Best Exterior Paint to Prevent Mold – How to Kill Mold

Molds and Mildew are very unpleasant things to see, not only that, mold brings potential danger to people and pets near it due to the respiratory complications that it can cause when you inhale spores or fragments of certain molds.

Generally speaking molds, and mildew are always a pain to deal with, and this is one of the times where prevention is better than dealing with rotting walls.

Today we are going to take a look at the best exterior paints to prevent mold and mildew buildup, saving you time, money, and effort, but for now, let’s answer some common questions related to preventing mold.

Is exterior paint mold resistant?

Not all paints out for sale are mold-resistant, some are just used for the color it brings. When it comes to mold-resistant paint, the paint is not going to 100% prevent the growth of mold, but it sure does make it hard for the mold to grow.

Although Mold resistant paints are getting more popular these days, it is rarely discussed by homeowners who would want to restore their homes by themselves.

While other paints don’t use anti-microbial ingredients because their method of preventing mold is to seal up every crevice on your walls to limit the oxygen needed by mold to grow specific ingredients for these types of paints are usually hidden as a secret so other companies in the paint industry cannot copy the formulas of each other.

It is also worth taking note that the effects of mold-resistant paint are only effective for a certain lifespan, usually 5 years.

Best Exterior Paint to Prevent Mold – Can You Just Paint Over Mold?

The simple answer is, No, you can’t just paint over a molded surface and call it a day, in fact, that will make things worse.

Painting over molds means that you are just hiding them, although to be fair, some paints can seal the little crevices that the mold is in, and maybe without oxygen, it’ll die out. That is if you got lucky.

I strongly recommend that you should go through the extra effort of removing the molds first before painting the surface with a fresh coat of paint, that way you can have peace of mind knowing that there’s no mold growing under your paint.

Rust-Oleum Zinsser Perma-White Exterior Satin

Since the exterior of your home is exposed to direct sunlight, humidity, and tons of oxygen, molds, and mildew are commonly found growing near your roofline and near the ground.

The Rust-Oleum Zinsser PermaWhite Exterior Satin paint will take care of that problem, with an easy application process this paint will not only save your surfaces, it also saves your time.

This paint uses a mildewcide-infused formulation offering up to 5 years of protection, preventing any mold and mildew from growing on your walls.

One convenience it offers is the so-called self-priming formula, which means you don’t have to sand down your surface for this paint to adhere, but it is still recommended to apply this paint with prior preparation and priming to ensure the best performance of this paint.

When this paint dries, it forms a film of protection, resisting dirt, residue, and moisture from sticking to the surface, and in the mildewcide is also present on that film.

Besides the protection it offers, the paint will also resist any cracking, fading, and peeling for 15 years. The paint is advertised to have a satin finish, and it delivers a smooth, flat, and even finish.

KILZ Premium High-Hide Stain Blocking Primer/Sealer

This paint uses mildewcide and blocking properties to hold mold and mildew from growing on most surfaces.

As the product name suggests this paint is best used as a primer or sealer. It is best used for wood and rough wall application as it covers and occupies the little bumps and crevices a surface may have.

And that alone can help prevent the growth of mold because molds and mildew also need space to get into, oxygen, and moisture.

Covering a surface with the intent of sealing it, effectively cuts the mold from the things it needs for it to grow.

If that is not enough, this paint also has a mildewcide formula that not only prevents the growth of mold and mildew, it also kills existing mold and mildew on your surface.

This paint is best used for woodwork, exterior walls, drywalls, concrete surfaces. It gives benefits to anything it adheres to, with its simple application and significant features for protection, this is one of the best paint/ primer/sealants you can get.

Rust-Oleum Marine Topside Paint

This pain is specifically designed for boats and is formulated such that it can be applied with a brush or a spray. This paint is also the only oil-based paint mentioned in this list.

This paint is available in 9 colors which are white, semi-gloss white, oyster white, sand beige, battleship gray, black, bright red, deep green, and navy blue.

A boat’s paint has to endure from intense moisture and humidity, to literally soaking wet, it also needs to withstand UV radiation.

This paint is formulated to be used on fiberglass, wood, and metal surfaces, and while it is mainly used on boats, other people recommend and use this paint for their shower ceilings and other surfaces mainly in a bathroom, well if it offers sail ready boat protection, it should’ve withstood bathroom wear and tear, and prevent molds and mildew.

This product doesn’t specify how it can protect surfaces from mildew and mold, but some people are highly satisfied with this paint, as it protects surfaces very well.

Yes, there are other choices if you are uncomfortable with the thought that this is specially made for boats, but you can’t deny the protection it offers, and the quality of this paint is simply good, and it simply works with anything.

Rust-Oleum Zinsser Mold Killing Primer

As the name suggests, this primer paint is focused on killing existing mold and mildew, as well as fungi and moss.

The formulation in this paint is different from the mildewcide added paints mentioned in this list, that is because this paint uses a fungicidal additive that will protect your surfaces from most bacterial buildup. As advertised, this primer also removes water stains giving more restoring properties.

In terms of prevention, this paint prevents molds and mildew from growing back using an EPA registered anti-microbial.

The manufacturer of this primer recommends using the Rust-Oleum Zinsser Perma-White which is also mentioned in this list, as its topcoat for maximum protection.

The Rust-Oleum Zinsser Mold Killing Primer is best used on bathrooms, unventilated surfaces, and also used for uneven surfaces so your topcoat will adhere properly.

If this primer can’t remove a stain, it hides and seals stains like residual fungal stains and microbiological stains.

Did you like our Best Exterior Paint to Prevent Mold Review? Please comment and check our other reviews – Best Primer for Pressure Treated Wood could interesting for you!