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How to weather the weather

From the Resene decorating blog

Ensure your home's exterior surfaces survive the summer.

We all know what it feels like if we’ve spent a little too much time in the sun or at the beach. Our skin feels parched, salt-crusted and dry, a bit like a sunbaked leaf.

Protect dark exterior colours and stains with Resene CoolColour

Dark colours and stains may be damaged by the intense heat of summer, but can be protected with Resene CoolColour, which will help to reflect more of the sun’s heat.

A Resene CoolColour finish will also help to keep the temperature down on decks making it more comfortable for pets and bare feet. This rear wall is stained in Resene Woodsman Charred Black, the decking is Resene Woodsman Tiri and the planter box is Resene Woodsman Dark Rum. Table in Resene Cobblestone, stools in Resene Burgundy. and planter and house ornament in Resene Bullwhip. Lanterns from Look Sharp. Project by Melle Van Sambeek, image by Bryce Carleton.

Wash down surfaces in coastal areas to prevent salt build-up

In coastal areas, wash down surfaces regularly to prevent salt build-up damaging painted or stained surfaces.

Deck stained in Resene Woodsman Natural, wooden fence in Resene Bluff, bench seat in Resene Hammerhead, table in Resene Umber White, pavers in Resene Bluff and Resene Halcyon, pots in Resene Pale Prim and Resene Halcyon and light in Resene Solitude. Chair and patterned pots from French Country Collection, tray from Bed Bath & Beyond. Project by Melle Van Sambeek, image by Bryce Carleton.

Did you know the sun, heat and coastal air can have a similar effect on your home’s exterior – and even some interior – surfaces? The good news is there are simple steps you can take to ensure the life and longevity of your painted and stained surface so they not only come through the wear and tear of summer but will look good for years to come.

Is your home over-seasoned?

Too much salt is no good. If your home is near the sea, salty air can have an impact on the life of your exterior paint.

Resene Paint Expert Jay Sharples says the best thing you can do in coastal areas is to wash down your surfaces regularly to remove salt deposits – and it’s not just an issue for houses right on the beach-front. Salt deposits are often visible in the form of a white residue on exposed areas, and will be easier to notice on darker colours.

Jay says wind-blown salt can blow up to 25 km inland, which includes a surprising amount of the country.

“If you’re within 300 metres of the sea, I’d recommend cleaning every six months using Resene Paint Prep and Housewash for painted surfaces. Even if you aren’t near the coast it’s a good idea to wash your house once a year to remove any surface contamination, dirt and dust.

“The more often you clean and remove contaminants from the surface of the substrate the longer the coatings will last. We have slow-acting cleaners like Resene Deep Clean that are good to use at the end of summer and faster-acting cleaners like Resene Moss & Mould Killer, Resene Paint Prep and Housewash, Resene Bio Cleaner, Resene Heavy Duty Paint Prep and Oil Remover that are good to use at the start of summer or whenever you make time to clean.”

When repainting, seal your powdered concrete surfaces first with Resene Sureseal and use a solventborne primer or undercoat such as Resene Wood Primer for additional protection. Check with your local Resene ColorShop team or Ask a Resene Paint Expert online for the best prep and primer for your exterior surface.

Jay’s other tip is to make sure you have painted using the recommended spreading rate listed on your Resene paint tin label. This ensures enough paint is being used and your substrate is sufficiently covered and protected.

In coastal areas, you will also want to keep a close eye on any metal hinges and door or window latches to check for signs of rust. Treat metal fixings with a product like Resene ArmourX Rust-Arrest to extend their life.

Choosing lighter colours can help prevent sun damage

Choosing lighter colours can be a smart way to prevent sun damage and prevent surfaces becoming too hot to walk on during summer days.

This outdoor space is painted in Resene Half Putty, with decking stained in Resene Woodsman Uluru. Side trellis and stump stool in Resene Triple Pearl Lusta and bench seat and striped pot in Resene Teak and Resene Triple Pearl Lusta. Yucca plant from Adairs, cushions from Kmart, light from Lighting Direct. Project by Vanessa Nouwens, image by Bryce Carleton.

Paint exterior areas when they are in shade

It’s best to paint exterior areas when they are in shade rather than full sun in the summer, to allow for easy application and a smooth finish.

