Whether in a conservative, muted hue or a vibrant pop of color, exterior paint can transform a home, increasing curb appeal, increase property value and enhancing its beauty. Exterior paint can define the outer personality of your home or business and become a recognized element associated with your building. But what happens when that exterior coat of color starts to fade, chip or crack subjecting your property to damage?
People remember the house with the red paint and white trim or the restaurant with the blue and white exterior color scheme. However, exterior paint is about more than looks and branding. Paint is a shield that can protect a building from harsh, destructive weather, such as rain, snow, hail, wind or simply sweltering heat or frigid cold.
Paint can prevent the frame and siding of the building -- whether it is wood, aluminum, stucco, or brick -- from deteriorating due to dampness and rot. So, it’s important to pay attention to those chips and cracks to help you recognize when you need a brand new coat of exterior paint, which can be anytime after three to 20 years, depending on climate and the level of wear.
Here are all the telltale signs to alert you when it is time to call the paint professionals, such as your local Philadelphia painters, and schedule your next exterior paint job:
1. FADING PAINT
Ultraviolet rays from the sun can be your worst nightmare when it comes to fading. These powerful rays can strip pigment from vivid colors such as yellow, red or blue and make them discolored, especially if the paint is done in a flat finish. Colors and flat paint are most susceptible to premature fading. In addition, having a house or business angled toward the sun instead of the shade can cause early fading. When you notice the color is seeping away, act fast to add a new layer of paint to keep your structure safe. Consider paints with special UV protection or use a UV sealant as a final coat. This will create a block against UV rays and delay fading.
2. CRACKED CAULKING
Caulking is an important material that fills gaps, holes and cracks before painting so that pigment can go on smoothly and the building can be properly insulated. Caulking also helps keep water and pests out. When old caulking starts to crack and break off, it can cause paint to crack as well. This is often due to bad quality caulking that does not adhere well to surfaces or that is not flexible enough and therefore cannot contract and stretch with the changes in temperature. The resulting cracks and openings leave your building open to moisture, mold, insects and rodents. To remedy this, a new paint and caulking job is needed. Philadelphia exterior painters can prep the building with extra thick,
elastic silicone or latex-based caulking that can bend and resist splitting in high humidity or extreme weather.
3. STAIN AND MOLD
Exterior paint is often damaged by mold and mildew. When this happens, you might notice black, red or green stains, which are signs of fungus. Such mold can flourish whether you’re in a hot climate or a cold one, especially if there is frequently condensation on the building or certain walls don’t get enough air ventilation or sunlight due to shrubs, bushes or climbing vines. When replacing your exterior paint due to mold or mildew, hire the best
Philadelphia exterior painters. After killing the mold with a bleach detergent, one might consider using a product with zinc oxide or another mildewcide, which can prevent the formation of fungus. Avoid paints with linseed oil, which encourages the growth of fungus.
4. DAMAGED WOOD
When water or moisture seeps into wood, it can raise the grain, creating a rough, uneven surface that lifts up paint and causes it to peel or flake away. This type of damage can only be repaired by sanding the wood so that it’s smooth again in addition to applying a new exterior coat of paint. If the wood is rotted, the planks will need to be replaced or patched and treated, rather than simply sanded. Wood filler or wood hardener will provide a good foundation for your new primer and quality paint finish.
5. NOT IN LOVE WITH THE COLOR ANYMORE
Sometimes a trend can lose its charm and become annoying instead. So, if you opted for the latest grey, purple or mustard yellow exterior paint, you might fall out of love with it after a few years and want to choose a new color that is in sync with your current mood or taste. Fortunately, it’s easy to turn to the best Philadelphia exterior painting to repaint the façade as frequently as you desire, even if it’s every year. There are hundreds of shades to revive the outside finish of your house or business so that you will always love looking at it – and always be in tune with the newest fashionable hue.