As the weather warms and sunny days are ahead, painting contractors are busy working on customers’ exterior painting projects. Spring and summer are ideal times to have your business or home’s exterior painted. It’s also smart for your professional painting contractor to take a look at some potentially unsuspecting issues that may have formed during the cold and rainy months we endure here in Washington state.

If you’ve noticed some chips or cracks in the paint on your home’s exterior, be aware that there may be more of those that you don’t know about or see.

Your home or business’s exterior painting project has much more to it than simply improving the appearance and making it look more beautiful. The more important benefit of exterior painting is the protection it adds to you, your family, your home or business, and ultimately your investment. Exterior painting protects your home or building from an outside-to-inside decay process, and ultimately increases the value of the property when done well.

After a thorough inspection and maintenance are done on the exterior, a final coat of paint goes over the top to seal in the healthy underneath and to act as a protective coating from the outside elements. Here are a few reasons why you may want to consider repainting your exterior during this spring and summer season.

Protection from the Elements

From rain to sleet to snow, all the moisture outside can take a toll on your home’s exterior. Any form of precipitation that gets under the exterior paint can be the underlying cause of future issues. If left untreated, moisture can then further creep into the wood causing damage. This can also happen if your current coat of paint begins to chip.

The sun can also have an effect on the integrity of the paint and its overall lifespan. UV rays can give your paint a chalky appearance or fade the original paint color of your home. Brighter colors like blues, yellows, and reds are more likely to fade in direct sunlight. The sun also can dry out wooden surfaces which can lead to warped or cracked boards. This is why we recommend using a higher quality of paint to withstand the harsh elements and last longer.

Protection from Mold & Rot

Moisture, if left unchecked, can sit inside the wood on and under the surface. Exterior painting protects your home from all kinds of moisture. If moisture begins to seep in, wood rot can set in as well. Rotted wood can compromise the integrity of your home. This could lead to expensive repairs and remodeling.

The quality of air inside your home can be influenced by what is going on outside. If wood begins to rot, mold is not too far behind. Some molds can be hazardous to your health and can be expensive to treat. This is completely preventable with regular maintenance, primer where needed, and a coat of paint applied correctly to your home’s exterior.

Protection from Pests

If there is one thing you don’t want inside your home, it’s bugs. Insects are constantly trying to find ways inside to hide from the elements. They can also be difficult to get rid of. Caulking and then painting, if needed, around windows and doors can seal any small spaces that bugs like to find.

Choosing the right color to paint the exterior of your home can even play a role in what pests are attracted to your home, and which avoid it. Birds and mosquitoes are deterred by shades of white while other insects avoid greens and blues. Your specific pest problem solution may be as simple as a new color for your home.

Repair Damage

We’ve already covered a few of the repairs and damages that can be avoided with a coat of paint. You may be able to spot and prevent even bigger issues by taking care of repairs while they’re easy to control. Inspecting your home regularly or having an inspection done is a quick and easy way to catch these concerns before they become larger issues.

Rot, mold, and mildew can begin to compromise wood in their beginning stages. These can all be easily spotted in an inspection and repaired. The key is to catch them early on. Then, continue to protect your home with high-quality exterior paint that will last.

Protect Your Investment

Taking care of your home goes hand in hand with protecting your investment. A regular home maintenance checkup along with a fresh coat of paint is an efficient way to maintain or even increase your property’s value.

Some reports show that painting the exterior of a home can increase the value by 2-5% or more.

In Washington, our wet weather and blazing sun impact the “weather sides” of homes and businesses more so than the “non-weather” sides. When we go out to inspect a property and provide an estimate, we focus on looking at all of the ways harm can come to your home or building. Then, we take every step to stop the damage and protect the structure. Exterior painting protects your home from harm and damage that can be done to your home. So, while you may be enjoying the beauty of your newly painted exterior, you’ll also be able to enjoy the inner peace of knowing that your home or building is well-protected, contributing to its increasing value into the future.

At Flying Colors Painting, we’ve been painting in Thurston County and in Pierce County since 1980. We know the signs to look for and know when it’s time to paint your home’s exterior. We can help with washing, priming, caulking, and everything in between to make your home look beautiful and stay protected.