How Often Should You Repaint the Exterior of your Home?
Posted on October 25, 2019
Every home is unique so you will need to assess your house to make an accurate decision. However, there are some standard questions to ask yourself when deciding if it’s time to repaint the exterior of your home!
In Santa Monica, we have a lot of stucco homes, siding and shingle exteriors are also fairly common. The rate at which a new exterior paint application is required will vary depending on the houses materials.
What is the exterior of your home made from?
Is your house is made of brick, aluminum, wood siding, stucco? Brick homes can go up to 15-20 years without being repainted depending on a variety of other factors. Stucco can last up to around 5 or 6 years. Wood siding: between 3-7, or 4 years if stained.
Common House Types In Santa Monica:
Stucco – Every 5-10 years
Things to look for: Hairline cracks in stucco from house settling, white powder or streaks in stucco, peeling, mold or blistering.
Wood Panel – Every 4-7 years
Things to look for: Peeling or blistering paint, cracked paint, ‘aligatoring’ paint (scale-like paint failure) , faded colors
Shingle (Depends on the material)
Things to look for: Faded colors, peeling / failing paint
How much wear is there?
If the previous paint job wasn’t done well and your starting to see some cracks, bubbles or peeling paint or if nature is contributing some of its own factors such as mold… you need to tend to these issues immediately. The longer you wait the worse the damage will become.
The picture here is an extreme example of very old failing paint, in most cases it wont be this bad. Fading color, peeling corners, failing joints are more common things to look for. Any area where it looks like water could get between a crack or under paint will become a bigger issue in time.
Do you feel as though every time you get a glimpse of the outside of your home you think it looks lifeless or dull?
As the paint on your house starts to fade you could just begin to notice it needs a pick-me-up! Bring it back to life with a new shade or just a new coat. The vibrancy is gone, and your home looks worn down and tired. Also keep in mind if your house is a darker shade it is more likely to fade quicker so keep your eyes peeled!
If you are thinking about selling your home its a great way to also boost curb appeal to a potential buyer with a freshly painted house, inside and out. It’s a great way to give a like-new appearance and reduce the thoughts of maintenance required to a potential buyer.
