How Heat and Rain Damages Your Exterior Paint Over Time

ave you noticed the paint on your home beginning to chip? Does the color look off from when it was originally done? America’s southwest region is consistently hit with strong UV rays that can speed up the effects heat has on exterior paints. Good exterior paints used for houses are made with a protective barrier as a defense against severe weather. However, after five or six years discoloration, cracks, and even chipping can begin to show especially beneath the strong rays of the Arizona sun.

Exterior paint can last years but when the sunlight begins to chip away at the protective coating any other elements such as rain, heavy winds, and sudden temperature drops will accelerate the demise of your exterior paint. When the paint itself begins to lose its color that is a strong indicator that the protective barrier has been broken down completely. Without a protective barrier, the consistent eight to ten hours of sunlight beating down on your house can become a major problem to the exterior paint. This is because the heat emitted from the sun’s rays is being absorbed by the paint itself which eventually starts to fade the color. Dark paints or brightly colored paints are affected the most by this issue.

Chipping is another sign that it’s time to repaint. Small chips flaking off may not seem like a huge problem at first but once the chipping begins it doesn’t stop. Cracks can spiderweb as the sun rises higher in the sky and raises the temperature. Eventually, you end up having big splotches of missing paint in sporadic places on your house.

Eventually, if you don’t get your house repainted in a timely manner, the paint will be completely stripped away leaving the actual structure of your house susceptible to damage. Wooden homes can be affected by moisture that can seep in through the naked framework. Stucco can soak up moisture as well which can cause damage to the structure of your house. This is why it’s important to make sure your house is repainted when serious deterioration begins especially coming into the warmer months. If you’re already seeing discoloration getting a jump on it before it becomes a major problem is ideal.

Chalking is another big issue that is caused by strong UV rays. Chalking happens when the sunlight reacts with the external layer of the exterior paint causing a powdery film to appear on the top layer of paint. This ends up leaving the outside of your house with a chalky or dusty look. If not taken care of properly chalking can actually cause issues when it comes to repainting.

Other areas of your house combined with rough weather can cause discoloration and aesthetic problems on the exterior of your house too. Nails without corrosion protection that are hit with an excess amount of rain can cause rust that leaks down to the paint. Or, the weather itself wore down the galvanized barrier on the exterior nails resulting in rust spots that eat away at the paint.

If your exterior paint is peeling off in large portions rather than small chips it’s likely due to moisture finding its way behind the paint itself. This can be caused by humidity or rainfall. The older the paint job is the more you’ll be able to see as natural forces begin to wear down protective layers. This isn’t uncommon, but it is something you need to keep an eye on. On top of aesthetics keeping track of how badly the exterior paint is beginning to look will ensure you don’t wait until there is damage to the structure of the house.

Exterior house paint protects your house and creates that perfect aesthetic look you desire. If you see any damage to your exterior paint such as chipping, chalking, or fading then it’s probably time to get a new paint job. Fresh paint will protect your home’s structure and keep your curb appeal intact. Contact us to get a quote for a brand new professionally applied exterior paint job. We use the best high-quality paint to ensure your exterior look is long-lasting and can combat the summer heat for years to come.