How to Know It’s Time to Paint the Exterior of Your Home
Posted on May 3, 2019
When To Paint The Exterior Of Your Home
Upkeep and maintenance on a home can seem overwhelming. It’s important to stay on top of it to retain the value of your home as well as the condition. Quality exterior paint will not only make your home look better, it will protect it against the elements. Here are a few tips from our professional exterior painters on how to know it’s time to paint the exterior of your home.
Wear and Tear
If your paint is showing physical signs of wear and tear, it’s time to paint. Peeling, bubbling, cracking and other imperfections in the paint are all signs that the paint has lost its protection capabilities to the elements. The openings in the paint could allow moisture to get in and cause mold and dry rot. These, as you can imagine, only lead to bigger problems.
Selling
The exterior of your home is the first impression a potential buyer gets. Curb appeal can make or break a home sale. A paint job in a poor condition or old and chipped can cause the buyers to turn tail and choose another house. A new color can freshen up the look of your home and create a clean and inviting appeal.
Fading
Faded paint makes a home look tired and worn out. If the paint is no longer vibrant and eye-catching, it’s a good time to consider repainting. Dark paints, especially in sunny areas, tend to fade much quicker, so when making your color choice, keep that in mind.
Gaps
Are you noticing more issues with the space between the boards or do they look like the boards are shrinking? This could be a sign of a much more problematic issue: dry rot. Moisture could be getting into the wood through inconsistencies in the paint seal. A professional can assess the damage, if any.
Cracked Caulk
Caulk gets brittle and loses its elasticity over time. This can cause
If the caulking on the exterior of your house is cracking or showing signs of being brittle, it has lost its elasticity and it’s time for an updated paint job. When it pulls away from the structure it’s a sign you should consider repairs and painting.
Timelines
Even if your paint doesn’t look like it’s having an issue, the best house paints have a time limit on how long they will protect your home. To keep the protective layer and the color looking sharp, paint must be redone. The recommended times depend on what’s under the paint.
Exteriors should be painted every 5 to 10 years, dependent on the quality, prep work and surface material.
- Wood, every 3 to 7 years.
- Aluminum siding, every 5 years.
- Stucco, 5 to 6 years.
If you’re seeing any of the above signs, give us a call to get a free in-home estimate from our experts.
