Exterior painting contractors are often faced with many challenges when implementing exterior painting projects. The good news is that exterior paints today are more advanced than in the past. There are many choices of paints that cater to nearly every project conditions and requirements.
But these advances have also raised the bar when it comes to the expectations of building owners of their exterior coatings projects. More and more complex project requirements arise, and more and more exterior painting products, equipments and methods are developed to keep up with the demand.
One constant consideration that remains unchanged for a long time, however, is the factor of location in painting projects. Exterior painting contractors note that there are geographical differences when it comes to building construction styles and materials used.
For example, in the Southwest, a lot of masonry and stucco are used in construction. Exterior paints suitable for masonry, stucco and concrete are often used. Since these substrates are cementitious surfaces, water-borne products are also in the list of options. Tiny cracks can appear in cementitious substrates, hence elastomeric-based paints are often used to seal the gaps.
In the poor-weather conditions of the Southeast, on the other hand, weather-resistant paints and stains are used. The top coats should be impervious to wind and rain, and should be able to address cracking that comes from these constant weather exposures. Since these locations are also prone to high humidity and UV exposures, fungicidal coatings are essential to combat molds and mildew.
For mountain locations, UV exposure is a critical issue. Sun-resistant and UV-absorbing resinous formulations are preferred.
