April 2018

Painting Your Community Every 4-5 Years Will Save You Money in the Long-run By Matthew Antico, Rainbow G&J Painting

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A s the cold winter climate transitions into the blissful spring season, homeowners across the northeast start to notice the toll mother nature took on their home’s exterior surfaces, especially if their community is not on a set painting schedule. All surfaces on the exterior of a home or building will receive a fair share of wear from mother nature. The most susceptible areas are surfaces made of wood or other natural materials specifically, sid-

tural integrity of the wooden structure itself (decks) and the infrastructures that wooden sheathing protects (siding and trim). In some situations, a thorough coat of paint or stain on an unprotected wooden surface that is already damaged as a result of the weather can still curtail further corrosion and ensure it is properly protected into the future. The majority of older communities in the Northeast were built using wood products for siding and trim. Pine and cedar are the most common wood used. Communities with the bulk of their buildings’ exterior surfaces made of wood sometimes run into difficult decision-making situa- tions as it relates to the frequency of wood replacement in order to stay on budget or to go over budget and ensure all rotted wood is removed. Unfortunately, decomposition is inevitable in all-natural wood products which have lim- ited lifespans. However, the shelf life of a wood product’s can be extended if routine painting or staining schedules are maintained. Many homeowners and board members believe exterior painting is done for cosmetic reasons only. This is true only when painting man-made products such as vinyl shutters, pvc trim, aluminum and vinyl siding. The process of wood decay is attributed to three

ing, trim, decks, and fences. A common mistake made by many community asso- ciations is to wait too long to paint or stain exterior surfaces made of wood. Some associations are only willing to repaint when the surfaces become noticeably unpleasing to the eye. It is advantageous for a manag-

“Some associations are only willing to repaint when the surfaces become noticeably unpleasing to the eye.”

er and board members to be proactive when choosing to apply a fresh layer of paint or stain as it will save money in the long term, increase the longevity, and ensure the struc-

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