Winters in the East and Tri-State area can be brutal, with many residents experiencing low temperatures, extreme winds, and high snowfall across Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware, and Maryland. When you combine that with the natural freeze-thaw cycle, it can take a toll on your building’s surface over time, leading to peeling, cracks, and other damage on brick, stone, and stucco walls. 

You can help prevent that by treating your buildings with the proper coatings and maintaining them throughout the years, and Alpine Painting and Restoration is here to help. With more than 30 years of expertise, we know how to make our paint and external treatments last. 

What Is a Freeze–Thaw Cycle?

The freeze-thaw cycle is the natural process in which water changes state over time. When it gets into surfaces, it can cause damage as the cycle repeats year after year. 

• Moisture ingress: Water enters porous substrates like brick, stone, and stucco, getting into all the nooks and crannies it can. 
• Expansion: When the temperature drops, water freezes. As it freezes, water expands, stressing the coating. 
• Microcracking: The expansion can cause small fractures that can cause significant damage over time. These microcracks set the building up for larger failures that can be costly to repair. 
• Melting: Once the temperature increases, the water will melt, often getting deeper into the cracks, only to repeat when it drops below freezing again.

This cycle repeats several times a year, which can lead to cumulative damage and expensive repairs over time. 

Visible Failures You’ll See

Oftentimes, you can see the effects of the freeze-thaw cycle. They include:

• Peeling and blistering. This can indicate a loss of adhesion with the paint and the building’s surface, as well as trapped moisture underneath the paint. 
• Efflorescence. This is the salts migrating to the surface, and you will notice a white or grey powder on the surface.
• Spalling. The surface can delaminate, causing the multiple layers to break down. You may also see surface crumbling on masonry.

If you notice any of these issues, you will want to address them sooner rather than later to help mitigate the cost of repairs.  

Choosing the Right Coating System

At Alpine Painting and Restoration, we deeply understand how to tackle winter in the Tri-State area and can help you choose the best coating system for your building. 

Here are some considerations to keep in mind. 

• Paint type: Breathable mineral/silicate paint will allow any trapped moisture to escape and prevent damage. Film-forming acrylics are not breathable, which means any moisture that gets under the surface of the solid film will cause damage during the freeze-thaw cycle. 
• Type of treatment needed. Elastomeric coatings can help fill in any hairline cracks in the surface. They will flex with the weather and prevent additional damage. They are great at waterproofing while still allowing breathability, which is critical to avoid moisture trapping. 
• Proper pairing. You need to make sure to pair the right primers and top coats to get the best results. It will vary based on your surface. Brick, stone, stucco, and metal detailing will need a unique paint pairing to maximize their effectiveness and lifespan. 

The wrong coating system can fail in extreme temperatures, so it is critical that you choose the right commercial painting service in Pennsylvania. If you aren’t sure where to start, Alpine Painting and Restoration can make recommendations based on your needs, budget, and desired timeline. 

Prep That Prevents Failure

Before you paint your building’s surface, you need to prepare it. Failure to prepare the surface can cause improper paint adhesion, which can cause it to fail. 

As you prepare your building’s surface, consider the following three steps.

• Use low-pressure water and steam to clean the surface. This will remove salt deposits and any biological growths on the surface. 
• Make any necessary repairs. This can include repointing, patching, crack filling, rust treatment, corrosion control on metal trims and rails, and more. 
• Apply the primer and conduct adhesion testing to ensure it affixes properly to your building. You want to use substrate-specific, moisture-tolerant options for the best results. 

The steps you take to prepare your building’s surface will extend the paint’s lifespan and maximize your return on your investment. 

Cold-Weather Application Windows

Temperature matters when it comes to painting your building. For the best results, you’ll want to paint when it’s between 50 degrees and 85 degrees F. Additionally, the humidity levels should be about 40 to 50 percent. If it is too hot, cold, or humid, your paint may not dry or cure properly. This could cause the paint to improperly adhere and reduce its lifespan and effectiveness. 

If you don’t have the right weather conditions to paint, you have options to help you best preserve your assets. 

• Tent the area to create an enclosed space you can paint.
• Apply temporary heat, like a heat gun, to speed up the dry-down of the windows. 
• Use a dehumidifier to remove moisture from the secured area. 

While you can’t control the weather, you can take steps to create the ideal environment for painting.

After Winter Maintenance Checklist

Once the typical freeze-thaw cycle has completed, you want to inspect your building’s surface for damage. 

In the spring, look for chalk, blisters, hairline cracks, or failed sealants. This can indicate moisture is trapped under the surface and may be causing microfissures. If you notice these issues, gently wash the surface, spot seal any visible cracks, and complete any simple paint touch-ups.

If you notice significant issues, you may want to call for a professional assessment to understand the extent of the damage and get a quote for professional repainting. 

Prevention Tips for Harsh Winters

Simple actions can make a big difference, and you can do your part to help protect your building against harsh winters. 

• Manage water. Make sure your gutters are clean, downspouts are pointing away from the building to prevent splashback, and that your landscaping is graded to prevent pooling water. 
• Protect your sealants and joints. Make sure these areas are properly treated to keep moisture out of transition spots in the building. 
• Be proactive. If it has been several years between paintings or you notice small areas that need to be touched up, think about recoating the entire area. This will help you stay on top of maintenance so your building is never vulnerable to the freeze-thaw cycle. 

The key to protecting your building from the freeze-thaw cycle is regular maintenance, including fresh paint.

Why Alpine Painting & Restoration

When it comes to protecting your home or building from the freeze-thaw cycle, Alpine Painting & Restoration has had you covered since 1990. We have more than 30 years of expertise,  specializing in commercial coatings and restoration across the Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware, and Maryland areas.

We provide high-performance exterior coating systems and corrosion control. Our crews are trained and certified, and we use safety-first access planning and manufacturer-approved coating applications to ensure we meet all OSHA, federal, state, and local guidelines. 

Contact us to experience what makes Alpine Painting and Restoration a trusted partner for so many home and business owners in the Tri-State area.
Request a site visit and quote to get started with your job today.