared for sale where a clean, uniform finish matters more than a twenty-year horizon.

Film build, per coat: 350–400 sq ft/gal · 4.0 mils wet · 1.5 mils dry

Mediterranean beachfront home with palms in Florida Illustration of a one-gallon can of Pro Industrial Water Based Alkyd Urethane

Pro Industrial™ Water Based Alkyd Urethane Enamel

Specialty · water based

A urethane-modified alkyd resin in a waterborne package: the hard, smooth finish of a traditional oil enamel with water cleanup, far less odor, and no tendency to yellow.

  • TechnologyUrethane-modified alkyd, waterborne
  • StrengthsFlow and leveling, washability, exceptional touch-up
  • SubstratesDrywall, wood, masonry and metal, interior or exterior
  • YellowingResists yellowing, unlike traditional oil

Where we use it: doors, trim, cabinets and railings in occupied homes — where you want an enamel-hard finish but cannot live with solvent odor for days, and where white trim must stay white.

Film build, per coat: film build per product data sheet

Paver driveway and walk in front of a white stucco home Illustration of a one-gallon can of Loxon 40% Silane Water Repellent

Loxon® 40% Silane Water Repellent

Clear · bare masonry

Not a paint. A clear silane that soaks into bare concrete and masonry and reacts with it, so the surface resists water, salt and efflorescence while keeping its natural, uncoated look.

  • Technology40% silane, penetrating and breathable
  • FinishClear, no film — treated areas look untreated
  • SurfacesBare concrete, brick, block, stucco and pavers
  • Tested95% less chloride intrusion (NCHRP 244); 88% water repellency (Rilem tube)
  • ApplicationOne flood coat, 50–90°F, 4–5 hours rain-free, 7 days to fully react

Where we use it: natural brick, pavers, driveways and unpainted stucco you want to keep uncoated. It does not go over paint, stains or sealers, and it will not seal cracks — those get repaired first.

Film build: none — it penetrates the substrate rather than forming a film

Side by side

 EmeraldDurationLatitudeSuperPaintPro Industrial
WB Alkyd Urethane
Loxon 40%
Silane (clear)
TierFlagshipPremiumPremium, weather-adaptiveValueSpecialty enamelSpecialty, clear
Signature technologyCross-linking resinPermaLast®ClimateFlex™Advanced acrylic resinUrethane-modified alkyd, waterbornePenetrating 40% silane
Self-primingYesYesYesOn most surfacesNo — prime per substrateNo primer — bare masonry only
Mildew-resistant coatingYesYesYesYesSee data sheetNot a coating
Cold-weather applicationStandardStandardDown to 35°F, moisture resistant in 30 minMost sheens to 35°FSee data sheet50°F minimum
WarrantyLifetime limitedLifetime limitedLifetime limitedLifetime limitedSee product labelSee product label
Relative costHighestHighHighModerateHighVaries with porosity (50–200 sq ft/gal)

Film build is what a coat actually measures: wet mils is the thickness right off the roller or gun, dry mils is what remains once the water leaves. Dry film is where durability comes from, and it is the first thing lost when a crew stretches a gallon past its spread rate. Figures above are per coat from Sherwin-Williams' product data sheets, satin unless noted, and vary by sheen and substrate.

A "lifetime limited warranty" from Sherwin-Williams covers the product peeling or blistering for as long as you own the home, when it is applied per their instructions to a properly prepared surface. It does not cover poor surface preparation, structural defects, failure of a previous coat, or improper application — which is the whole argument for a contractor who preps properly.

What actually decides how long your paint lasts

Grade matters, but it is third on the list. In order: surface preparation, film build, then product. A top-tier gallon over chalked stucco or failing caulk will fail early; a mid-tier gallon over sound, clean, primed substrate at the right thickness will outlive it.

That is why we walk every elevation before quoting, and why our proposals name the product, the sheen and the number of coats instead of saying "two coats of paint".

How we pick for your home

Get a free estimate How paint is made Call (813) 294-2479

Sources and fine print

Product details summarized from Sherwin-Williams product pages and data sheets:

Sherwin-Williams®, Emerald®, Duration®, PermaLast®, SuperPaint®, Latitude™, ClimateFlex™, Pro Industrial™ and Loxon® are trademarks of The Sherwin-Williams Company. Villa Portofino Inc. is an independent painting contractor and is not affiliated with or endorsed by Sherwin-Williams. Formulations, sheens, warranties and availability change; confirm current specifications on the product label or data sheet before you buy. The can images on this page are our own simplified illustrations, not product photographs, and do not reproduce Sherwin-Williams packaging or labeling.