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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-
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-
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-
Painting Your
Community Every 4-5
Years Will Save You
Money in the Long-run
By Matthew Antico,
Rainbow G&J Painting
© iStockphoto.com
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
“Some associations
are only willing to
repaint when the
surfaces become
noticeably unpleasing
to the eye.”