Benjamin Moore Element Guard · Exterior paint
Rain-ready in 60 minutes.
Built for wet weather.
Element Guard is Benjamin Moore's exterior paint made for the toughest painting conditions: moisture. It resists rain as soon as 60 minutes after you paint, goes on down to 1.7 °C, and stands up to wind-driven rain, humidity, cracking and peeling. It has a mildew-resistant coating and a limited lifetime warranty.
60 minto rain resistance*
1.7 °Cminimum application temp
$33.99946 mL from
$249+ships free in Canada
*Over wood, primed or previously painted surfaces at 25 °C and 50% humidity. Hardboard and vinyl may take longer.
Boothbay GrayHC-165 · try any colour
Peinture extérieure Element Guard®
Prix habituel
$35.99 CAD
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Benjamin Moore Element Guard Exterior Paint
Element Guard is Benjamin Moore's premium 100% acrylic exterior paint made for high-moisture conditions. It resists rain as soon as 60 minutes after application, applies down to 1.7 °C (35 °F), and stands up to wind-driven rain, humidity, cracking and peeling. It has a mildew-resistant coating and a limited lifetime warranty. Choose Flat, Low Lustre or Soft Gloss.
Key Features
- Rain resistant in 60 minutes over wood, primed or previously painted surfaces (25 °C, 50% RH). Hardboard and vinyl may take longer.
- Low-temperature application down to 1.7 °C.
- Excellent adhesion that resists cracking, peeling and wind-driven rain.
- Mildew-resistant coating, tested to ASTM D3273 (no growth).
- Limited lifetime warranty for the original residential purchaser.
- Low VOC (under 50 g/L), soap-and-water clean-up.
Where to Use It
New or previously painted wood, hardboard siding, cured masonry, EIFS, vinyl and unglazed brick. Exterior use only. Not for walking surfaces. Apply at 1.7–37.7 °C. On vinyl siding, don't use a colour darker than the original or with an LRV below 57 unless it's in Benjamin Moore's Colours for Vinyl palette.
Finishes, Sizes and Colours
- Flat (0.5–2.5 @ 85°): siding, stucco and masonry.
- Low Lustre (10–15 @ 60°): most siding.
- Soft Gloss (50–60 @ 60°): trim, doors, shutters and railings.
946 mL and 3.78 L in every finish, plus 18.9 L in Flat and Low Lustre. Tinted to any Benjamin Moore colour, and we can match colours from other brands. Compare with Aura Exterior and Regal Select Exterior.
Specs & Coverage
| Type | 100% acrylic exterior paint |
| Coverage | 300–400 sq ft (27.9–37.2 m²) per 3.78 L |
| Coats | 1 or 2 |
| Dry time (25 °C, 50% RH) | Touch: 1 hour. Recoat: 4 hours. Rain resistant: as soon as 60 minutes. Washable after 2 weeks |
| Application temperature | 1.7–37.7 °C (35–100 °F), air and surface |
| VOC | Under 50 g/L |
| Application | Brush, roller or airless spray (1,500–2,500 PSI, 0.013–0.017 tip; Soft Gloss 1,500–2,000 PSI, 0.010–0.015) |
| Thinning | Max 236 mL water or K518 Extender per 3.78 L |
| Clean-up | Warm soapy water. Mineral spirits rinse for spray equipment |
Application Guide
- Check the weather: air and surface at least 1.7 °C, ideally an hour or more of dry weather after each section.
- Wash and prep: remove dirt, mildew, chalk and loose paint, dull glossy areas and let surfaces dry.
- Prime where needed: Fresh Start on hardboard, unglazed brick, bleeding woods and pitted vinyl; metal primer on bare steel.
- Box your cans, then brush, roll or spray from unpainted into wet paint.
- Second coat after 4 hours.
- Keep your receipt for the warranty.
FAQ
1How soon can it rain after painting?
As soon as 60 minutes over wood, primed or previously painted surfaces at 25 °C. Hardboard, vinyl and cooler or damper weather take longer.
