We’re entering that time of year in Colorado when temperatures can fluctuate greatly between night and day. Colder nights, shorter days, and cooling temperatures overall are here, and with them, the usual autumn struggles: keeping the yard clear of fallen leaves, winterizing your home so you’re not wasting energy trying to stay warm, and, of course, redecorating for the new season both inside and out. 

This time of year signals the start of the hardest test for your exterior paint. Snow and wet weather will become more common as we move deeper into fall and winter. To get ahead of some of the possible damages to your home’s exterior paint and structure, be sure to take the following considerations seriously. 

The Danger of Falling Leaves

Everyone loves the beauty of fall when the leaves on the trees change color and start to litter the ground with varying hues of oranges and yellows. But the leaves can be more than just a nuisance to rake and bag up every few days, they can affect your exterior paint, and, if left without any attention for too long, they can even cause damage to your roof and the structure of your home. 

It all goes back to the gutters. When leaves and other debris build up in great enough volume, they stop the gutters from being able to safely move water from ice and snow melting on your roof to the ground. This causes the water to sit on your roof for long periods of time, which can eventually affect its structure. If water finds another way down, say along the side of your exterior, it could cause the paint to flake off far before it normally would. 

Cold Temperatures and Paint

A solid coat of paint is your home’s first line of defense against the cold, wet elements of fall and winter. The reason the paint is there is to protect the surface underneath. It prevents the wood from rotting or being damaged by expansion or contraction as temperatures and weather changes. 

Now is the time to inspect your exterior paint job for cracks, flaking, or bubbles. These imperfections will expand when colder temperatures and more moisture appears in the fall, which could lead to damage to your home’s exterior structure. 

Also, consider what type of paint is on your home’s exterior. Lower quality exterior paints are more susceptible to peel as the wood beneath it expands and contracts. Colorado is known for its rapid temperature swings, which exacerbates this problem. Make sure all of the weak points in your exterior paint coverage are reinforced. If you just had a paint job done this summer, make sure you know what kind of paint was used. It’s a pain, but it’s worth it to get on a ladder and inspect the hard-to-reach areas of your exterior to ensure there’s no missed coverage or paint damage. It will be much easier to inspect this now than when the snow starts flying. 

For more tips for preserving your home’s exterior paint job this fall, contact Ireland’s Finest Painters today.