New high-performance waterborne PVDF coatings resins have been developed that can dramatically extend the decorative lifetime of exterior architectural paints while achieving very low VOC levels, thus meeting the most stringent VOC regulations in Southern California and nationwide. These PVDF coatings can give color retention properties, which range from 2-3 times longer (for exotic colors based on specialty organic pigments), to an essentially unlimited lifetime when proven inorganic pigments are used. Because these coatings are low-VOC to begin with, and are extremely long lasting, repainting is not needed nearly as often and, therefore, the cumulative amount of VOC generation is significantly reduced, thus providing for an extremely “green” coatings solution. The adhesion of these coatings to a variety of substrates, including concrete, is excellent and these coatings exhibit very good mold/mildew resistance and efflorescence resistance, typically better than top-of-the-line acrylic systems. These new PVDF coatings also possess very low minimum film formation properties and, therefore, can be applied under a wide range of temperature conditions.