​Sun Damage and Your Exterior Surfaces

Photo by Celect Cellular Composite Siding

Everyone knows how harmful the sun’s rays can be to our skin. So we take precautions like avoiding long periods of exposure when the sun is at its most intense, applying sunscreen, and wearing hats and sunglasses. But have you considered how the sun may be damaging the exterior surfaces of your home?

What the Sun Does to Exterior Surfaces

With the full force of the sun bearing down on it every single day, the outside of your home has a tough job. Long term sun exposure affects materials differently, but the end result is always an unattractive, and often compromised, finish.

• Paints - Can take on a faded or even chalky appearance. This happens most frequently on southern and western exposures. Bright reds, blues, and yellow paints are especially prone to fading in direct sunlight.
• Untreated Wood or Weather-worn Stained Wood - Depending on the type, your exterior wooden surfaces over time will either darken or become sun-bleached. The sun also dries out wooden surfaces leading to cracked and warped boards.
• Plastic - Become faded in color and brittle.

Treating and Protecting Your Home’s Exterior

Protecting the exterior surfaces of your home is part of a regular maintenance plan. Not only will this keep your home looking its most beautiful, but it will also prolong the life of your exterior surfaces.

• Stains - Some exterior stains offer UV protection, but, just like with sunscreen for your skin, these products need periodic recoating. If the wood is discolored or sunbleached it will need to be sanded prior to any stain being applied.
• Paints - Always use a high-quality exterior paint for superior color-fastness and be certain to apply it under the proper conditions for the best possible adhesion.
• Shade - Whether from trees, extended rooflines, or awnings, a source of shade can help the exposures of your exterior that receive the most intense sun.

Unfortunately, there is no one-time fix to protect your home’s exterior surfaces. An annual inspection of the finishes on your property should reveal whether it is time to refinish or replace sun damaged surfaces.

If you live in the Southern Jersey Shore area and would like assistance dealing with a sun damaged exterior, our professionally trained team would love to help return your home to its former beauty with a fresh coat of stain or paint! Call us today to schedule your free estimate.