When is it time to paint your home’s exterior?

When is it time to paint your home’s exterior and when is the right time to get a quote?

Now that the days are getting longer and warmer many Western New Yorkers are looking forward to the spring and summer months. Getting outside to enjoy nature, backyard BBQ’s, and hopefully a summer that is somewhat back to “normal”. This is also the time of year in WNY that we must tackle our outside projects before another winter. Painting should be on your to do list this year if it has been a while and you’re starting to see some of the telltale signs that a new paint job is needed. This article will dive into those signs of when it is time to paint and when to get an estimate.

When is it time to paint the exterior of your home?

1. If you are trying to sell, curb appeal matters.

In our hot WNY real estate market houses are selling within days. Even if you have no plans of selling your home anytime soon. The way the market is trending I bet the thought has at least crossed your mind. Your homes curb appeal adds to its over all value.

• First impressions only happen once. Potential buyers will make split-second decisions about your house the moment they drive into your driveway. A home that is newly painted is one less thing the buyer has to figure into their budget. Since good exterior painting work doesn’t have to be re-done for 7-10 years, you are removing a barrier from selling your home for top dollar.
• The same can be said for the interior of your home, it needs to look fresh and taken care of. New paint can make your home look modern, clean, and inviting.
• The right color scheme also can play a big part in selling your home. Going with neutral colors like white and tan, or a color that is popular on your street is going to make your home more desirable to the buying pool.

Bottom line is if you want to sell your home a fresh paint job with well-chosen colors is key. A repainted home is something you get to enjoy, even if you’re not selling your home. You get to come home to a beautiful, appealing house every single day.

2.The paint is showing signs of wear

You don’t have to wait to see signs of paint failure before you paint. In fact, it’s better if you don’t. Just like you want to replace your roof before it’s caving in. Taking care of your home, including keeping up on the maintenance of your painted interior and exterior walls, is one of the most important things you can do to keep its value up. These signs are indicators that it’s time to repaint.

• Peeling, bubbling, and cracking paint are signs that the paint has succumbed to the elements. Water and snow sit on windowsills and if left unpainted water can find its way into your home. These signs could also indicate you’re dealing with dry rot or mold. They shouldn’t be ignored, as they can lead to bigger problems down the road.
• Shrinking boards, wood siding and cedar shake shingles along with gaps are another red flag. This warns there is a potential of dry rot, meaning moisture could be getting into the wood.
• Caulking on the exterior of your house that is cracking, missing or showing signs of being brittle has lost its elasticity, and needs to be replaced. New caulk will help prevent the seeping of water into your home.
• Fading paint, although mainly a cosmetic reason can make your home look worn down. When the color of your home no longer resembles its original vibrant color it’s time to repaint. Remember dark paints will fade quicker than lighter paints.

3. The weather is right

We all know that the weather in WNY can be all over the place. One day, it’s sunny and warm. The next, it’s stormy and frigidly cold. We only get so many ideal painting days here and planning ahead is how CertaPro Painters of WNY can ensure your project is done correctly.

Colder wet weather can hinder paint and stains from properly bonding with the surface that’s being painting. Which can lead to bubbling and easier chipping and peeling down the road. On the opposite side, painting exteriors in extreme heat and high humidity can also impact results. Excessive heat makes the paint dry too fast causing bumps and wrinkles. Also, over 100-degree weather is simply not safe for our painting crew to be outside and working hard.

Windy days are also something we consider. Since our crews use a spray technique on most exterior projects we plan for wind as well as rain and temperature. Paint particles in the air can be carried for miles by high winds.

So, while you may have to postpone your exterior painting because it’s freezing today, you may be able to resume painting tomorrow.

When should you call for an exterior painting quote?

The answer is as early as you can! If you wait to start this process in middle or late Summer, you may discover that many WNY house painters are already fully booked for the season. Last year with the pandemic keeping many of us at home and unable to travel. Home improvement projects seemed to be on everyone’s to do list. This year will likely be the same, so planning is key since many of your neighbors have the same thing in mind.

We offer exterior estimates year-round, both in person and over the phone for out-of-town customers. Typically, we paint exteriors from April to late October during sunnier/drier weather.