The Communicator - Volume 1, Issue 4 - (Page 11)

1) Periodically wash painted surfaces with water and mild detergent to remove accumulated dirt and air contaminants. Frequency will be location specific. Beware! High pressure water cleaning can cause damage to the paint and the wood substrate. It is not recommended, particularly with hardboard siding. 2) Periodically check landscape sprinklers, so water doesn’t spray the siding. Landscape foliage ideally should be cut back at least 12" away from siding. This helps avoid mildew accumulation and surface abrasion during windy conditions. 3) Divert drainage water from the roofs away from the siding with diverters or gutters. It is bad practice to allow roof water to run down siding or to free-fall from the eves and back splash your siding. If there are any open joints or cracks in your siding, you’ve increased the chances of water intrusion. Back splashed water hits siding at its most vulnerable lower drip edge and often carries dirt, which can stick, stain siding and elevate moisture levels. 4) Maintain at least 6" clearance from the bottom edge of your siding above finished landscape grade. Two-inch clearance is generally recommended to horizontal surfaces such as decks and sidewalks. Note: Masonite hardboard guidelines recommend 6" clearance at all times. 5) Never allow wood siding or trim to stand in water, be in direct contact with concrete or masonry without specific protection or be in continual contact with moist or wet surfaces. When wood stays moist and its water content exceeds 19 percent, conditions for wood decay, molds and mildew growth are optimal. Decomposition of your building is starting, as nature intended and affecting your equity position. When painting dry wood siding, it is best to use two 100 percent acrylic latex top coats coupled with premium latex primers by the same manufacturer. Substituting an oil-based primer is recommended for its stain blocking characteristics on woods with water-soluble extractives, such as redwood or cedar. The optimal thickness for the total dry paint coat (primer and two top coats) is 3.5 to 5 mils. A paint coating’s resistance to UV radiation and moisture is dependent on the ratio of resin to pigment. Pigment gives paint its color. Titanium dioxide, a preferred pigment, is more durable, but costlier than other pigments such as clay or silica. Also, the more resin available to coat a pigment particle the tighter it bonds to the substrate. Therefore, premium paints have a high ratio of resin to TiO2 pigment. A low cost paint often has higher “low cost” pigment (i.e., clay) and less resin content, so it performs poorly to resist exposure to UV and moisture. The glossier the finish, the higher the resin content will be. Satin/semi-gloss or full gloss exterior acrylic latex, high in TiO2, will perform superiorly over flat finishes. Lighter colored paints perform better over time than darker colors. Darker colors absorb more heat causing more expansion 400340_Community.indd 1 The Communicator • 11 PM 9/12/08 2:20:13 http://www.cabanc.com

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of The Communicator - Volume 1, Issue 4

The Communicator - Volume 1, Issue 4 Contents President’s Message The Art of Maintenance Deferred Maintenance – What Do We Do Now? What’s New in Paint Products and Building Materials 2008/2009 Events & Educational Calendar Welcome to CAI BayCen Index to Advertisers

The Communicator - Volume 1, Issue 4

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