Your House Needs a Bath – The Definitive Guide to Post-Pollen Maintenance
Posted on April 22, 2022
We’re deep in that time of year. You know the one. All those pesky yellow pollen particles are fluttering around and making you sneeze. And, if you’re starting a new exterior painting project, chances are, you don’t want your home to be covered in it come spring! In this blog post, we’re going to discuss some things you can do right now to ensure that you’ll love your paint job as much as possible come pollen time. We’ve got all the info you need to protect yourself from these tricky, tiny mess makers so that you can focus on enjoying your time spent at home outdoors.
In the southern parts of the United States, we deal with high levels of pollen for about six months out of the year. Pollen is released by trees, flowers, and other plants as part of their reproductive process, and it can cause all sorts of misery for allergy sufferers. The pollen count is highest in the spring and summertime when trees are flowering and producing seeds. If you live in a place with a long season of pollen, then you’re probably familiar with its effects: Itchy eyes, runny nose, sneezing fits, wheezing, coughing, and even hives.
The south is not only surrounded by pollen-producing plants but also has a lot of humidity, which can make exterior results less than ideal. Humidity causes paint to take longer to dry, which can cause streakiness or uneven application if you don’t prep your wall properly beforehand.
So how can you actually paint your exterior house during pollen season?
The best way to prepare for painting during pollen season is to wash your home’s exterior walls with simple soap and water. This will remove any pollen or dirt particles that may be on the surface of your home and will help your paint application look smooth and even.
Because of the natural plant life here in the south, we have special challenges. For example, the sap released from our common oak and pine trees creates a sticky surface on the exterior of your home for the pollen to stick to. All you need to do is wash that sticky surface away with soap and water. That’s all it takes! Your exterior paint is porous. It’s made that way so it can breathe. You don’t want to use high pressure on your paint because it will chip away at that breathability and leave your house prone to future moisture damage.
You might even want to go so far as hiring a soft wash company once a year before the pollen season starts. This will remove any build-up of mildew or algae that could prevent the paint from sticking properly, as well as any damage caused by pests like termites, who can chew through even the best quality paint if left to their own devices.
CertaPro Painters are here to make the process easier for you. With our experts on your side, you’ll no longer have to worry about your paint job. We’ll guide you through every step of the process, from color selection to prep work to clean up.
At CertaPro Painters®, we take pride in providing an exceptional painting experience for all of our customers. And whether it’s a residential or commercial property, we promise that our team will always respect your time and your property with a level of care and skill that is unmatched by other local painting contractors.
