After A Perfectionist Touch has finished the professional paint job on your Upstate South Carolina home or business, you’re probably ready to think about what it takes to protect your investment. A lot of people have asked us this question. That’s why we have taken the time to compile our top 3 tips for protecting your exterior paint.
Here are our top 3 tips for extending the life of your exterior paint:
- Wash behind your eaves – A good washing once a year is important to preserve the integrity of your paint. Use your hose and rinse the whole house down carefully, especially in the areas where rain water doesn’t hit. Dirt and grime can build up, causing paint to flake over time. If you have siding, use a soft scrub brush to take off dirt and powder build up.
Some recommend a power wash, but that can damage your paint so use caution. Make sure you do a careful visual inspection before deciding to do a high pressured wash.
- Crack down on mold & mildew – Mold and mildew are enemies of paint. They can weaken and loosen paint over time and can grow, causing damage as they go. If you keep an eye out for mildew, you can catch it early on and work to get it cleaned off before it becomes a problem. See if you can determine the cause and go to the source by repairing leaks and other problems. A Perfectionist Touch can use a special antifungal application if your house or building is prone to mold & mildew.
- Schedule frequent upkeep – Regular maintenance around the outside of the building will go a long way in protecting your paint job. Trim back ivy before it grows too much. If you allow ivy to grow and then tear it down, expect to find damage underneath. Keep your gutters clean so rainwater follows the gutter properly and doesn’t spill over, causing an unsightly discoloration. Trim hedges and tree branches to make sure nothing touches the paint, even in storm conditions. Keeping a visual inspection going periodically will help you catch these simple upkeep issues before they become a problem.
By keeping your house clean with a regular washing, killing mold and mildew when it crops up, and trimming back hedges and cleaning gutters, your paint can remain firmly adhered and look great for a long time.
One final trick is to choose a light color of paint for your house or to stay within the natural colors. As the paint fades over time, these colors look better than more vibrant color selections that are obvious when they fade. This may buy you some more time on your original paint job.
Call today for your free painting consultation
Got more questions about paint and durability? Call us at (864) 325-2722 or fill out our fast inquiry form. We will schedule a free initial consultation to discuss your exterior paint needs. As professional painters with years of experience, we’ll work hard for you to bring the right paint and application that can give your house or business the longest life possible.