Charlottesville Painters Share Six Signs It’s Time to Repaint your House Exterior

Exterior painting on homes is not only expensive, it’s disruptive to your daily life. Because of this, homeowners typically put the task off longer than they should. This practice could end up costing you more in the long run. Paint is your home’s first line of defense against vermin, weather and the outside. Do not put it off. Here are six signs it’s time to repaint your house from our expert Charlottesville painters.

Look Out For Signs Of Wear And Tear On Your Paint

Paint will tell you when it’s time to update. Physical signs like cracking, peeling and bubbling will be your first signs. Finding these on your home means it’s time to move on repairs and repainting. Imperfections in the paint will allow moisture intrusion into your home’s structure, where it could cause more problems. When dealing with intrusion, it’s a good idea to have a pro come assess the damage and give you a full idea of potential issues while providing you an estimate for repairs.

When Paint Fades Your Neighborhood Pays

While fading is not an intrusive issue, it can still change the look of your home. When the paint fades, wear and tear is not far behind. The sun is harsh and will leach pigments from your home quickly. Even without physical issues in the paint, your house will be the eyesore on the block.

Ready To Sell? Ask A Professional Before You Paint

Realtors want your home to look its best for potential buyers coming by. A good exterior paint job sets the scene for a good showing and quick sale on your home. Before listing your house, you should at least consult a professional to find out if the cost of painting will be outweighed by the offers you receive.

Protect Your Home From Leaks

Gaps occur around windows and doors where joints are connected to the structure of your house. This allows rain and air to get into your home. If it looks like the frames are pulling from the walls, it’s a good idea to talk to a professional. Moisture can get into the frames and leaking air or heat could cost you more than the repairs and paint to correct the issue.

Update The Seals Around Your Home

Caulk is used to seal around windows and doors. As it gets older, it can get brittle, crack and fall away. Missing caulk can mean moisture coming in and temperature controlled air getting out. Addressing these issues can save you in HVAC costs. Buy a paintable caulk for the repairs. This allows you to touch it up once it’s dry so the repairs are invisible.

Over Time Your Exterior Will Fade

Even without peeling or fading, it could still be time to paint. Remember, allowing intrusion causing further and potentially expensive damage. Catching issues before they get to that state is the key to keeping costs lower. If it’s been a decade or so, or you can’t remember, chances are it’s time to paint again. Meet with an estimator to explore your options. This will help you avoid costly repairs in the future.

So how often does your house need to be painted? Here are some estimations to start from:

Exteriors should be painted every 5 to 10 years, depending on the quality of paint and craftsmanship it was painted with last time.
Here are some guidelines based on exterior surface:
Wood surfaces need to be painted every 3 to 7 years.
Aluminum siding needs to be painted about every 5 years.
Stucco should be repainted every 5 to 6 years.

Call The Professionals

If you’re seeing any of the failure signs, give Charlottesville painters a call. We offer free, in-home estimates for paint jobs. Contact us today to set yours up.