How Cold Weather Affects Your Exterior Paint

September 10, 2013

Winter is just around the corner. It may not feel like it now when the lingering summery weather makes September feel like June, but before you know it New England’s frigid wintery winds will be gusting against your shutters. Ice and snow won’t be far behind.

You may be able to retreat inside away from the elements, snug as a bug in your cozy well-heated home, but your exterior paint isn’t so lucky. Instead, it stands as your home’s first defense against the damaging effects of weather. And make no mistake, ice and snow and even cold rains and wind can do a number on the most beautiful exterior paint job.

Victorian 11 Colors Gloucester
Winter is coming!

Consider that the usual cycle of freezes and thaws we experience here in Massachusetts means expansion and contraction of moisture. An exterior paint job that isn’t cracked, chipped, or peeling will form a barrier against moisture that negates the impact of freezing and thawing. But when exterior paint is damaged, moisture in the form of cold rain, ice, and snow can get in between the paint and your home – even through the tiniest cracks – and add to the damage that’s already there.

More and bigger entry points for water mean an increased likelihood of water damage as winter turns into spring.

Temperature fluctuations that include very cold weather followed by milder temperatures can literally cause the paint to peel right off your home! As the wood or other materials under exterior paint expand and contract, the bond between paint and painted surfaces grows weaker. Paint – especially lower quality exterior paints used by disreputable painting companies – can crack, flake off, or bubble under the stress of rapid, intense temperature changes.

On top of everything else, frigid winter lows can even change the color of your exterior paint! In the coldest weather, dark colors of budget paint can look frosted… or even turn white!

The number one antidote to the damaging effects of winter weather on exterior paint is a superior paint job using top of the line exterior paints. As mentioned above, your home’s paint job is its first line of defense against the elements, but it can only fulfill that role if it’s firmly adhered to exterior walls and free from cracks, chips, and bubbling.

At Jerry Enos Painting, and exterior painting company in New England, we know how important your home’s exterior paint truly is. That’s why we bring the best materials and expert-level painting know-how to every job site, big or small. Your paint job will stand up to not only the elements, but also the test of time. Call us for a free estimate today at 978-546-6843.

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