How Weather Impacts Exterior Paint in Mountain Climates
Steamboat is a place of extremes. The climate is no different and the intense uv rays along with snow accumulation is tough on your home’s exterior. This article gives you professional weatherproofing advice so your home so your home can live up to our intense mountain climate.
How does weather impact your home’s exterior paint/stain?
Have you ever seen blistering/peeling paint? What causes that is moisture seeping into cracks and then expanding once frozen. On your deck, this is can happen as snow and ice adds weight which puts strain and preasure on the surface.
In the summertime, uv rays play a role. They breakdown the bonding qualities in paint through a process called photodegredation. Paint and stain isn’t there to just look good, but it’s also a coating. A coating is a layer of protection and uv rays break down that protective layer, which then causes the surface to be vulnerable to moisture. Once winter comes around or a deep freeze, you get the blistering/peeling problem that I outlined above.
Weathering is a brutal cycle in these parts, but this article gives you two tips to slow down its effects!
It matters when you paint your home
You won’t see me or any painter out there painting or staining a home in January, but painting and staining requires specific conditions for propper adhesion and curing to take place. Above 35 degrees for 24 hours. That’s my golden rule and that refers to the surface temperature. Since summers are so short, many painters try to extend the season by starting outside immediately after mud season, or all the way up until the first snow in October/November.
However, paint doesn’t cure/form its adhesion when the surface is too cold. For example, it might get up to 60 degrees in April, but at night it could be 20 degrees for 5 hours. That will cause paint or stain to bubble up and peel. That’s why I plan my projects according to weather and ensure that we can stay above 35 for at least 24 hours. That’s why my prime painting windows begin around Memorial Day weekend at the end of May and end around the second or third week of October.
If you are hiring a painter or doing the work yourself, make sure the weather conditions are condusive to this rule. A nice day doesn’t garuntee that it was the best time to paint or stain your home!
Invest in high quality paints and stains
High quality doesn’t mean the highest price. Let’s be clear about that. But there are certain paints and stains that perform in extreme climates. Unfortunately there’s not a definitive garuntee how long a paint or stain will last in Steamboat but the right product extends your paint/stain job. Below, I’ll list some of my favorite exterior paints and stains that I use.
These aren’t listed in any particular price order, but I’ll include links to the product pages and list what surfaces they work best for along with their unique characteristics.
Exterior paint product recommendations for mountain homes
Latitude is an awesome paint for standard vertical wood siding/composite like hardieboard siding or deck spindles. This product performs well with high moisture which is almost year round here. It’s a great early or late exterior season paint!
Duration is self priming and does well on multiple surfaces like brick/masonry, stucco as well as standard siding. It goes on thick and offers excellent protection from extreme weather.
This paint is awesome for homeowners if you don’t paint everyday. You get excelllent coverage and protection. Furthermore it resists dirt, and peeling so it’s a perfect fit if your home has any high uv exposure spots.
Exterior stain product recommendations for mountain homes
Oil modified offers a hybrid between oil and water which gives you the protection of an oil based stain but with easy water cleanup. The semi solid line is waterbased, but offers good coverage on decks and siding. I recommend these products specifically for Steamboat and the intense sun and snow accumulations.
This is a solid alkyd water based stain that is formulated to hold up to direct sunlight on porches, fences and vertical wood siding. In my opinion it’s an upgrade over the standard SuperDeck solids especially for darker and more bold colors.
One of few true oil stains you can buy in Colorado. Messmer’s offers 15 stock colors and a tintable clear that offers a semi trasnparent look that holds up to intense sun and offers great mold/mildew resistance. I use a lot of this on decks and siding during the summers!
Summary
Snow, rain and sunshine are inevitable in Routt County. But your home’s appearance doesn’t have to suffer. Using the right products and applying them under the right weather will make your painting project successful. That’s why attention to detail matters and why I use the best products for your home’s surfaces and why I meticulously plan my client’s exterior paint jobs so I’m not trying to squeeze in jobs during suboptimal weather scenarios.
I have summer 2025 availability and would love to talk about painting your home!
