Every summer, we start getting the same calls from homeowners throughout Columbia, Ellicott City, Clarksville, and the surrounding areas.
A homeowner notices peeling paint around a window. Another sees faded siding on the side of the house that gets hammered by afternoon sun. Sometimes it’s bubbling paint on trim that looked perfectly fine a few months earlier.
Most people assume the paint simply got old.
In reality, Howard County summers can be surprisingly tough on a home’s exterior. Between the heat, humidity, strong sun, and frequent thunderstorms, your paint is constantly being put to the test.
Here’s what we typically see this time of year and what homeowners should watch for.
The South Side of the House Usually Shows It First
One of the first things we look at during an estimate is which side of the home gets the most sun.
In many Howard County neighborhoods, the south and west-facing sides of a house take a beating during the summer months. Over time, the sun starts to fade darker colors and break down older paint.
You may notice that one side of your home looks noticeably duller than the others. That’s usually not your imagination.
Humidity Is Just as Hard on Paint as the Heat
Most homeowners focus on the temperature, but humidity is often the bigger issue.
After a stretch of rainy weather, we frequently see moisture-related problems around trim, soffits, fascia boards, and older wood surfaces. Moisture gets trapped, paint begins to lose adhesion, and before long you’ll see bubbling, peeling, or cracking.
This is especially common on homes with a lot of tree cover, which describes a good portion of Howard County.
Small Problems Have a Way of Becoming Big Ones
A little peeling paint doesn’t seem like a major issue.
But once paint stops protecting the surface underneath, water can start getting where it shouldn’t. That’s when simple paint maintenance can turn into carpentry repairs.
One of the reasons we encourage homeowners to address exterior paint issues during the summer is because it’s often much less expensive to repaint a problem area than it is to replace damaged wood later.
Signs It’s Time to Repaint
If you’re walking around your home this summer, here are a few things worth paying attention to:
- Peeling or cracking paint
- Faded areas that get direct sun
- Exposed wood
- Bubbling around trim
- Cracked caulk around windows and doors
- Green or black staining from mildew
- Paint that feels chalky when touched
Even if only one or two areas are showing wear, it’s worth having them evaluated before the fall and winter weather arrives.
A Good Time for Homeowners to Take a Look
Summer is actually one of the best times to assess the condition of your home’s exterior.
The defects are easier to spot, the weather is more predictable, and you can often address problems before they become larger repair projects.
If it’s been seven to ten years since your home was last painted... or you honestly can’t remember when it was painted... it’s probably worth taking a closer look.
At STB Painting Company, we help homeowners throughout Howard County protect and maintain their homes with professional exterior painting services. If you’ve noticed fading, peeling, or other signs of wear, we’d be happy to provide a free estimate and honest recommendations.
