While decks are a great investment for your home, many do not realize that intense heat can have detrimental effects on the paint color and appearance of the deck. This is especially prevalent for older decks. Understanding the impacts that the sun can have on your deck, and understanding how to mitigate them can help maintain the beauty and longevity of your deck.
1. Fading and Discoloration
UV Radiation: The UV rays that the sun can actually break down the chemical bonds in paint. This can cause fading and discoloration over time. The darker the color, the more quickly it fades because it absorbs more heat. This is why choosing high-quality, UV-resistant stains and paint colors that are meant for outdoor use is so important. Older decks often need these coatings reapplied regularly to maintain the color and integrity of your deck.
2. Peeling and Cracking
Thermal Expansion and Contraction: Heat causes wood to expand. Wood then contracts as it cools. This movement can cause cracking and peeling of paint, especially with older and/ or paint options. Many of these are more likely to crack and peel over time.
Solution: Using stain or paint that is specially meant for outdoor wood surfaces helps to withstand the expansion and contraction caused by temperature changes. It is important to check your deck regularly to ensure that there is no cracking or peeling.
3. Blistering and Bubbling
Moisture Trapped Under Paint: Intense heat can cause any moisture trapped beneath the paint to evaporate, causing blistering and bubbling of the paint surface. This is more prevalent when a deck is painted during humid periods or if the wood did not have time to properly dry before being painted.
Solution: It is important to ensure that the deck is fully dry before being painted and that it is not very humid during painting. In addition, proper surface preparation, such as sanding and priming, can help prevent blistering and bubbling.