Living in a tropical climate, you get used to being the envy of the Northern Hemisphere every winter. But the trade-off is you deal with inconveniences that don’t exist in other parts of the country: unrelenting humidity, sunshine, and hurricane season. Traditional building materials don’t hold up to tropical moisture and UV exposure. Latex paint has risen in popularity in recent years because of its low VOC and environmental friendliness. But the formula that makes it easy to use also makes it prone to fading, bubbling and peeling in Florida’s humid atmosphere. Enamel paint takes a little more time and skill to use but will look better longer than latex. Here are some of our best tips for how to use enamel paint.

Work slowly

Part of why water-based latex paint has risen in popularity in recent years is because it’s faster to apply and quick to dry. Enamel paint provides better protection for external surfaces, but it also readily shows mistakes from the process. To get enamel paint to look its best, take your time with every step of the process.

1. Make sure the surface to be painted is immaculate–dirt, dust, and debris will show in the final product of the painted surface.
2. Use a primer to ensure good adhesion between the enamel paint and the exterior surface you’re paintin