Exterior Paint Maintenance Tips for Florida Homeowners
Painting your home’s exterior is costly. Not only will you spend a lot of money, but you will spend a lot of time on the project. That’s why it is so important to keep your exterior paint looking new for as long as possible. Here are some great maintenance tips for Florida homeowners to help.
Paint Everything That Needs Painting
Sometimes, even professional painters do not paint everything that needs painting. In addition to your home’s surface, you should also add exterior paint to:
- Undersides of corner boards
- Backs, tops, and bottoms of shutters
Why? Because exterior paint keeps the wood from rotting and weathering. Forgetting areas will allow the wood to absorb water. This will cause rot.
Repaint Often
Unfortunately, you won’t be able to paint the exterior of your home once and forget about it. You’ll need to paint about every six to ten years. How often depends on a number of factors. These include:
- The material covered by exterior paint. For instance, paint on stucco lasts longer than exterior paint on wood
- The harsher the climate, the more often you will need to paint. Florida’s hot sun and rainy seasons lead to a greater need to repaint.
One way to help exterior paint last longer is to use the three-coat system. For areas exposed to the elements, start by painting with a high-quality primer. Then follow with not one, but two, coats of finish paint. The three-coat system protects the paint from Mother Nature and keeps you from having to repaint quite as often.
Mold and Mildew
Just like with the interior of a home, mold and mildew can attack your exterior paint. This is especially true in the hot, humid Florida climate. That is why it is important to use an exterior paint that prevents mold and mildew growth.
If you find mold growth, it will typically be on the north side of the house. Removing it is not difficult, but can be time-consuming.
First, mix the following together into a solution:
- 1/3 cup laundry detergent
- 1-quart bleach
- 3 quarts warm water
- 2/3 cup washing soda
Dip a soft brush into the solution and scrub the areas with mold. Try to avoid dripping the solution on nearby plants. Rinse the area thoroughly. Be sure that you wear goggles and rubber gloves to protect your skin from the bleach.
Pressure Washing
Dirt and grime build up on your home’s exterior over time. You can get rid of this build-up by using a pressure washer on your home. Most of the time, you won’t need to pressure wash right away. Your paint will stay fresh for several years.
Follow the directions on the pressure washer to avoid peeling exterior paint. You don’t want to start out cleaning and end up repainting your home.
Chalking Paint
As paint breaks down, it becomes chalky. This is especially true with inexpensive paints. Chalky paint flakes off easily when touched. If the chalking is bad, you will likely have to paint your home again.
To repaint a home with chalky paint, start by pressure washing chalky areas. Then, paint a primer made specifically for chalky surfaces. Finally, follow up with a high-quality finish paint.
A good paint job will make your exterior shine. If cared for properly, exterior paint lasts for years. Following these tips will keep your exterior paint looking new. If you would like to hire someone to paint the exterior of your home, give us a call. We’d be happy to provide you a list of local recommended service providers.