Home Improvement FAQ: Ask the Experts

As a homeowner, it’s likely that you have a running list of all the projects you would like to get done. These projects may be big, small, expensive, budget-friendly, necessary, or even unnecessary. It’s the list of things you would like done to make your home personal and make it a space you’re proud to live in.

What is on your to-do list? And more importantly, how much do you know about these projects? We’ve compiled a home improvement FAQ to answer to some of the most common questions we get asked as the home improvement experts. Use this list to understand what needs to be done around your house now, what can wait another year, and what you should call an expert about.

We have split our list into two categories: seasonal projects and projects that can be done all year.

Home Improvement Projects to Tackle During Spring and Summer

If you live in a state that experiences all four seasons, you understand there is only so much that can be done outside once the temperatures start to drop. Even if you live in a milder climate, it’s likely you have a rainy season or humid season when exterior projects often get put on hold.

Plan when to tackle these exterior projects. Spring and fall are great times to do things like powerwashing, exterior painting, and deck staining.

Do I Need to Re-stain My Deck?

If you recently moved into your home, have not stained your deck in the last three years, or are seeing chipping and splitting in the wood – the answer is most likely, yes.

This home improvement question comes up a lot, as it’s a common misconception that staining your deck will protect it forever. The majority of stains last less than five years, and some less than three if you live in a part of the country that experiences extreme weather.
Regular maintenance such as touch ups and new coats of stain at the beginning of each year will help you to prolong the life of your stain, but you should remove and re-stain your deck every five years to protect the wood and maintain a beautiful surface.

If you are re-staining your deck or doing touch ups, make sure you have the correct color. If you are unsure of the stain, an expert can help color match.

If you intend to remove old stain and apply new stain to the deck, you may want to call a professional. It can be difficult to properly remove stain without damaging the wood.

When is the Best Time to Re-stain My Deck?

Staining or re-staining your deck should be done in the spring or the fall. Direct sunlight and extreme summer temperatures can result in a premature stain failure. This means that the stain will be unable to penetrate the surface to provide long lasting protection. This will cause the stain to wear prematurely.

If you are choosing between staining your deck at the beginning of the outdoor season or the end, we recommend you choose fall. Staining requires a dry surface. Spring has too much rain and prolonged moisture, and the summer months are typically too humid.

How Often Should I Powerwash My House?

You should powerwash your house once a year, assuming that you do not have trees or bushes that create excess dirt or mold on the house throughout the year. If you like to burn fires or live in an area where air quality is a concern, you may want to consider powerwashing your home more than once a year to keep it looking clean and new.

When is the Best Time to Powerwash My House?

Powerwashing a surface does not have the same limitations as painting and staining a surface. We recommend you do it in the spring or summer. The natural light will help you identify the areas that need the most work and the sun will help quickly dry the surface.

• Can I Powerwash Brick? Yes, you can powerwash brick. This will bring out the rich colors of your bricks and make them look new. The powerwasher should have different settings — be careful not to use too high a setting. Too much power may cause damage to the brick or the mortar.
• Can I Powerwash Vinyl Siding? Yes, you can powerwash vinyl siding. This helps remove any mold, mildew, or built up dirt. This is recommended. Be careful not use too high a setting. This could result in lifting, removing, denting, or damaging the siding.
• Can I Powerwash Stucco? Yes, you can powerwash stucco. Stucco, due to its textured surface, has a tendency to collect dirt, dust, mold, and general debris. Powerwashing will help remove excess dirt and make it look new again. Again be careful not to use too much power. A setting that’s too high can cause damage.
  If you are unsure about powerwashing, fear you may damage your home, or simply don’t want to deal with the hassle on your own — consult an expert for help.

Do I Need to Repaint the Exterior of My Home?

You should consider repainting your home if you have recently replaced a portion of your exterior or are beginning to see excessive wear. Siding may be beginning to fade or chip in spots. Or you may simply want a new look — painting the exterior of your home can transform the entire property.

