When most people think about paint, they think its primary purpose is to give your home some color. Well, that’s certainly true. A fresh coat of exterior paint will dramatically improve curb appeal, and a nice interior coat will make your home more aesthetically pleasing.
But that’s not the primary purpose of paint.
More so than making things look nice, the primary purpose of paint is to be a protective coating. Unlike acrylic paints for craft projects, paint for your home is specially formulated to protect your home from various kinds of damage.
Let’s talk about some of the things a quality paint can help prevent.
PAINT IS A PROTECTIVE COATING AGAINST:
- Moisture
- Extreme Weather
- Window Draft
- Mold, Algae, and Mildew
MOISTURE
Paint serves as a protective coating against moisture. Once the paint has cured, it hardens. If it’s a high-quality exterior paint, it will be waterproof. That puts a defensive layer between the wood on the outside of your home and the elements. Without this layer, wood would become damp and begin to rot.Â
A layer of exterior paint adds to the long-term value of your home by protecting your home. And of course, it always gives it a pop of color.
EXTREME WEATHER
The best exterior paints will also protect against extreme weather conditions. Severe rainstorms could potentially crack your exterior paint and let moisture in, causing damage.
That’s why it’s important to invest in one of the best exterior paints. That’s especially true if you live somewhere in the Midwest like Indiana, where weather can be extreme and unpredictable.
Extreme weather isn’t just rain, though. The best paints will be a defense during freezing and thawing cycles too.
As the seasons change, wood will expand as it gets warmer and contract as it gets colder. Exterior paints move with the wood, making sure that it remains sealed no matter what season it is.
WINDOW DRAFT
Looking at the interior, a proper paint job can also protect against drafty windows. As part of any interior job, we will also caulk the windows as we paint. The paint then bonds with the caulk, drastically reducing the draft coming from the windows.
It’s a way to make your windows look nice and make them more functional.
MOLD, ALGAE, AND MILDEW
High-end paints products like Duration and Emerald from Sherwin-Williams protect your home from mold, algae, and mildew. This is particularly important in areas like bathrooms or the north-facing side of your house.
Mold and mildew are obviously caused when moisture gets caught and has no way to escape. If left untreated, this problem can worsen and become a serious health risk.
Algae, on the other hand, grows on the outside of your house. Algae is also caused by moisture but relies on photosynthesis (a.k.a. the sun) to thrive. That means you’re more likely to find algae on the exterior of your home.
All premium paints will have a protective coating against these problems.
In conclusion, when you paint your home, you aren’t just giving it a facelift. A fresh paint job will extend the life cycle of your home’s exterior and interior systems and prevent issues like fading. That’s why it’s important to make sure your home is regularly updated.
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