Battling the Bayou
Humidity: How to Make Your Exterior Paint Job Last on the Northshore
Living on the Northshore means enjoying beautiful oak trees, proximity to Lake
Pontchartrain, and incredible local culture. Unfortunately, it also means dealing with intense South Louisiana humidity and frequent rain storms.
For homeowners in Covington, Mandeville, and Slidell, our local climate is the
ultimate test for exterior paint. Without the right approach, high humidity can trap moisture behind your paint, leading to rapid peeling, bubbling, and unsightly green mold or black mildew
growth.
At Painting With a Flair, we don't cut corners because we know exactly what it takes to protect a home in this region. If you want an exterior paint job that stands up to the
Louisiana elements, here are the non-negotiable steps required to make it last.
1. It’s All in the Prep Work (The Secret to
Adhesion)
You can buy the most expensive paint on the market, but if it is applied to a dirty,
damp, or chalky surface, it will fail within a year. Because of our local humidity, homes on the Northshore rapidly accumulate a layer of microscopic mildew and dirt.
Before a paintbrush ever touches your siding, the exterior must be thoroughly pressure
washed using a specialized mildewcide or cleaning solution to kill mold spores at the root. Following the wash, any loose, peeling paint must be scraped and sanded down to create a smooth, clean
surface that the new paint can actually bond to.
2. The Golden Rule: Never Paint Damp Wood
Humidity throws a major wrench into the painting schedule. If it rains on a Tuesday,
you cannot simply start painting on Wednesday morning just because the sun comes out.
Wood is porous and acts like a sponge. If you paint over wood that still holds
moisture from a recent rain or heavy morning dew, that moisture will eventually try to escape as the sun heats the house. Because it can't evaporate through the paint, it pushes the paint outward,
causing bubbles and blisters. We carefully monitor moisture levels and weather windows to ensure the surface is completely dry before applying topcoats.
3. Choosing the Right Armor: High-Quality, Mold-Resistant Paint
In drier parts of the country, homeowners can get away with standard latex paints. In
South Louisiana, cheap paint is a recipe for disaster.
To combat our climate, we utilize premium, 100% acrylic exterior paints. These
high-end formulas are specifically engineered to be flexible. As your home expands and contracts with the intense summer heat and winter cold, the paint stretches instead of cracking. Furthermore,
top-tier paints contain built-in antimicrobial agents (mildewcides) that actively resist the growth of mold and algae, keeping your home looking freshly painted for years longer.
4. Don't Skip the Primer
Raw wood, repaired siding, and heavily weathered areas must be sealed with a
high-quality primer before the finish coats go on. Primer acts as a foundational bridge between your house and the paint, locking out external moisture and blocking underlying wood tannins from
bleeding through and staining your beautiful new color.
Invest in Longevity
An exterior paint job on the Northshore shouldn't just be about curb appeal—it is a
critical line of defense protecting your largest investment from moisture damage, wood rot, and decay.
If you are ready to upgrade your home with a beautiful, high-durability finish that is
built to last through the Louisiana summers, skip the rushed bargain crews. Contact Painting With a
Flair today to schedule your personalized consultation.
Exterior Color
Selection:
1. Get a color deck or color
swatches or use an interactive visualizer from your local Benjamin Moore Retailer.
2. Begins with colors that work
with your roof and/or masonry.
3. To emphasize architectural
details, outline them with an accent color that contrasts with the background.
4. Use darker colors to
emphasize shadows and lighter colors to show projections.
5. Avoid extreme contrasts.
Choose colors that are related.
6. Study color samples outside,
but never in direct sunlight. Bright sun will distort the color. Use poster boards with sample colors.
7. Always go with what you are
drawn to and what you like.
Print 