In general, it’s best to repaint your home every 5-10 years, depending on the material. Contact a professional to talk about the current state of the exterior of your home and how often it should be repainted.

When is the Best Time to Repaint the Exterior of My Home?

The best time to paint your home is the spring, summer, or early fall. The majority of paints adhere best when they are applied between 50 and 85 degrees Fahrenheit.

Home Improvement Projects You Can Tackle All Year

Exterior home improvement projects monopolize the spring and summer months, but what about when fall and winter come around? Or even on rainy weekends? Use that time to tackle indoor home improvement projects like updating your kitchen, repainting your interior, and deciding whether you’re a fan of wallpaper. Read our “year-round” home improvement FAQ below to learn more.

How Do I Know If It’s Time to Refinish My Kitchen Cabinets?

Do your kitchen cabinets look outdated? Do they have food, grease, or fingerprint stains? Are they chipping and starting to show significant wear? Then it’s time too refinish your kitchen cabinets.

Refinishing your cabinets involves removing the doors, sanding down the cabinets, stripping off the old finish, and applying new paint and/or stain.

The kitchen is a high traffic area of the house. Whether you are a culinary wonder or a simple snacker, you still use the kitchen on a daily basis. You want it to look nice. Be sure to follow instructions on how to properly refinish cabinets, or contact an expert. A simple repaint or refinish can make the kitchen look brand new — it can even feel like you spent tens of thousands of dollars on new custom cabinetry. Sometimes, painting is like magic.

How Do I Know If It’s Time to Repaint the Interior of My Home?

The interior of your home is a unique space. Unlike the exterior, which likely experiences the same wear all over, the interior of your home has high traffic areas and low traffic areas. High traffic areas need paint more often, likely every 3-5 years. These areas include the kitchen, bathroom, stairs, hallways, and entryways. Low traffic areas may be able to get away with new paint every 7-10 years. These areas include the living room, dining room, bedrooms, office, and any spare rooms or spaces.

Tip: if you regularly touch it or if it experiences frequent changes in temperature or humidity (think the bathroom or kitchen), then it’s likely a high traffic area that needs to be repainted more often. You’ll be able to tell — discoloration, chipping, and other signs of being well lived in.

The other reason to repaint your interior is that you want a change! Maybe your walls are the same color they were when you moved in, or your tastes or furniture have changed. Sometimes you just need something different.

Does Wallpaper Go Bad?

Wallpaper is a great solution for people who want to get the job done and never have to think about it again. Wallpaper is known to last much longer than paint, sometimes up to 15 years or more.

It’s likely that your taste will change before your wallpaper goes bad. If you want to remove old wallpaper and install new, contact a professional. Don’t spend the weekend picking at the wall. An expert will know the tricks to removing wallpaper seamlessly and installing it flawlessly.

How Do I Know If It’s Time to Replace the Wallpaper in My Home?

If your wallpaper is peeling, splitting at the seams, has bubbles, is faded from the sun, or is just beginning to look dated, you may want to consider replacing it. Don’t like floral patterns any more? Swap it for modern shapes.

Use the same rule as with paint – high traffic areas are replaced more often than low traffic areas.

Contacting a Professional

While we hope this home improvement FAQ has been helpful, nothing beats speaking to an expert. You can contact a CertaPro specialist to discuss all your ideas, questions, and concerns – with no obligation. CertaPro Painters^® of Newton, MA offers free remote and in-person estimates to all customers. Exterior projects can be quoted by experts who evaluate the home from the street. This does not require any personal interaction. Interior projects can be quoted via pictures or a Skype, Zoom, or FaceTime call. We do not require any personal interaction or contact and are working to enforce social distancing for all customers and employees. And if for whatever reason you don’t feel comfortable, don’t hire us! But at least you now have a sense of cost and involvement.

Contact us today to discuss your project and schedule your free remote estimate.