When to Repaint Your Home’s Exterior

Posted on October 12, 2021

We all know that exterior house paint is important for protecting your siding, and makes a huge difference in “curb appeal” of your home… But how do you know when it’s time to repaint?

Every house is a little different, and factors like age, type of siding, and local weather/climate can affect how often you should be painting the exterior of your home. Some people choose to repaint on a schedule, while others opt to look for signs of wear and tear before getting the work done. Of course, factors like budget and availability matter too.

To help sort this out, we’ve put together some guidelines for when to repaint your home’s exterior, and if you have any questions – just give us a call!

Broad Guidelines

One general rule of thumb is to repaint the exterior of your home every 5 years. While the range for each type of siding varies (recommendations for repainting wood siding are 3-7 years, aluminum siding or stucco every 5-6 years), the average for older, more common homes falls right around repainting every 5 years.

Modern materials like cement fiberboard are different still, and tend to need repainting every 10-15 years.

Based on the material, these ranges can help you determine a schedule for exterior painting. It’s likely that most houses will fall into the first category, so if it’s been more than 7 years or so, you’re probably overdue!

Signs of Failure

The far, far more common reason to repaint your home’s exterior is visible damage and signs of failure. Not only do these signs show that your house needs fresh paint, they’re also warning signs that the structural integrity of the house is at risk.

Here are a few critical signs to look out for:

  • Cracking, peeling, or bubbling – this means adhesion is failing and water has started to get under the paint
  • Fading – while mostly cosmetic, it can still be a sign that the paint’s protective effects are diminishing
  • Gaps – if you see separation around seams, window panes, etc., it could mean that water has caused even further damage
  • Cracked caulk – caulk damage means that your house is no longer sealed properly, and you’ll likely want to repaint over any repairs

It’s a good idea to give your home periodic inspections to look for the signs of paint failure, and get things taken care of as soon as you can. The longer you leave damaged paint unaddressed, the longer you’re leaving your home exposed to more potential damage.

Selling

If you’re preparing to sell your house, it’s a great time to repaint the exterior! Not only will you be taking care of problem areas (if there are any), you’ll also be giving the whole building a fresh new look that boosts curb appeal and entices prospective buyers. It might even earn you a few more dollars on the closing price too!

Whether it’s on a schedule, to repair damage, or to prepare for selling, repainting the exterior of your home is an important part of the home owning process. If you’re ready for fresh coats of paint and getting your house looking its best, contact CertaPro today!

License Info: MA 196235