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| THE COLONY NEWS | DECEMBER 2023 | 15 ACCESS CONTROL & SAFETY Security Statistics: For October, there were a total of 20,239 gate entries consisting of guests, recreational vehicles, vendors and golfers. Nordic Security performed five property/residence checks and issued 10 citations for stop sign violations. ere were 16 medical, fire and police incidents. Nordic cited 34 residents for various parking violations, guest pass violations, and vendor violations and 38 residents were cited for putting trash cans out too early and/or not putting them away. 23 garage doors were found to be open, and Nordic made calls to each resident to advise them to close their garage doors. Nordic also responded to 52 miscellaneous incidents related to deceased residents, dogs (barking, lost, off leash), signage (not allowed), reckless driving, disorderly conduct (irate, inebriated, verbal abuse, fighting), gate strikes/tailgaters, vehicle accidents, suspicious activity, trespassers, welfare/wellness checks, broken/burst gas/water lines/sprinkler systems. I want to share information I found while researching painting stucco and fog coating. Hopefully this will help you with the big questions: "Do I need to paint my house? How long does stucco paint last? or What is fog coating?" Stucco Painting. What are the benefits of painting stucco? 1. Paint seals out moisture. is will help keep the walls dryer and less prone to mold and mildew problems during their lifespan. 2. It can block and cover stains. ey usually don't reappear for years. 3. Paint fills in hairline cracks that will damage your stucco and only worsen overtime. If le unattended, chunks of stucco can pop out which makes for a costly repair. Cracks should be filled or caulked before painting. 4. Paint helps your stucco resist UV rays. In hot climates, UV rays reduce durability of exterior stucco which can lead to structural damage. It also keeps your house properly insulated by deflecting UV rays. 5. Increased protection against damaging environmental conditions (UV, wind and rain). 6. Curb appeal increases with a nice paint job. Next, while these seem like good reasons to maintain your stucco, how oen should you paint it? From the articles I read, this depends on the quality of paint used, the experience and painting techniques of your painter, and environmental factors. As you know, here in Murrieta we have intense heat in the summer months. is is a major environmental factor for our homes. A few years ago, I asked someone in the paint department at Lowe's who seemed like he was knowledgeable about the longevity of stucco painting. He stated that for our area, quality paint lasts 10 to 12 years. While recently researching the subject, I found a variety of answers: 5-10 years, 10-12 years and 7-10 years. e variations were affected by your previous painting service (did they prep your house first by hosing off the dirt and filling cracks), and how well you take care of your stucco (are you hosing it off a few times a year and looking for cracks). What is the cost of painting your house? is also varies quite a bit, and the cost has gone up significantly in the last few years. On average, I found the cost was between $1.50 and $8 per sq. . Fog Coating – What is it? A stucco fog coat is a pigmented bonding cement coating which goes over your existing stucco. It may not be sprayed on a previously painted house. Over time the sun, weather and other factors cause the color of stucco to fade and lose luster. Fogging brings back vibrant colors. e coating, when applied to stucco, is intended to even out the color. It may last several decades. e coating will become part of the stucco. One drawback is that it can change the color of your stucco. You must use a color close to the current stucco color or it may come out blotchy. Pros: Does not trap moisture, does not blister, and preserves the stucco texture. Cons: Is not weather resistant, limited colors, cannot be used over paint, susceptible to fade, moisture, mildew, and cracking. Fogging costs in Murrieta range from $1.30 to $6 per sq. . I hope this article gives you some helpful information on stucco painting and fogging. You may want to walk around your home and look for cracks or bubbling of the stucco before our rainy season begins. Once again, thank you for maintaining your homes. ARCHITECTURAL CONTROL By Gloria Brosky

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