Cleaning Mildew Off Stucco and Siding Before Painting
Tampa Bay's year-round humidity means mildew comes back fast on stucco and siding, and painting over it without cleaning it first is the number one reason exterior paint peels within a year.
Why Tampa Bay Exteriors Grow Mildew Faster
Between the humidity and the near-daily afternoon storms in summer, stucco and siding here can show mildew again within months of a repaint if it wasn't properly cleaned beforehand. Mildew isn't just a cosmetic problem. It breaks the bond between the old paint layer and the new one, which is why homes with mildew painted over it often see peeling and bubbling within a single season instead of holding for years like a properly prepped surface.
The Right Way to Clean Before You Paint
A bleach-water solution, roughly 1 part bleach to 3 parts water, or a dedicated mildewcide cleaner applied with a pump sprayer works well. Let it sit for 10 to 15 minutes, then rinse thoroughly with a garden hose or a low-pressure wash. Avoid blasting a high-pressure washer directly into stucco seams or up under siding laps. That can force water behind the surface, and trapped moisture causes worse problems than the mildew you were trying to remove in the first place.
Let It Dry Fully Before Paint Goes On
A surface that looks dry in Florida humidity can still be holding moisture underneath, especially stucco and wood siding. Give it at least 24 to 48 hours of dry weather before painting, longer if you just did a heavy wash. If you're not sure with a wood surface, a cheap moisture meter takes the guesswork out. Paint applied over damp stucco or siding blisters and peels almost immediately, wasting both the paint and the labor.
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