Can good preparation and energy efficient paints lower your energy bills?

Careful painting preparation can protect a structure while increasing energy efficiency!

In my many years as a San Gabriel Valley painter in Southern California, I've come across way too many structures that have the obvious signs of untold years of painting neglect. All the unmistakable items were there: holes, cracks, little to no caulking, paint that had worn down to a grainy and dusty chalk, etc, etc

Today, with energy cost going up day-by-day, the issue of good painting preparation has taken a front seat in the business of professional painting. I'm sure there are folks that will make this comment: "What are you talking about Dan, a paint job is just a paint job" Well, not quite so anymore! I'm here to let them know that those days are over! The type of preparation, together with the kind of paint you install in your house can, and will, affect not only the lifespan, but the ongoing energy consumption of the structure. Please read on ----->

I remember being at a construction site and there was a fellow working there, he was caulking and sealing all the internal wood joints near the roof line. He also said many other wood joints could be caulked to help keep the weather out and the treated air in. (Mind you, these were the internal joints on the framing of the house, since it was at the framing stage.)
Duke Power, the local power company, was sponsoring the program, called Watt Count, since it helped save energy. That was about 25 years ago, when gas was less than a dollar a gallon. What about today, can top-notch painting preparation lower your energy needs and help you save money?

Answer: There are many things that can be done; we've come a long way! Now we have newer elastomeric caulks and heat shielding paints that will seal and protect your home. Careful caulking of all seams, corners, window and door frames, siding, and eaves, can make an incredible difference in energy consumption.

This is what energywisestructures.com, the company that grew out of the Watt Count program, has to say about caulking and sealing: "We require caulking every place air can infiltrate: multiple joints, window and door frames, sill plates, plumbing and electrical penetrations, etc"

Many existing homes have never been well sealed because caulking is one of the most time consuming jobs a painting contractor can do. They usually do just what's needed. You can walk around most homes - new or older structures - and notice the caulking was largely neglected.
 
There are newer energy efficient paints and coatings that can be used on your exterior walls - and in some cases roofs - that provide a much smaller radiant "footprint," making it much harder for heat to find a way into your home. The same coatings can also be used on interior ceilings, attics, and walls.

Tax Savings:
When you use these Hi-Tech energy efficient materials, you not only save on energy - year after year - but get a tax break for using them, talk about win/win/win ! The end result is that you'll have lower energy bills year-round, from a very negligible investment next time you have your home painted. These Hi-Tech coatings are the same ones used by the University of Colorado, the 2002 and 2005 first place winner of the Solar Decathlon.

I would advice that the next time you paint your home that you give serious consideration to the items expounded on this article. Choose a painting contractor that will take the time to prepare and paint your house for greater energy savings.

                           Copyright D. Aloy


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      Can paint lower your energy usage?

Is acrylic water based paint as good as oil paint?

I'm sure you have noticed the latest advances in paint formulations for your home. However, many folks are concerned that the water based formulations won't hold up as well as the standard oil based formulas, and in particular, for woodwork.

Although there are some instances where oil based formulas are better, such as metal parts, water based paints have come a long way over the last 20 years. It is needless to say they are much friendlier to the environment than oil based paints. Here is a comparison of the advantages VS oil based paints:
 
(1). Easy cleanup: Yes, the fact that your painting tools can be cleaned with soap and water is a big plus. Furthermore, the synthetic brushes used for application cost less than the natural fiber brushes used for oil.

(2). Higher color retention than oil based paints. Water based paints will resist color fading and chalking much better than oil paint. Deep colors, and in particular red, will not fade as quickly.

(3). Of course there's the fact of less hydrocarbon vapors; being water based they don't have the nasty smell associated with paint thinner and oil based paints, a plus if you are allergic to the vapors or suffer from respiratory problems.

(4). Along the same lines as the above, water based paints are, on average, much less toxic that their oil based counterparts.

(5). Your roller covers can be cleaned and re-used. Many painters throw away roller covers that have been used with oil based paints because it would cost a lot to clean with mineral spirits.

(6). In many instances acrylic primers and stain blockers are much better than oil based primers. A good example are wood knots, an acrylic primer does a much better job of hiding them. Yet and still, acrylic primers don't sand well and are hard to "feather-out." Oil based primers are the top choice as an undercoat for fine finishes.

(7). Durability: If the surface to be painted has been well prepared there isn't a discernable difference in how long the finish last VS oil based paint. Again, the key is surface preparation.

(8). The "wet edge" working time of water based products (the time that the paint remains open to manipulation and blending) can be adjusted with Floetrol or a good brand acrylic retardant, such as Golden. These retardant products help water base formulations keep a wet edge longer, such as  when doing trim work.

(9). Penetration and adhesion can be improved with formulations intended to slow down the time it takes for the water based paint to dry, such as EmulsaBond.
 
(10). Acrylic glazes for Faux Finishes are also approaching the workability and durability of an oil based glaze. Even better - and I know you'll agree if you've ever worked with oil glazes - is getting away from the terrible vapors of the oil based glazes.

                                Copyright D. Aloy