What kind of paint would you recommend for painting a wood fence and the trim on the house: Is an acrylic stain better or semigloss exterior paint better in terms of durability and withstanding desert sun?
Also, is Behr Acrylic latex the same as an acrylic stain and any preference for that vs. Acrybond by Vista? Thanks.

You're going to think I'm nuts but here goes.

I bought some Weatherbeater paint some 7years ago and painted my wooden shed with it. Now, some 7 years later I noticed some rotten wood up near the eaves of the shed. I painted the entire shed all over again using Rustoleum White Gloss paint. I also had to repaint my wooden porch as the other paint kept peeling off. I used the Rustoleum paint 2 years ago when painting my 2 porches. The paint has held up nicely.

I don't think you'll get the desired effect you want (durability) if you go with anything other than an oil based paint. One gallon of Rustoleum costs about $32 and is well worth the extra money spent. I usually put 2 coats on any wood surface and it covers quite nicely.

If you want to have your brushes last longer when using an oil based paint do what I do. I put the paint brush with the paint still on it and not cleaned off in any way into a large baggie. Carefully zip it closed so it's airtight and put it into my freezer compartment of my fridge. I used the same brush all summer long when I was painting my porches and shed and it's still going strong when I had it out yesterday to do some touch up on my shed. Don't clean the brush with solvents until you are totally done painting for the season. I've had that same brush (my favorite) for about 4 years now. I only take it out of the freezer when I'm done for the season and clean it thoroughly and store in my shed for the winter.

I've tried acrylic stain and found it does not last. I did live in South Florida and found that oil based paint in the scorching sun lasted longer though. Why I ever painted my shed with anything other than an oil based paint was basically my stupidity thinking Oh, I'll just try this nice water clean up paint this time. The cost of that paint was the same as good oil based paint also. What a mistake that was. Now I had to do some wood repair since the wood basically shrunk and got dried out from that other paint.

The only problem with the Rustoleum paint is that the paint is limited color selection wise and doesn't come in a zillion different colors. I like white so I had no problem in the color department!

Stain is not going to give your more than 3-4 years. Oil based paints used to be the best until the feds started telling the paint companies to get the lead out along with other chemicals. A good acrylic exterior enamel will last at least 5-10 years if you have preped the wood correctly, primed and applied the paint correctly, not easy to accomplish on a fence.

Oil paints should be used when you have no other choice. Check with a good paint dealer and don't paint during the day when it's the hottest time of the day. Use a good exterior primer. Stains? The only stains I know that work are oil based. Arcrylic paints for exterior (good ones) should work, but do not settle for the cheapest brand you can find.

Do a little reserch, some paints have a good UV protection in them as well. Also, painting with darker colors will actually absorb more heat.