Summer Presents Significant Challenges for Painting Houses in Houston
MISSION VIEJO, Calif., Aug. 3 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- James Hardie Building Products Inc. (NYSE: JHX) studied climatic conditions in Houston and found that there was a limited number of days – less than one-third of the year – that were considered good days to paint a home's exterior.(1) As defined by paint manufacturers' application recommendations, a good paint day is one with favorable conditions that allow the paint to be applied in even, consistent layers and cure correctly to achieve optimum performance. Climatic factors such as temperature, wind, humidity, ozone activity and the pollen count are crucial determinants. Painting a house in less-than-ideal weather can produce lackluster results and can result in a house needing to be repainted more frequently, which can cost a homeowner upwards of $5,000 to professionally paint a 3,000 square foot house.(2) Rain, wind and high temperatures can all compromise the integrity of just-applied paint and result in aesthetic or long-term performance issues. To combat Houston's weather obstacles, James Hardie fiber cement products now include ColorPlus® Technology, a baked-on, factory-applied color.
"We have removed the weather and labor variables of the painting process by applying a premium, specially-designed paint in factory-controlled conditions before it arrives onsite," explains John Dybsky, James Hardie Product Manager. "The result is a superior product designed to endure the high humidity and high UV conditions of South Texas."
When the weather conditions are taken into account, finding days with ideal paint conditions can pose a big challenge. Because of the extreme heat, July and August are the least ideal months to paint. Additionally, days when the weather is agreeable are often spread out, meaning that a house could sit half painted for weeks or even months.
ColorPlus® Technology is a feature of the new HardieZone® System, which ensures that James Hardie fiber cement products are engineered for specific climates. The HZ10® product line is designed to resist cracking, splitting, rotting and swelling in regions that experience hurricane force winds and the brutal, humid heat of the south. James Hardie is the only fiber cement siding manufacturer to offer ColorPlus® Technology. The low-maintenance finish maintains its beauty up to two times longer, has superior fade resistance and resists high-moisture conditions better than any other painted finish available. James Hardie offers the ColorPlus®Technology finish with a 15-year warranty that covers both paint and labor. There are 20 colors available in the Houston area.
About James Hardie
James Hardie has been manufacturing building products for more than 100 years. It introduced fiber cement siding products to the U.S. in the early 90s as a durable, low-maintenance alternative to wood and vinyl. James Hardie products are Engineered for Climate™, delivering specific performance attributes relative to the climate where the product is being used. Other products include HardieWrap™ weather barrier and HardieBacker® backer board. Currently installed on more than 4 million homes, James Hardie products have earned a favorable reputation within the industry and have been specified in some of the country's most prestigious projects. More information about James Hardie is available at http://www.jameshardie.com.
1. To control for weather conditions, the research identified days between 50 to 90 degrees, with humidity under 85 percent, a low pollen count and days where it had not rained for up to two days before or after.
2. Exterior House Painting, Painting Your House, Painting Estimates, House Painting Costs, Painting A House." CertaPro Painters. 29 June 2010. Web. 29 June 2010. http://www.mycertapro.com/certaweb/WebForms.nsf/docid/9583EA4DF3F42EDC85257735006D0F07?opendocument
SOURCE James Hardie Building Products Inc.
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