How to Protect Your Home’s Exterior from Sun Damage in Colorado

Colorado Springs Paint Company works diligently on every paint project to protect your home’s exterior from sun damage in Colorado. We live in a high-altitude environment. It damages homes if materials are not properly protected. Here are a few questions about sun damage and how to protect your home.

Estimated reading time: 9 minutes

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General Questions

What causes sun damage to a home’s exterior in Colorado?

Sun damage occurs when ultraviolet light destroys the bonds of the material. Paint resins break down. Vinyl siding warps. Wood dries out when not protected. There is less ultraviolet light filtered by the atmosphere in higher altitudes. That is what makes Colorado an extreme environment for the sun.

How does Colorado’s climate affect sun damage?

It is at a high altitude. It gets 300 days of sun every year. It also experiences many temperature changes. It has low humidity. These extremes cause materials to expand and contract, and they dry. This makes a home more susceptible to sun damage.

How do I know if a home has sun damage?

• Faded or chalky paint indicates there is powder on the surface.
• The wood is splitting, cracking, or very dry.
• It is common for vinyl siding to crack or become warped.
• Paint peels and bubbles when it loses adhesion to the surface.

Resource: pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

What siding or roof is best for sun damage?

Fiber cement or stucco resists fading and lasts a long time. Concrete tiles, slate, or metal roofs reflect the sun. These materials don’t shrink, warp, or melt in the sun.

How do I keep my home’s paint from fading?

You can buy higher-grade paint made by high-quality companies. It’s 100% acrylic. It has advanced UV protectants. You need to wash your home. That will slow down the paint film. You need to touch up before the paint becomes too faded.

Does my wood or metal need a special finish to keep it from fading?

Exterior wood needs special finishes that block UV light and keeps moisture in the wood. Metal needs metal finish that doesn’t fade. These have top-coats that are clear. They protect the UV in the sun.

How often do I put more protection on the coating or paint?

• Homes in Colorado Springs usually call for a new coat of exterior paint every 10 to 15 years of exposure to direct sun.
• Stained decks and siding are typically maintained less frequently, on a two- to three-year basis; clear and semi-transparent stains wear out more quickly than solid-colored paint.

A good rule of thumb is to perform annual inspections of the exterior so you can decide when to paint before you are left with damaged materials.

Windows & Doors

How to prevent window and door sun damage?

Adding deep awnings or overhangs provides protection for the exterior of window and door openings. By shielding the glass from direct sunlight, you prevent the windows and door from absorbing heat and help prevent interior furnishings from fading. To prolong the life of a wood door and protect it from drying and cracking, regular applications of exterior-grade polyurethane are recommended. Acrylic paints that are fade-resistant and formulated specifically for exterior doors should be applied to all painted doors and trims.

UV-blocking window films are great for Colorado, as they can prevent up to 99% of UV rays from coming through window panes. The films are great not only for protecting your wood flooring and window blinds from UV fading, but also for protecting your windows themselves from premature seal failure and sun damage to exterior wood trim.

What’s the best sun resistant door material?

Fiberglass doors offer the greatest resistance to cracking, warping, and heat, which means they don’t warp or crack like wood or dent, and they conduct heat like steel. When applied with a proper top coat containing UV-resistant additives, fiberglass will withstand Colorado’s sun for years to come. Solid wood is acceptable; however, it needs a good coating and routine maintenance.

Exterior Painting Solutions

What kind of exterior paints offer the most protection from UV rays?

An acrylic latex paint with the purest acrylic is a good standard for longevity and weather protection. The acrylic resin allows the paint to expand and contract with changes in sunlight and temperature outside the building. It is more flexible and elastic than other exterior paints and will not crack, peel, or fade as easily as other paint types.

Do exterior colors fade faster or slower with UV rays?

Dark or bold colors absorb more heat from the sun, so their pigments break down and fade faster. Darker colors include:

• darker reds and blues
• black
• brown
• charcoal

Light or neutral colors reflect heat and sunlight better. White, light beige, tan, and neutral earth tones are among the better color choices for UV protection.

Does the surface preparation help paint last longer under the sun?

Proper surface prep is essential to a lasting paint finish.

• If the surface is not clean and solid, the paint will not bond properly and will peel, flake, and crack under the Colorado sun.
• All peeling, loose paint should be scraped off.
• All damaged wood should be repaired.
• All surfaces must be power-washed.
• All surfaces must be primed.

If any steps of proper prep are skipped, the paint job will be shortened and will need to be redone.

