Why Lighter Exterior Colors Last Longer

dramatic curb appeal
I relish the chance for a nice weekend spin around the Main Line in mid-May, the shrubs and flowers in full bloom, up against those stone houses with their dramatic darkly-painted doors and shutters. But this vivid, stylish look comes with a price. Those dark trim colors require a lot of maintenance and frequent repainting. For exterior trim or walls, lighter colors simply last longer. The science is fairly straightforward: Ultraviolet light causes color pigment to fade. Darker colors abso...
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Powerwashing is Like Brushing Your Teeth

Powerwashing siding - before and after
I've given in and bought an electric toothbrush. Why? I can’t figure out the perfect brushing balance to keep my teeth and gums clean without worsening my gum recession problems. I changed toothpastes too; did you know there’s a scale of toothpaste abrasiveness called  RDA factor, and high-RDA toothpastes contribute to gum recession? Well, it’s May, so naturally my efforts to care for my teeth and gums made me think about... powerwashing. Mold, rust and pollution are like tartar and pl...
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Choosing Paint Colors for Energy Efficiency

luminous stain
Paint colors can have a huge impact on the energy efficiency of our homes. It's more and more common these days to use white or reflective roof coatings to keep buildings cooler in summer, since a black tar roof will absorb heat rather than reflect it outward. The same basic principle goes for exterior painting: Lighter, more reflective colors will help buildings stay a little cooler during those long sunlit summer days. But even interior color choices can affect energy efficiency. The al...
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Exterior Painting Season is coming!

gorgeous and durable exterior painting
Spring is just a few days away (yippie!), and if you're one of the many homeowners now considering painting the exterior of your home, here’s some info on what’s needed for a great exterior paint job. Any high-quality paint project needs a lot of careful attention on the prep work. But for an exterior job, prep is even more important. If moisture gets in a spot that should be caulked, paint can fail. If a little paint chips off and moisture has access to the siding, a larger area of paint can...
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“Well actually, you don’t need a painter…”

before - mold and damaged paint
A few years ago, we were called in on an estimate for some exterior paint work. One side of a house was looking pretty terrible, though the rest of the house looked great. We took a close look and had to say, "Well actually, you don't need a painter." The problem was mold (a word no homeowner usually wants to hear!), but in this case it had just grown on the side of the house and hadn't corrupted the underlying paint or material. The homeowner was prepared to hire us for a several ...
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