Can ESP Panels in a Solar House Be Painted?

By Society & Culture & Entertainment Last updated Monday, June/10/2024

How ESP Panels Work

There are two major types of ESP panels. The first are complete wall panels, featuring several layers of insulation and finished interior and exterior surfaces. The second type of ESP panel is based on foam insulation and adds a layer of flexible, reflective material. While both types of ESP panels provide insulation that makes it easier to regulate a solar home's temperature, painting them can lead to different results.

ESP panels that take the form of complete wall sections can be painted any color you wish. These panels use a series of insulated layers to keep hot air out in the summer and warm air inside the home during winter months. The insulation inside the panel, not the surface color or finish, is responsible for most of this efficiency. This type of ESP panel generally has an exterior surface that resembles stucco. Painting it a light color will reflect sunlight, while darker paint will make the wall slightly warmer.

Reflective ESP panels are foam panels with reflective surfaces that cause heat to bounce back as it penetrates the layers of a wall. These ESP panels will only function as intended when they're installed properly. This means not painting over the reflective surface. It also requires installing the ESP panels with an air gap between the reflective surface and the next layer of the wall; placing the reflective surface directly against exterior plywood, for example, will have the same effect as painting over the reflective surface and minimizing its ability to reflect heat.

To paint ESP wall panels that don't have reflective surfaces, you'll need to use a painting system that is appropriate for the finish. Stucco-look exteriors require a soft brush that can apply paint in the cracks and crevices that create the organic look of traditional plaster. The interior of an ESP wall panel is also paintable using a standard roller and brush. For ESP panels that come with glossy surfaces, you may need to first sand the wall to create enough texture for paint adhesion.