A cold, dreary day might be the perfect time to start a DIY project on the interior of your home. With nothing better to do outside, why not spend some time perfecting your house? But when it comes to working on the exterior of your home, the weather becomes a bigger factor. When it comes to painting especially, choosing the right temp to paint outside is just one consideration regarding the weather.
It may seem obvious that exterior paint and rain don't go together well, but what other impacts does weather have on your home's paint? Weather doesn't just affect the conditions you'll be painting in, it also determines which type of paint you'll use and what maintenance you may need to do to secure a long lifespan for your exterior paint.
To help you prepare for your next exterior painting, whether you choose to go DIY or bring in the experts, we've detailed the impact weather has on exterior painting. As it turns out, there is such a thing as good exterior paint weather!
Weather and Climate Impacts on Paint
The average lifespan of any home's exterior is bound to see some common weather events. Bright, hot, sunny days and of course, rain. Windy days may be more or less frequent depending on where you live, as is another enemy of exterior paint, humidity. Finally, wide fluctuations in temperature from season to season, or worse, day by day, can also impact your paint's lifespan. We'll address each type of common weather below:
Sunlight Causes Fading & More
We know the effect the sun's Ultraviolet (UV) rays have on our bodies, but we may not realize they also affect our home's exterior paint. If one side of your home is exposed to more sunlight each day than other side's you'll likely notice the paint starting to fade. The color begins to lose its vibrancy, looking duller and duller each year. The heat the sun's rays bring can start to bake your exterior paint causing it to become brittle and crack easily. All that heat can also break down the binding agents in the paint causing peeling and permanent damage.
These may seem like just aesthetic problems, but your home's exterior paint should serve a protective purpose. When the paint begins to fade, chip, or peel, it's no longer protecting your home as it should. Without the paint, your home's siding could become damaged and you may even notice the temperature of your entire house starting to rise as a result.
Moisture is Siding's Worst Enemy
Like we said before, exterior paint and rain don't mix well together. But it isn't just a problem when you go to paint your home. Rain can threaten your exterior paint over the years, especially if the paint type isn't well-suited to a rainy environment. The same is true if you live in an area, like Atlanta, where the exterior paint will suffer through days with high humidity.
Rain and humidity become problematic when the paint traps the moisture beneath the surface. Paints that don't allow for ventilation are especially prone to these problems, as the water gets stuck between your home's siding and the paint itself.
The first indication that there's trapped moisture is bubbling. As the water condenses and sinks, it pools in one location causing the paint to bulge out to contain the water. When the paint can no longer contain the water, it may burst through, causing your paint to peel and flake away. Another sign that moisture is trapped beneath the paint is mold, mildew, or algae growth. The damp, dark environment is the perfect habitat for mold that shouldn't be left unchecked.
Wind Can Wipe Away Exterior Paints
Windy days occur in just about every climate, so you'll likely have to combat wind damage at some point during your paint's lifespan. Wind may shake up plants, causing leaves, dirt, and branches to scratch or stain your paint. Simple cleaning and touch-ups may be enough to undo the damage of the occasional windy day.
However, if your home is prone to excessive amounts of windy days, that wind could cause your paint to erode over time. What may start as some surface scratching can become peeling in large areas of your home's exterior. Additionally, the dust carried on the wind can wash out your paint color making your home appear dirty and dull.
Temperature Fluctuations Strain Exterior Paint
Similar to wind, temperature fluctuations are a common threat to any home's exterior. While it may not always feel like it, Atlanta homes experience all four seasons. That yearly fluctuation creates long periods where the heat causes your home's siding to expand and periods where the cold causes the paint to contract onto the siding. As one season gives way to another, your home is subjected to freezing cold temperatures in the mornings, and extreme highs in the afternoon.
Both the yearly fluctuations and daily temperature changes threaten the lifespan of your home's exterior paint. The cycle of expanding and contracting can wear out paint, especially its protective functions. If the paint isn't flexible enough, it will crack as your home's siding expands during warmer weather or even as a day heats up. When these cracks occur, your siding becomes exposed and further problems can occur.
Protect Your Paint from the Elements
Given the threat that weather can pose to your paint, it helps to have some tips to protect it:
Choose the Right Temp to Paint Outside: Give your paint the best chance of success by choosing optimal weather conditions to apply the paint in. We aim to paint on overcast days between 50-70 degrees.
Select the Right Paint Type: Which paint type you use can have dramatic effects on its ability to withstand the elements. For Atlanta's hot, humid climate we recommend acrylic-latex paints. These paints resist moisture well and avoid problems like blistering. If your house is prone to sunlight exposure, you may also want to consider protective coatings over the paint.
Power Wash The Exterior: Thoroughly cleaning your home's exterior before painting removes dirt, mold, and debris from the siding. Without cleaning, your paint won't adhere properly to the surface leaving it more susceptible to environmental damage.
Place Plants Properly: If you live in a windy area, you may want to consider how close you place plants to your house. This can make it a bit less likely that wind will carry branches and leaves across your home's exterior paint.
For the Best Protection Call SuperiorPRO
If you want to ensure your home's exterior paint has the best chance possible, call for professional painting help from SuperiorPRO. We've been servicing Atlanta-area homes for over 25 years, so we know which paints and painting techniques hold up best in our climate. Call us today at 470-291-5105 or fill out our online form to schedule a free consultation and receive a detailed quote for your painting project. Our deep commitment to customer satisfaction is why we stand behind our work with a written two-year warranty for all our painting services.