This rear wall and trellis are painted in Resene Eighth Spanish White. Foreground trellis stained in Resene Bark with deck in Resene Woodsman Tiri. Table painted in Resene Half Pearl Lusta, bench seat in Resene Eighth Pearl Lusta, large planter in Resene Baltic Sea, smaller planter in Resene Tana, front pots in Resene Lemon Grass and Resene Avocado and tall vase in Resene Blanc. Project by Annick Larkin, image by Bryce Carleton.

Is your home over-cooking?

Excessive heat is the other thing to keep an eye on when it comes to ensuring a robust long life for your painted surfaces – and the materials they’re made of. As well as causing some paint to crack and peel, heat and direct sunlight can cause some materials like wooden weatherboards to crack and warp.

If there are areas of your house that are subject to intense direct sunlight you may want to consider using lighter paint colours that don’t absorb as much heat or you can talk to the experts at your local Resene ColorShop about using a paint with Resene CoolColour technology which helps reflect more of the infra-red heat out of the painted surface to help keep it cooler. Your local Resene experts will be able to advise on the best products and colours to suit your unique conditions.

“New building materials will likely have LRV (Light Reflectance Value) restrictions so I’d also recommend checking that before choosing your paint,” Jay says.

top tip  Keep in mind that water from exterior washing will typically end up into the stormwater system, so when using detergents divert water from drains to unsealed ground.

Jay’s other tip for managing heat is to think about what your surface will be used for. “If you spend a lot of time barefoot you might want to opt for a lighter shade of decking stain. Darker shades might get too hot to walk on.”

If you do see areas of your exterior paint bubbling or cracking, usually due to excessive heat, excessive moisture or a combination of both, the good news is, it is fixable.

Gently sand to remove the paint blisters or flakes and feather edges with a brush, then repaint. If possible repaint with a Resene CoolColour version of your existing colour. If the bubbling is occurring in multiple areas you may need to consider a full repaint of your house. You could also consider choosing a lighter colour which will help to reflect more UV, just as wearing a white t-shirt on a summer’s day does vs wearing a black t-shirt.

Remember to consider your roof when it comes to sun and salt protection. Roofs, particularly painted corrugated iron or steel roofs are particularly subject to salt deposits and excessive heat.

Many of the colours in the Resene Summit Roof range paints also come with Resene CoolColour technology, just look for the “cc” code in the paint chart.

When it comes to wood stains, Jays says different products will have different recommendations for how often they will need to be reapplied to keep the surfaces maintained. The recommendation for Resene Woodsman to re-coat every 18-24 months, depending on the condition, location and environment.

“That might mean one maintenance coat or you may need to apply two or even three coats. It will depend on if you keep up with the regular maintenance or you decide to leave it longer.”

Hot weather painting

Though it might seem like the perfect time to paint your exteriors, some summer days can actually be too hot for efficient painting in some regions – or for parts of your house in direct sun.

The optimal conditions for painting are when the temperature is between 15 and 20 degrees Celsius, the humidity is between 70% and 80% and there is a light breeze.

Once the temperatures climb to the higher 20s, the water starts to evaporate out of the paint very quickly, meaning it will thicken and be more difficult to apply evenly and smoothly without leaving brushmarks. Paintbrushes can also start to stiffen more quickly and paint in your tray can develop a skin.

Beat the sun by starting early before it gets too hot and work on shaded parts of the house first, before they’re hit by the sun, if possible.

Keep your large main paint pot out of the sun so it stays in premium condition. Instead, pour the amount you need to paint a small section into a separate Resene paint pot or tray and paint from there.

Remember to also protect yourself from the sun by staying covered up in long sleeves and a hat. Be careful of sunscreen coming into contact with your freshly painted surfaces as it can leave permanent marks.

top tip  Keep in mind that water from exterior washing will typically end up into the stormwater system, so when using detergents divert water from drains to unsealed ground.

Colours mentioned in this blog...

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Resene Charred Black

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Products mentioned in this blog...

Products marked as "coming soon" may not yet be available in our online ColorShop, however, they can be purchased in-store at your local Resene ColorShop or reseller.

September 06, 2024

Talk to the team at your local Resene ColorShop before you start your prep and painting and they can help you choose the best combination for your project and give you any extra advice you need to make your project successful. Or use the free Ask a Paint Expert service online for everything from tricky surfaces and prep to which brush or roller to use where.

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