2How much do I need for my house?
A 3.78 L can covers 300–400 sq ft per coat. Two coats on 1,500 sq ft of siding take about 8 to 10 cans.
3Can I paint vinyl siding?
Yes, in a colour no darker than the original and with an LRV of 57 or higher, or one from Benjamin Moore's Colours for Vinyl palette.
Canada Shipping
- Enjoy free shipping in Canada on orders over $249. Yukon, NWT, Nunavut not included.
Winter Shipping:
- From December to April, shipping outside of Ontario and Quebec is limited.
- Returns accepted within 35 days from the date of delivery.
- Custom tinted paints are classified as Final Sale items and are not eligible for return or store credit.
Why Element Guard
Made for the weather we actually get.
Spring rain, fall drizzle, cool mornings and damp evenings make exterior painting a gamble. Element Guard is formulated for high moisture, so a surprise shower is less likely to ruin the job.
01
Rain-ready in 60 minutes
Resists rain as soon as an hour after you paint, over wood, primed or previously painted surfaces at 25 °C. Cool or damp weather takes longer.
02
Paint down to 1.7 °C
Goes on when air and surface are as cool as 1.7 °C, so you can keep painting into the cool shoulder seasons.
03
Holds up for the long haul
Excellent adhesion that resists cracking, peeling and wind-driven rain, with a mildew-resistant coating. Backed by a limited lifetime warranty.
For new or previously painted wood, hardboard siding, cured masonry, EIFS (stucco systems), vinyl and unglazed brick. Exterior use only, and not for decks or other walking surfaces.
Pick your finish
Three finishes, from siding to front door.
Tap a finish to select it in your order. All three come in 946 mL and 3.78 L, and Flat and Low Lustre also come in an 18.9 L pail.
Paint calculator
How much do I need?
Enter your house's outside length and width and the wall height to the eaves. We'll work out the cans, using 300 sq ft per 3.78 L, the low end of Benjamin Moore's coverage so you don't run short.
ft
ft
ft
Coats
You need
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Set up for a 36 × 28 ft two-storey house. Add gables separately (width × gable height ÷ 2 for each). Painting only the front, or just trim and doors? Enter that wall's size, or a 946 mL can often does a front door. Flat and Low Lustre switch to 18.9 L pails when they work out cheaper.
Colour ideas
Start with the favourites.
Browse by colour family. Tap a colour to use it for your order, or search every Benjamin Moore colour in the box above Add to cart.
Painting vinyl siding? Choose a colour no darker than the original with a Light Reflective Value (LRV) of 57 or higher, or one from Benjamin Moore's Colours for Vinyl palette. Darker colours absorb heat and can warp vinyl. Not sure? Ask us before you order. Screen colours are a guide, so try a colour sample on your house first.
Compare
Element Guard, Regal Select or Aura Exterior?
Best exterior paint
Aura Exterior
- Best for
- The richest, most fade-resistant colour, especially deep shades in full sun.
- What you get
- Colour Lock technology, dirt pick-up resistance, self-priming and four finishes.
- From
High build
Regal Select Exterior
- Best for
- Weathered or textured siding where you want thick, high-hide coverage.
- What you get
- A high-build, self-priming film, 1.6 °C application and a limited lifetime warranty.
- From
Wet weather
Element Guard
- Best for
- Damp climates, shaded walls and jobs where rain is never far off.
- What you get
- Rain resistance in 60 minutes, 1.7 °C application, a mildew-resistant coating and a limited lifetime warranty.