Maintenance and Repairs

How often should I inspect my home’s exterior for sun damage?

A thorough inspection of your home’s exterior should be performed at least twice a year, ideally in spring and fall. These inspections should help you identify whether the paint is starting to peel, the wood is dry-rotted, or the caulk has failed. All of these signs, and others, are easy to fix and won’t require major home repairs.

What are the best ways to repair sun-damaged siding, paint, or roofing?

When repairing sun damage, you must remove any compromised material to a stable substrate. Then and only then can you repair or restore it. This is done by scraping off all old chalky paint, painting over the surface, and trimming with a high-performance exterior primer and a premium finish coat that can withstand harsh weather and UV damage.

Are there specific products recommended for restoring sun-damaged surfaces?

• A wood brightener or restorer should be used to remove sun-faded color and restore the wood’s natural beauty.
• An elastomeric paint should be used to restore sun-damaged stucco or masonry surfaces.
• An exterior wood filler is needed when sun cracks and splits in the wood are observed on the trims or siding of your home.

Energy Efficiency and Sun Protection

How does sun damage affect my home’s energy efficiency?

Sun damage will reduce the effectiveness of caulking, weatherstripping, and seals around windows and doors, which are essential for maintaining a tight air envelope and keeping air temperature and moisture at comfortable levels. Fading, peeling, or cracking exterior siding or paint reduces a home’s energy efficiency and increases cooling bills.

What are the best energy-efficient solutions for reducing sun-related wear and tear?

• Using exterior paints or coatings with reflective colors can reduce solar heat gain and keep your home cooler, and the siding materials will last longer.
• Exterior shades, awnings, or low-E windows can reduce heat gain and prevent fading of the siding materials.
• Maintaining a weather-tight home will improve energy efficiency and reduce heating and cooling costs.

Cost and Budgeting

How much does it cost to protect a home’s exterior from sun damage?

Costs depend on the overall size of the home and the extent of protective measures being done. In Colorado Springs, CO, the average cost to professionally paint a home is between $3,000 and $7,000. Protecting wood decks or trim with a clear sealer will cost between $500 and $1,500. Replacing siding and exterior doors costs significantly more than maintaining a home’s exterior with protective sealants and caulk.

Are there affordable DIY solutions for sun protection?

Cleaning the exterior of your home, applying UV-blocking window film, and recaulking all windows and doors can be done at little cost to you with minimal labor. You can also scrub and restain wood decks or fences yourself with materials you’ll find at a hardware store. In fact, the easiest way to preserve an exterior is to clean it annually with a mild detergent. You won’t just be removing the grime and dirt that are breaking down your paint; you’ll be preserving your exterior finish—on the cheap!

Does homeowner’s insurance cover sun damage repairs?

Usually, homeowner’s insurance won’t cover normal wear and tear. Sun damage (in all its forms, be it cracking, peeling, fading, warping, or rotting) is the result of normal wear and tear. That’s why it falls on the homeowner to protect and maintain their property. When there is damage from a hail storm or fire (sudden, unforeseeable, accidental damage), homeowner’s insurance kicks in.

Seasonal Considerations

Are there seasons when you can expect more severe sun damage in Colorado?

Sun damage is most damaging in the summer months because the sun is directly overhead and the daylight hours are longest. UV exposure is greatest at this time, too, as are extreme temperature fluctuations. It can be damaging in winter, too. Sun hits the lower half of your home (at the very least) and then gets reflected off snow, further intensifying the UV rays you’re receiving. Colorado has intense year-round solar exposure and wide temperature swings between day and night.

How can I prepare my home for intense summer sun?

• Do your house washing and exterior inspection in the spring to remove any winter grime and ensure there aren’t already signs of damage.
• Re-caulk windows and doors if needed, touch up chipped paint, and plan to re-paint before the summer sun arrives if your paint is chalking or faded.

Expert Help

When should I hire a professional to deal with sun damage?

There are a few instances when it’s best to hire a professional:

• When a home needs extensive damage repair, like deep wood surface cracking, widespread peeling, or warping.
• When a home needs re-painting, either in part or as a full exterior refresh.
• When there’s any doubt about the structural integrity or proper products for the surface.
• When dealing with a large home, it’s usually best to hire a professional. This isn’t a DIY project for most homeowners, and certainly not a one-day affair.

Need professional help protecting your home?

Let Colorado Springs Paint Company help you protect your home from the harsh Colorado sun. Contact us today to schedule a professional exterior home inspection.