What Causes Premature Exterior Paint Failure?
If you’ve invested numerous hours (and/or dollars) into your home’s new exterior paint, the last thing you want to see is the tell-tale signs of failure after a few years. After all, a quality paint job should last close to a decade, and especially if it is cared for with routine maintenance.
So, this leaves you with a critical question: what went wrong?
Or, (and we hope this is your scenario) if you haven’t painted yet, how can you avoid this disappointing problem altogether?
5 Common Causes of Exterior Paint Failure
Poor Surface Preparation - Most homeowners don’t realize this, but 80% of a paint job’s success is determined before a can is even opened. This deep level of preparation can include thorough cleaning, repairs, sanding, patching, caulking, etc... If this initial time investment isn’t made, it’s like building an attractive structure on a cracking, crumbling foundation.
Poor Quality Paint - We covered this subject in another article (you can find it right here). Quality paint is worth the investment, providing superior color retention, adhesion, and longevity.
Rushing the Process - This is common with DIY (do-it-yourself) paint jobs, or with work completed by shoddy paint contractors. Minimizing or rushing the steps of the process will compromise the integrity of your finish.
Working in the Wrong Conditions - Few people would paint in the rain, but did you know that not letting your siding dry completely is just as dangerous? Or, that painting in direct, baking sunlight will cause your finish to not cure as well? An eye on the sky and thorough knowledge of best exterior painting practices is absolutely essential.
Using the Incorrect Paint - This is becoming less of an issue these days, especially for new homes, but it is crucial that you know what kind of paint was used before. If you try to apply a new latex paint over an old oil-based product without the right prep techniques, for example, their incompatibility will become obvious quickly.
Skill and Experience Are Essential When It Comes to Exterior House Painting
For all of the reasons above, we can’t emphasize enough how important it is to be able to hand your project to a qualified, experienced, reputable painting company. Here are a couple of resources to help you find a trustworthy pro:
If you have questions about painting your Bay Area home, give us a call at MB Jessee! It would be our pleasure to serve you.
