In the Midwest, even the greatest professional painters can’t stave off the ravages of the elements forever—from ruthlessly cold winters to blistering summers and everything in between, our climate seems to punish our existing paint job. Even inside, humidity, temperature fluctuations and sun exposure can all play a role in shortening your paint’s lifespan. Fortunately, there are six simple questions to ask—the very same questions all professional painters should ask themselves to determine if a surface needs to be repainted.
1. Is the paint fading or abnormally light in spots?
Faded paint can be spotted by its prematurely dulled colors or excessively light spots. Are the colors or the lightness of your paint becoming inconsistent? All paints fade over time, but excessive fading can be caused by extreme or prolonged sun exposure.
2. Are there crusty deposits on the surface of the paint?
Excessive exposure to rain or moisture can cause water to pass through the underlying surface of the paint. This is an indication of mottling or efflorescence, which is one of the ways moisture under the surface of the paint can compromise the integrity of the coating.
3. Is there a layer of fine or powdery residue on the paint’s surface?
This can be a sign the paint job has become excessively weathered by sun and rain. Professional painters refer to this as chalking. The chalky residue itself is the result of years of erosion, and is a sign that the paint is chemically separating.
4. Is the surface of the exterior paint no longer smooth, but rather rough, crackly, or scaly?
This can be a warning sign that your paint is in the early stages of cracking and peeling. In the field, this process is called alligatoring. If not remedied, the surface will progress to even worse stages of degredation.
5. Are there large bubbles or blisters on the paint’s surface?
This may be a sign that the paint is losing its adhesion to the underlying surface. Once blistering occurs, the damage—typically from moisture—cannot only harm your paint, but also the surface underneath.
6. Are there large pieces of paint breaking off the underlying surface or flaking away?
This is typically what continues to happen after alligatoring or blistering paint goes untreated, and is a severe result of the elements pummeling your paint surface. Flaking paint leaves large portions of the surface underneath exposed to the elements, which should be immediately repainted and protected.
While advancements are constantly being made in paints that can better resist sun, rain, and the other elements, a weathered or damaged paint job will inevitably need to be replaced. If you can answer “yes” to any of these questions, it’s time to contact professional painters like Celtic Commercial Painting to discuss solutions at 630.783.1400.