Stress Can Also Affect the Paint on Our Homes

PHILADELPHIA--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Who among us hasn’t complained at one time or another about the stress we’re under? Yet our homes suffer silently in the face of constant stress.

It isn’t work, deadlines, or family finances that cause problems for our homes. Rather, it’s the weather and the environment. Even common conditions like strong sunlight, rain, and fluctuating temperatures place stress on our abodes – and on the exterior paint that protects them, according to Debbie Zimmer, paint and color expert at the Paint Quality Institute.

Here’s how even ordinary weather can put strain on your paint and cause it to suffer:

• Sun. While most people are happiest on sunny days, the same bright conditions can wreak havoc on paint. “Ultraviolet rays tend to deteriorate the binder in exterior paint in much the same way that the rays can harm the skin on our bodies,” explains Zimmer. “As the paint’s binder breaks down, pigment is released in the form of a powder that can wash away in the next rainstorm. When paint erodes, the result is faded color and diminished protection for the home.”
• Moisture. Rain, snow, frost, and even high humidity can also be hazardous for exterior paint. In fact, any form of moisture can cause paint to soften and swell, eventually leading to blistering, cracking, peeling or flaking. On top of that, moist conditions support the growth of mildew, which can mar the appearance of any paint job.
• Temperature fluctuation. Changing temperatures cause wood and many other exterior surfaces to expand and contract, sometimes dramatically. If the paint on top of the surface isn’t flexible enough, this movement can cause the paint to crack and flake off.

Since we can’t control the weather, we need to take steps to protect our homes from nature’s climatic stressors. According to Zimmer, that means addressing small problems before they become major issues, properly preparing exterior surfaces before painting them, and applying the highest quality paint – which, in most circumstances, means using a top quality 100% acrylic latex coating.

Top quality 100% acrylic latex paints resist weather stressors in several ways, says Zimmer:

• Compared to ordinary paints, high quality coatings are less affected by ultraviolet rays, so they tend to resist the sun’s bleaching effects.
• They adhere well to the painted surface, so there is less chance of blistering, even in very moist conditions.
• They contain more mildewcide than ordinary paint, which helps prevent mildew from forming on the exterior surface.
• They are tough and flexible, which allows them to expand and contract with temperature swings, rather than cracking and flaking.

Yes, there is hope for homes that are victims of stress. . .in the form of preventative medicine. Make timely repairs, do good surface preparation and always apply two coats of top quality 100% acrylic latex house paint, and your home will be better able to deal with whatever the morning brings!

To learn more about exterior paint and the way it protects your home from the elements, visit blog.paintquality.com or www.paintquality.com.

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About the Paint Quality Institute (SM)

The Paint Quality Institute (SM) was formed by Rohm and Haas Company (now a wholly owned subsidiary of The Dow Chemical Company (“Dow”)) in 1989 to educate people on the advantages of using quality interior and exterior paints and coatings. The Paint Quality Institute's goal is to provide information on the virtues of quality paint as well as color trends and decorating with paint through a variety of vehicles, including television appearances, newspaper and magazine articles, and instructional literature. Please be sure to visit the Paint Quality Institute at www.paintquality.com.

About Dow

Dow (NYSE: DOW) combines the power of science and technology to passionately innovate what is essential to human progress. The Company connects chemistry and innovation with the principles of sustainability to help address many of the world's most challenging problems such as the need for clean water, renewable energy generation and conservation, and increasing agricultural productivity. Dow's diversified industry-leading portfolio of specialty chemical, advanced materials, agrosciences and plastics businesses delivers a broad range of technology-based products and solutions to customers in approximately 160 countries and in high growth sectors such as electronics, water, energy, coatings and agriculture. In 2011, Dow had annual sales of $60 billion and employed approximately 52,000 people worldwide. The Company's more than 5,000 products are manufactured at 197 sites in 36 countries across the globe. References to "Dow" or the "Company" mean The Dow Chemical Company and its consolidated subsidiaries unless otherwise expressly noted. More information about Dow can be found at www.dow.com.

The Paint Quality Institute(sm)
Dow Coating Materials
Deborah Zimmer
Office: 215-619-1683
dzimmer@dow.com