Exterior paint

[outmonday]

A painter and decorator told me that exterior paint only lasts 3 years now because Health & Safety has removed something hazardous. Is this true and which is the best brand? Can't afford to have it all redone that often.

Sounds like flannel to me, but then I'm an old cynic! (And I must admit I know nothing about exterior paint!)

exterior paint is all water based, isn't it - like emulsion? the textured stuff has sort of sand in it but I can't imagine what might be hazardous.

Not true at all. I work for a very famous paint band.

do you mean gloss paint on windowframes and doors?

the formulation has changed to reduce VOCs, that's probably what he means. I don't think masonry paint has changed because it has been water-based low VOCs for a long time.