Now that Labor Day has come and gone, most of the country is entering the stretch run of the exterior painting season. If your house is in need of a new paint job, there's little time to waste: "Paint-friendly" weather is fast disappearing.
"Doing exterior painting in the right weather conditions is extremely important," says Debbie Zimmer, of the Paint Quality Institute. "Fresh paint
forms a better protective film when it's applied in moderate weather
like that commonly seen in early autumn. If your house needs to be painted this year, you need to do it now."
To appreciate the urgency, it's important to understand how paint "cures". While latex paint dries to the touch very quickly, it takes many hours for it to form the most protective paint film. If the temperature is very hot when the paint
is applied -- or more likely as winter approaches, if nighttime
temperatures get very cold -- that can harm film formation, and even
lead to early flaking and peeling of the paint.
This point is vividly demonstrated on test panels at the Paint Quality Institute. Outdoor testing there shows that exterior paint applied in moderate conditions can last many years longer than paints applied in very hot, very cold, or even very windy weather.
Those extra years of service can offer homeowners a big return on their investment in an exterior paint job. As an example, if a new paint
job costs $3,000 and lasts only five years, the annualized cost is
$600; but if it lasts 10 years, the annualized cost is only $300 - half
as much!
As the days get shorter and winter approaches, painting in moderate weather is one of the most important factors in getting a long-lasting exterior paint job. Other things that can affect the longevity of a coating aren't as time-sensitive, says Zimmer.
"To get the most durable paint job, it's always very important to properly prepare exterior surfaces and to use a top quality paint," she says.
Good exterior surface preparation requires that siding and trim be clean and free of dirt and mildew, so that the new paint can adhere properly. Of course, peeling and flaking paint should be completely removed, and any bare wood primed before painting.
As for the type of paint to use, studies show that high quality 100% acrylic latex paints are the most durable coatings for most home exteriors, including wood, masonry, vinyl and aluminum siding. These paints
adhere well, they're tough, and they're very flexible, so they will
expand or contract with the exterior when temperatures rise or fall
dramatically.
Which brings us back to the weather: As the song says, "For everything, there is a season." When it comes to exterior painting, that season is now.To learn more about exterior painting, visit blog.paintquality.com or www.paintquality.com.
To learn more about exterior painting, visit blog.paintquality.com or www.paintquality.com.
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1 comment:
Great info! Thanks for this publication, it is really very full of information. interior painting
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