- From
Specs
The details.
| Type | 100% acrylic exterior paint |
|---|---|
| Finishes | Flat (0.5–2.5 @ 85°), Low Lustre (10–15 @ 60°), Soft Gloss (50–60 @ 60°) |
| Coverage | 300–400 sq ft per 3.78 L |
| Coats | 1 or 2 |
| Dry time | Touch 1 hour. Recoat 4 hours. Rain resistant in as little as 60 minutes*. Washable after 2 weeks |
| Apply at | 1.7–37.7 °C (35–100 °F), air and surface |
| VOC | Under 50 g/L |
| Apply with | Nylon/polyester brush, premium roller or airless spray (0.013–0.017 tip; Soft Gloss 0.010–0.015) |
| Clean-up | Warm soapy water. Mineral spirits rinse for spray equipment |
| Tested | Wind-driven rain (ASTM D6904), mildew resistance (ASTM D3273/D3274, no growth), flexibility (no cracking) |
| Warranty | Limited lifetime, original residential purchaser, for as long as you live in the home |
*Over wood, primed or previously painted surfaces at 25 °C and 50% humidity. Hardboard, vinyl and cooler or damper weather take longer.
How to apply
Get a pro finish.
- Check the weather. Air and surface at least 1.7 °C, and ideally an hour or more of dry weather after you finish a section.
- Wash and prep. Wash off dirt, mildew and chalk, scrape loose paint and dull glossy areas. Hose down eaves and porch ceilings. Let surfaces dry.
- Prime where needed. Self-priming on wood, fibre cement and cured concrete. Prime hardboard, unglazed brick, cedar and other bleeding woods, and pitted vinyl with Fresh Start, and bare steel with a metal primer.
- Box your cans on big jobs so the colour is consistent, then cut in and roll or spray, working from unpainted into wet paint.
- Second coat after 4 hours.
- Keep your receipt for the warranty, and wait 2 weeks before washing.
FAQ
Questions, answered.
How soon can it rain after painting?
Element Guard resists rain as soon as 60 minutes after application, over wood, primed or previously painted surfaces at 25 °C and 50% humidity. Hardboard and vinyl, and cooler or damper weather, take longer, so give it more time when you can.
How late in the season can I paint?
It can be applied when air and surface are as cool as 1.7 °C (35 °F). Cool, damp weather slows drying, so start after the morning dew is gone and finish early enough for it to dry before evening.
Element Guard, Regal Select Exterior or Aura Exterior?
All three are 100% acrylic with a limited lifetime warranty and cool-weather application. Element Guard is built for moisture and resists rain in 60 minutes. Regal Select Exterior is high build for thick coverage, and Aura Exterior gives the richest, most fade-resistant colour.
How much paint do I need for my house?
A 3.78 L can covers 300–400 sq ft per coat. For 1,500 sq ft of siding, one coat takes about 4 to 5 cans, so two coats take about 8 to 10. Use the paint calculator above for your house.
Do I need a primer?
Not on sound wood, fibre cement or cured concrete, where it's self-priming. Prime hardboard siding, unglazed brick, cedar and other bleeding woods, and pitted vinyl with Fresh Start, and bare steel with a metal primer.
Can I paint vinyl siding?
Yes, but don't use a colour darker than the original or with an LRV below 57, unless it's in Benjamin Moore's Colours for Vinyl palette. Darker colours absorb heat and can warp the siding. Ask us to check your colour.
Which finish should I choose?
Flat or Low Lustre for siding, stucco and masonry. Low Lustre is the most popular for siding. Soft Gloss for trim, doors, shutters and railings.
What does the lifetime warranty cover?
Benjamin Moore warrants that it won't blister or peel from properly prepared and primed surfaces, or wear through to the old paint, for as long as you live in your home. It's for the original residential purchaser, covers replacement paint (not labour), and needs your original receipt.
Can I use it on my deck?
No. It isn't made for walking surfaces. For decks and porch floors, use a deck stain like Woodluxe.
Colours, sizes and shipping?
Any Benjamin Moore colour (Color Stories colours aren't available in exterior paint), and we can match other brands. 946 mL and 3.78 L in every finish, plus 18.9 L in Flat and Low Lustre. Tinted paint is made to order, so it's final sale. We ship across Canada, free on most orders over $249, or pick up free in Mississauga.
Ready to paint, rain or shine?
Not sure about the colour? Try a colour sample on your house, book a Virtual Colour Consultation, or ask our team for a quote on a big job.