The Hub of Knowledge on Roofing, Siding, Windows, & Painting

Is liquid vinyl siding / lifetime paint / ceramic paint good for New England homes?

Over the past couple of years a few companies have popped up in new England that claim to offer some sort of lifetime paint product.  They say, "Never paint your home again!" or something catchy like that.

Sounds like a great idea right? But is it too good to be true? You may think the verdict is still out but if we had to put our money on 1 side or the other we would play all our chips on the side of "too good to be true."

As exterior renovation experts in New England we see our fair share of houses. How well paint holds up has as much, if not more, to do with the surface to which the paint coating is applied as it does with the paint product itself.  These types of "lifetime" paint products may work well on masonry that is not designed to breath, and they may even hold up in southern climates with more consistent air temperatures and moisture climate, but wood siding in New England is a completely different substrate. Wood siding in this climate has a tendency to swell and contract a significant amount in varying temperatures. Unless these "permanent" coatings have the exact expansion factor as the substrate they will most certainly fail. In this New England climate the temperature on the outside of buildings is far lower than on the inside of buildings the majority of the year. That means as the air tries to find equilibrium; warm, moist air is constantly escaping from the exterior wall of the house or building. Unless these "lifetime" paint coatings have a substantial perm rating (meaning they pass moisture easily), which they do not, the wet air will not escape properly.  One of two things will happen. Either the air with significant moisture content will remain in the wall causing rot and mold. Or the moisture will force the paint off the surface as it tries to escape. Sure the paint will last forever, but it will be in your garden and mulch beds, not adhering to the wood siding on your walls.

If you still are not convinced that these types of products are too good to be true, just ask the company recommending them to show you one of their projects that was painted in this region of the country 8 or 10 years ago. I promise you that they will not show you one.  And even if they do, I'm sure you will not be willing to pay 2-3 times the cost of a regular paint job for the results you see. 

If you are considering this type of product for your home, we'll be happy to discuss it with you and offer other painting or siding options that you'll be much happier with.

Other resources:

Liquid Vinyl Lawsuit

Another Article about Rhino Shield

Exterior Painting in Boston: What are the major challenges?

As an Exterior Painting Company in Boston, MA we've done it all.  Boston and the surrounding towns have such an eclectic assortment of buildings that we have to be prepared to handle a variety of different tasks.  Here are some of the challenges we face on a regular basis.

Lead Paint:  Any homes or buildings the predate 1975 and have not been previously refurbished or de-leaded contain lead paint.  Our challenge is to abide by the strict state and local regulations for handling lead paint, while keeping the cost as reasonable as possible.  In many cases we advise home and business owners to consider replacing the siding on the exterior of the building with something lower maintenance and longer lasting such as fiber cement or vinyl.  Often times this alternative is not much more expensive then using approved methods of stripping the paint from the existing home.  In addition, the new lower maintenance siding will last a whole lot longer.

Historical Regulations: Many neighborhoods in and around Boston have restrictions of what one can do with the exterior of their homes.  Often this is handled on a case by case basis, but we have had some success getting approval to install synthetic products such as Fiber cement clapboard and Azek style PVC trim on homes in Cambridge, Somerville, and other cities in the area.

Height and Access: Many homes in Boston exceed a height that's workable from regular ladders.  In this case we bring in scaffolding, or lifts to help us access the high areas.  Of course this can add to the cost of the project but in many cases there is no other option.  Small spaces, sidewalks and alleys can also cause problems when painting in Boston.  Many times we have to obtain permitting with the city to block the sidewalk while we are working.

These are the major challenges we constanlty face when exterior painting in boston.

Visit cityofboston.gov for more info on lead paint removal regulations.

   

Exterior Painting in Massachusetts: Which is the Best Season?

Whether you are taking on the task yourself or hiring a local painter for the job, there are certain factors to consider when painting the exterior of a Massachusetts home. One of those factors is considering the best time of year to do the project. 

 The two main variables in determining the best time to paint are moisture and temperature.

Spring

In New England, the climate is generally very moist in the spring with intermittent days of rain.  However, that does not mean there is no opportunity to paint between the months of March and June.  Assuming the surface has been dry for a couple days, latex paint will adhere just fine.  To be extra cautious, purchase a moisture meter that can detect moisture levels of the wood in question. Some homes in Massachusetts have a chronic moisture problem that will not be remedied by applying even the best quality paint.  In this case consider replacing the problem areas before painting.

Summer

The issue in summer becomes heat and humidity.  An average Massachusetts day with 80-85 degree temperatures and moderate humidity is perfect weather for painting with latex products.  However, when the temperature begins to exceed 90-95 degrees, latex products may dry more quickly then desirable.  In this situation the speed and experience of the person applying the coating is an important factor.

Fall

The fall in New England can be similar in temperature and precipitation as the Spring, and therefore the same precautions should be taken.  Consider using a moisture meter.

Winter

Although traditionally it is not recommended to paint under temperatures of 50 degrees, major paint manufacturers such as Sherwin Williams and Benjamin Moore have developed products such as Resilience and Aura that can be applied in temperatures as low as 35 degrees.  However it is imperative that the paint have sufficient time to bond to the surface before the temperature drops below the recommended level.  When in question, read the product label carefully.