The Importance of Exterior Painting

   

Year after year, the seasons change, and your homes exterior surfaces are exposed to its worse enemies; moisture and sunlight. These two elements will continue to cost money if you do not have a preventative maintenance plan in place.

The problem with moisture and sunlight is that when a surface is painted, the paint film is resistant to water contact from dew and rain. The problem occurs when moisture gets in between the pain film and the surface. The pain film then weakens and it loses its gloss. The cold of winter and heat of summer will make the wall surfaces expand and contract. A quality paint film is going to withstand these changes in in temperature because of its flexibility properties.

Below are some of the most common problems that arise on the exterior of your home:

Alligatoring

• Alligatoring is patterned cracking in the paint film which resembles the scales of an alligator.

Blistering

• Blistering are bubbles that result from localized loss of adhesion and the lifting of paint film from the underlying surface.

Chalking

• Chalking is the formation of very fine powder on the surface of paint film during the weathering process, this can cause color fading as well.

Flaking / Cracking

• Flaking or cracking is when the dry paint film splits through at least one coat, this will lead to the complete failure of the paint.

Efflorescence

• Efflorescence is often seen as a white fluffy deposit of salty crystals on any cementitious walls. It will also depend on the presence of moisture and salt.

Fading

• Fading refers to the excessive or premature fading of the paint color, it will often occur on the exterior surfaces that face western and southern exposures.

Algae and Mildew

• Algae and mildew are gray, black or brown areas or spots that are found on the paint film or caulk bead.

Peeling

• Peeling is when the coating or paint lifts from the surface because of poor adhesion. This may involve one or more coats.

Tannin Staining

• Tannin staining is a tan or brownish discoloration that appears on the paint surface because of the wood tannins migrating from the substrate through the paint film.