'! 
CHAPTER 2 -1,·I 
THE 
SACRIFICIAL 
NATURE 
OF EXTERIOR 
COATINGS 
Exterior coatings are designed to weather so the 
building beneath them does not have to. 
Sunlight, rain, wind, heat, and biological activity constantly 
test the coating. Over time, these exposures gradually 
break down the coating's protective performance. 
This is not a failure of the coating; it is evidence that the 
coating has faithfully performed its purpose--absorbing 
environmental exposure that would otherwise attack 
the building materials directly. 
ENVIRONMENTAL EXPOSURES THAT BREAK DOWN COATINGS OVER TIME 
• 
• • 
SUNLIGHT (UV) 
MOISTURE 
WIND 
Breaks down chemical 
Repeated wetting and 
Carries salt, sand, 
bonds and c;au$e$ 
drying c;au$8 stre$$, 
and pollutants that 
fading and chalking. 
swelling, and breakdown. 
abrade surfaces. 
OVER THOUSANDS OF DAYS, SMALL EFFECTS ADD UP 
EARLY EXPOSURE 
Coating is intact and 
providing full protection. 
ONGOING WEATHERING 
Surface begin$ to fade. 
chalk, and absorb 
contaminants. 
ADVANCED DETERIORATION 
Coating breaks down. 
cracks, and los8$ its 
protective capability. 
Gradual weathering is a natural and expected process. 
Early recognition allows you to act before the building 
materials become vulnerable. 
_) 
• 
G 
TEMPERATURE CHANGES 
BIOLOGICAL GROWTH 
Expansion and contraction 
Algae, mildew, and fungi 
create movement and 
retain moisture and degrade 
internal stress. 
coating surfaces. 
w 
STEWARDSHIP INSIGHT 
Exterior coatings are the building's first line of defense. 
They absorb the impact of the environment so the 
materials beneath them can endure. 
Recognizing the sacrificial nature of coatings helps 
property owners make informed decisions, plan 
maintenance proactively, and protect their investment 
for the long term. 
A coating that has weathered is not 
necessarily a bad coating. It is often 
a coating that has done its job. 
CHAPTER 2 
I 
HOW EXTERIOR COATINGS ACTUALLY FAIL 
STEWARDSHIP TODAY. VALUE TOMORROW. 

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