General Information
What is the SmartColor™ exactly?
SmartColor™ an industrial grade blend of high quality polymers, resins and titanium dioxide, if that helps. It is applied in a similar way to paint, and looks like paint on your home, but it does not crack, chip, peel or fade like a typical paint job. SmartColor dries to about ten times as thick as paint, and protects your home’s surface from the elements while staying breathable from the inside. Our Lifetyme warranty guarantees the life of SmartColor™ as long as you own/live in your home.
What is the application process like for SmartColor™?
The preparation is very similar to that done before a high-quality paint job. First, we power-wash the exterior of your home. The surface is then thoroughly cleaned with a specially designed solution of TSP (trisodium phosphate) and bleach. We then complete any minor carpentry work (the extent of which is typically able to be explained during your free estimate), scrape, and sand as necessary. We then apply a top-quality, flexible sealant around windows and doors, and cover all parts of the home that are not being coated. Our base coat is then applied, to act as a bonding agent for the SmartColor™, which is applied last. When the job is completed, we will clean up all work areas and leave your home looking beautiful and new.
What surfaces can SmartColor™ be applied to?
SmartColor™ can safely and effectively be applied to almost any vertical surface: wood clapboards or shingles, cement, aluminum or vinyl siding, brick, stucco. Not only will it beautify and serve to protect the surface of the home, but it also preserves the unique characteristics of the material- i.e. the texture of brick or stucco will still remain after the SmartColor™ is applied. Some exceptions/surfaces we do NOT apply SmartColor™ over: asphalt shingles, floors or walkways. Also, because part of the prep involves an anti-mildew product that has a pungent odor, we do not use SmartColor™ on the interior. This is the case with any exterior paint or product.
I have vinyl/aluminum siding; can you go over it?
Yes, we can coat vinyl/aluminum siding.
Length of Wear
What makes the SmartColor™ last as long as it does?
SmartColor™ is formulated with what manufacturers call “micro-clad” technology. The pigment molecules in the coatings are encapsulated to provide a weatherproof shield, much like a Gore-Tex jacket for your home. From the inside out, SmartCoat™ is breathable, but offers protection from the elements on the outside. The coating dries to about 10 mils thick with a satin-like finish, and because of its flexibility, it will subtly shrink and grow as your home does with different moisture levels instead of cracking and loosening like standard paint.
Warranty
What is the residential warranty on SmartColor™?
We guarantee SmartColor™ for as long as you live in your home. Once you decide to go with SmartColor™, we will cover all materials and labor for necessary touch-ups. If for some reason you move, we will guarantee the subsequent homeowner for the balance of 20 years from the original time SmartColor™ was applied (i.e. if you move after 8 years, the next owners will still have our warranty for 12 years). This is an excellent resale point.
What is the commercial warranty on SmartColor™?
On a commercial building, we guarantee SmartColor™ for 20 years.
Changing the Color after SmartColor™ is applied
What if I decide I want to change the color of my home after I get it coated?
We will recoat a home with SmartColor™, for the purpose of color change only, at any time, at the cost of a premium paint job. We will then reissue our Lifetyme warranty.
Once SmartColor™ is on my home, can I paint over it with regular paint?
Yes. SmartColor™ will not affect the bonding ability of regular paint.
Historic Homes/Properties
I own a very old home/business in a historic district, and I am concerned about maintaining its charm.
We have been approved by historical societies for previous jobs, including the Cambridge School of Weston and the Newport Reading Room on Bellevue Avenue in Newport, RI. While SmartColor™ dries to ten times the thickness of regular paint, it looks like a high-quality paint job. There is also the benefit of added protection for the structure’s surface because of SmartColor™’s ability to protect against outside moisture.
Pressure Washing
Can I pressure wash my home if it is coated with SmartColor™?
Yes, this is a great way to maintain the new look of your home. We do not recommend using pressure over 2000 psi.
Color Availability
How many colors does SmartColor™ come in?
It is available in over 1500 colors and we can also custom color match.
