Most painters recommend having the exterior of your home painted in the springtime to get the longest lifespan out of your new paint job. While some people may forget about the influx of pollen during the springtime, many are worried that pollen will ruin the overall outcome of the paint finish. But is this true?
Fallen leaves and pollen affect exterior paint
Choosing a pollen-free season to paint your home could be confusing. Here we explain the ends and outs of how to properly approach your ultimate decision. Pollen has no effect on paint that is already there. However, the dust of pollen may become trapped underneath the new coat of exterior paint, just as if you were to paint over a dirty surface.
Painting Your House During Pollen Season
Pollen has no effect on paint and will not shorten the lifespan of your exterior finishes or coatings. Pollen will not affect the finish, color, or durability of the paint film. Acrylic paint dries so quickly that there is no effect from the pollen falling.
Similar to fine dust, pollen can be easily wiped, blown, or rinsed off before applying any household paints. However, in a rare and extreme case of a heavy pollen dust storm, painters should wait until the storm tapers off.
Pollen, Adhesion & Collection
Pollen spores or particles becoming trapped underneath the new coat of exterior paint would be the same as painting over a slightly dusty surface. There are only a few areas that are prone to extreme pollen build-up, which typically includes areas around window sills and door jams.
Extreme pollen counts could affect paint adhesion; however, a quality painter will prevent this problem through proper site preparation and pressure washing the painting surface well before starting the work. If the pollen is at high levels leading up to the beginning of the paint job, ask your contractor to pressure wash closer to the day of application.
Additional Considerations For House Painting
There are some other factors you may want to consider when picking the time to repaint the exterior of your home. If you are having windows and doors painted, unless they are stationary, they will likely have to be opened. You may want to consider picking a time of year with moderate temperatures to have your windows and doors completely open.
If you are planning to paint inside during pollen season, consider how pollen affects you and your family. If high pollen counts leave you or your family sniffling and sneezing, having your house open during pollen season may not be ideal. Keep in mind that it is perfectly fine to paint during pollen season, but it may not be the best option for you or your family.
Leaf Dust
Leaves that fall on a vehicle can cause a lot of damage – but so can leaf debris. In many instances, it’s a fine powder that sticks to the paint surface. Over time, the leaf waste will begin to eat away at the protective clear coating. Washing your vehicle every few weeks will reduce this type of damage.
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 house paint, and, if left without any attention for too long, they can even cause damage to your roof and the structure of your home.
Moisture
The most common cause of premature paint failure on wood is moisture. Paint on the outside walls of houses is subject to wetting from rain and dew. Equally as serious is “unseen” moisture moving from inside the house to the outside. According to The Paint Quarterly Institute, most latex paints shouldn’t be applied when the air temperature gets below 35°F to 50°F.
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.
Contact us
Productive painting offers professional power washing and residential, commercial, and industrial interior and exterior painting services to the communities of Wall, NJ and throughout Monmouth County, NJ. Fully licensed and insured, Productive Painting Company is owner operated NJ LICENSE #13VH04439800. Hours of operation Mon to Fri 8 AM to 5 PM and Saturday 8 AM to 1 PM. Closed Sundays.
Productive Painting Call Now: (877) 298-9688