Advice
The sun here is the whole problem.
Two hundred days of direct UV, stucco that moves, and ordinances that regulate how much light your house may reflect. What we know about specifying for this place, written down.
Why Benjamin Moore?Color that stays in the paint, exteriors tested in full sun for years, and tiers that differ in how long they hold — not how hard they are to apply.Which colors run coolest in the sun?Lighter colors reflect more of the sun and run cooler on a wall. The LRV numbers that matter for a west-facing elevation, and the colors that clear them.What does Scottsdale's ESL ordinance allow?The Environmentally Sensitive Lands ordinance caps exterior light reflectance. Every Benjamin Moore color that complies, in one place.Building on a Paradise Valley hillside?Hillside development rules cap reflectance at 38. The compliant palette, ready to sample.What about the Scottsdale foothills overlay?The foothills cap is 40. Here is what clears it without defaulting to beige.Where do I start on a whole exterior?Six hand-built exterior schemes — body, trim, and accent with the line and sheen specified for each surface. In Arizona, trim runs darker than body.My HOA has an approved palette. Now what?We keep the official schemes for 238 Arizona communities. Bring your community name; Benjamin Moore already has the formula for every color on the sheet.
Not covered here? Ask a colorist — the answer is free.