According to Debbie Zimmer, paint and color expert at the Paint Quality Institute, the weather and environment can wreak havoc on your home’s exterior. Even common conditions like strong sunlight, rain and fluctuating temperatures place stress on our abodes—and the exterior paint that protects them.

Here’s how common weather conditions can cause your home’s paint job to suffer: 

Sun. While most people are happiest on sunny days, the same bright conditions can wreak havoc on paint. “Ultraviolet rays tend to deteriorate the binder in exterior paint in much the same way that the rays can harm the skin on our bodies,” explains Zimmer. “As the paint’s binder breaks down, pigment is released in the form of a powder that can wash away in the next rainstorm. When paint erodes, the result is faded color and diminished protection for the home.”

Moisture. Rain, snow, frost and even high humidity can also be hazardous for exterior paint. In fact, any form of moisture can cause paint to soften and swell, eventually leading to blistering, cracking, peeling or flaking. On top of that, moist conditions support the growth of mildew, which can mar the appearance of any paint job.

Temperature fluctuation. Changing temperatures cause wood and many other exterior surfaces to expand and contract, sometimes dramatically. If the paint on top of the surface isn’t flexible enough, this movement can cause the paint to crack and flake off.

Since we can’t control the weather, we need to take steps to protect our homes from nature’s climatic stressors. According to Zimmer, that means addressing small problems before they become major issues, properly preparing exterior surfaces before painting them, and applying the highest quality paint, which, in most circumstances, means using a top quality 100 percent acrylic latex coating.

Top quality 100 percent acrylic latex paints resist weather stressors in several ways, says Zimmer: 

-Compared to ordinary paints, high quality coatings are less affected by ultraviolet rays, so they tend to resist the sun’s bleaching effects.
-They adhere well to the painted surface, so there is less chance of blistering, even in very moist conditions.
-They contain more mildewcide than ordinary paint, which helps prevent mildew from forming on the exterior surface.
-They are tough and flexible, which allows them to expand and contract with temperature swings, rather than cracking and flaking.

Yes, there is hope for homes that are victims of stress…in the form of preventative medicine. Make timely repairs, do good surface preparation and always apply two coats of top quality 100 percent acrylic latex house paint, and your home will be better able to deal with whatever Mother Nature throws our way.

Source: Paint Quality Institute

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