Minor Carpentry
I have some rotting clapboards/shingles on my house, can it just go over those or would you be able to replace them?
We have a master carpenter who can replace any rotting or failing wood on your home- we would not just want to cover up failing wood. Typically, our consultant can spot anything that requires minor carpentry during the estimation process.
Smaller Jobs…trim, garage, etc.
Do you only do entire homes, or could I also get SmartColor™ on just trim or a garage, for example?
SmartColor™ is great for trim, sheds, garages, etc., which is one of its benefits over vinyl siding. The only caveat is the $5,000 job minimum. If someone asks about a job that is too small, i.e. a porch ceiling, ask them if they also have trim, a garage, etc. that they might want to consider doing to meet the minimum.
Applying Over Vinyl
What is the preparation process for applying SmartColor™ over vinyl?
It is available in over 1500 colors and we can also custom color match.
Our Company
How long has Lifetyme Exteriors been in business?
Lifetyme Exteriors was founded in 2004.
How do we know that SmartColor™ will last 20+ years if your company has only been installing it for 8 years?
The products we use, from the SmartColor™ itself to the type of caulking we use to seal the windows and doors, have been taken from industrial environments, where people are willing to spend bundles of money on new efficiency-improving technologies. Because a product like SmartColor™ hasn’t been widely available for the home does not mean it hasn’t been tested in real-world situations for decades.
Approximate Cost
What is the approximate cost of Lifetyme SmartColor™?
SmartColor™ will cost about 2.5 times your middle-of-the-road estimate for standard paint. This seems like a lot at first to most people. It is a lot- but when you look at the value over the course of 20+ years versus painting every 4 or 5 years, it more than pays for itself long-term. We do offer financing options.
References
Can you provide me some references of homes in my area you have completed work on?
Our consultant will bring residential references to your home during your estimate. Because we respect our clients’ privacy and we get a lot of calls from people who are just curious about our product, we don’t give our addresses over the phone. We do have some addresses of non-residential buildings we can give you if you’d like.
Competitors
What is the difference between Lifetyme SmartColor™ and similar brands?
Unlike other coatings companies, we are backed by the largest manufacturer of paints and coatings in the world. Many of our competitors It is also more common to see ceramic coatings- these ceramic particles provide reflective heat-shielding qualities, which are very helpful if say, your house is baking away on the beach in Florida and you are spending your precious dollars on central air. However, in our colder climate, the flexibility and durability of SmartColor™ ensure a lasting effect, and the product flexes with the surface of your home due to weather and moisture conditions. SmartColor dries ten times thicker than paint, and is guaranteed, labor and product inclusive, for as long as you own or live in your home. Also, many of our competitors do not offer the labor and product-inclusive warranty that we do, for as long as you own or live in your home.
Interiors And Floor Areas
Can SmartColor™ be applied to my interior?
Because your interior is not subject to the same harsh weather conditions and stresses that your exterior is, we do not apply SmartColor™ to a home’s interior. The mildewcide used during prep also has a pungent odor more suitable for the outdoors.
Can SmartColor™ be applied to traffic areas, like flooring areas or pool decks?
SmartColor™ has not been tested for traction or wear on traffic areas, so we would not be able to offer our labor and product inclusive lifetime warranty to floor areas. Therefore, we make it our policy not to do them at all.
Mildew
Is SmartColor™ susceptible to mildew like typical paint?
SmartColor™, while not immune to mildew, is less prone to it than regular paint or siding. Because of its gas permeability, moisture does not have the same tendency to collect underneath the SmartColor™. You can also pressure wash your home (up to 2000 psi) if it has been coated.
Financing
Do you offer financing?
We offer financing through CapitalOne. Our consultant can explain this to you in depth at your appointment.
Decks and Porches
Do you apply SmartColor™ to decks and porches?
We can apply SmartColor to your deck and porch railings, supports, ceilings, and foundations to provide a cohesive, beautiful look alongside your exterior. However, we do not coat floor and traffic areas due to the lack of traction and wear testing for these areas.
