How Painting Your Exterior Can Protect Your Home

Your home is your most valued possession. Chances are you will go to great lengths to protect your investment, including: locks on the doors, upkeep of the major functions (like plumbing and electrical), and you probably have homeowners insurance to grant you peace of mind should something catastrophic occur. But, did you know that as a homeowner, you can physically protect the exterior of your home with one action? 

That one action is painting the exterior of your home. 

Painting can protect your home from three major sources of vulnerability: the elements, mold and mildew, and pests. Let’s explore how the simple process of painting can provide protection in these areas. 

Protection from the Elements

Living in New England, we are accustomed to all types of weather from rain to sleet and from hail to snow. Add into this mix, the varying levels of humidity and scorching heat in the summer, and you have a recipe for wood damage on homes. 

Moisture is not a friend to wood siding, and most homes in the Massachusetts region are sided with wood shingles. If moisture has a chance to get under the wood it can lead to damage. 

Additionally, the sun with its strong UV rays can also harm homes by fading paint and drying out wood and caulking to the point of being brittle. 

How does paint help? 

Quite simply, exterior paint is a barrier that protects the wood siding of your home from the elements, whether it is the heat of the sun or the moisture collection possible through the wide range of precipitation we see in our area. 

Protection From Rot, Mold & Mildew

Closely related to the idea that exterior paint can protect your home from the harsh elements, is the idea that paint can stop the progression of rot, mildew, and mold from building on the wood outside your home. 

If moisture is left to its own devices on the outside of your home, damage can occur to the wood. As precipitation seeps its way into the wood on the surface of your home, the possibility of mold and mildew growing becomes a real risk. If the moisture is allowed to sit for an extended period of time, the wood may even begin to soften and rot. 

Paint can help mitigate these risks by creating a seal with the wood to prevent the moisture from seeping and and causing these issues. 

Protection from Pests

Our area of the country sees its fair share of bugs and pests that love to tunnel into and feed off wood. Termites, carpenter ants, beetles, and carpenter bees love to find unsealed wood to create their nests or to use as their next meal. 

Painting the wood exterior of your home can help seal these pests out of your house. In fact, regular painting not only serves as protection, but allows homeowners to inspect the outside of their home at regular intervals. 

If you have chipped or bubbling paint on your home, or if you notice that the sun’s rays have begun to fade your vibrant exterior color, it may be time to protect your home with an exterior paint project. 

Categorised in: Exterior painting, Jerry Enos