Why are wood houses to the south of the US usually painted white?

13 comments

1. One reason could be thst white paint reflects heat so helps to keep the home cooler.

2. I honestly don’t know. I live in the north and mine is painted white. At this point, it’s almost a style as much as it is for practicality.

3. It was a cheap and easy way to make a house look nice and the tradition has stuck.

4. Keeps the house cooler in the hot summers.

5. There was a tradition to use whitewash, which is a different thing than paint. Whitewash, famously used by Tom Sawyer, is supposed to prevent mildew and insect damage. I suppose that after years of using whitewash to properly maintain homes, it became a style that people expected.

6. It’s a popular color

7. White paint is cheaper and reflects heat.

8. White has been a common color for houses everywhere. Whitewash was cheaper than colors. It stuck.

9. Before AC you really wanted to reflect as much sunlight (and heat) as possible.

10. Besides what folks have already mentioned (whitewash tradition, heat, popularity), it’s easy to touch up or match after repairs or an addition.

11. It’s pretty popular just about everywhere

12. It’s more energy efficient I would assume. White reflects the sun’s heat. I remember Obama got made fun of for telling people to paint their roofs white, but I mean, saving money and energy seems like a good call to me

13. Many in incorporated villages, where I am from, had a rule that houses had to be WHITE with solid black or red front door and shudders. I think it is “Early American” or Colonial.