Our last post taught you how weather affects when to paint your home. But while the day you paint is the most important day for the quality and durability of your paint, every day after will bring new stresses.
Here’s a rundown on the effects of strong weather on your exterior paint.
Sun:
Strong sun gives us sunburn. The same is true for paint. Ultraviolet rays will break down the bindings that keep your paint strong.
The results won’t be immediate or obvious. Instead of visibly flaking and cracking, the top surfaces of your paint will slowly turn into a powdery chalk and wash away. Slowly, your paint will become faded and your home will lose the protection the paint provides.
Water:
It’s not just rain. Snow, ice, and humidity all contribute to slowly breaking down your paint. Water will cause your paint, slowly but surely, to become soft and swollen, leading to flaking, peeling, and cracks.
If you’ve applied your paint properly, that’ll take a lot of time. But what you might see sooner is mildew that is both unattractive and a cause of damage.
Temperature:
Temperature is most important when you are first applying your paint, but it still has an influence afterwards. But it isn’t about your paint—it’s about what you’ve painted.
The surface being painted will expand and contract with the temperature, and that puts stress on your paint. If you’ve applied it properly in the first place, this shouldn’t be much of an issue, but if the application was flawed or if temperature changes are frequent and dramatic, the coat of paint will be stressed to the point of cracking and flaking.
What Can You Do?
Well, you can’t control the weather no matter what you do. But you can slow the process and keep your home looking better for longer by making sure you use high quality paint and apply it properly. There’s really not much else you can do; time will take its toll but at least you can slow the process.
Now you know the enemy of your paint, and knowing is half the battle. Of course you can always make sure your paint is applied carefully and professionally. Give Zenith Painting a call at 800-381-4601. We’ll take care of all the work for you, and we’ll even get you started with a free estimate.
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