Home Exterior Painting – Signs That Tell You it is Time for a Fresh Coat

While looking at your home exterior, if you feel like your home just doesn’t look like the same home that has kept you happy all these years, then it probably time to update its look with a fresh coat of paint. It is very important to know when it is time to paint your home’s exterior as delaying it too long can lead to damage to the siding on your home and can even cause leaks, etc…

Indications that tell it is time to paint your home are easily identified- just by visual inspection.

The best factor to tell if it is time to paint your house again is how long ago you had the home painted last. There are some other factors like aging, paint chipping, rotting wood and trim, discoloration/fading as well as erosion of aesthetics that will tell you if it is time to start consulting exterior painters to get a quote and start planning to get the job done. In addition, there are some general guidelines on how often you should paint your exterior. But visual signs of the paint or stain are most important because every home is unique, and the standard guideline may not always be applicable.

Overall aesthetic

Paints contribute to the aesthetics of buildings that contribute immensely to the home appeal and protect the wall surfaces both inside and outside. Exterior paints play a critical role in protecting homes from the elements of weather, and proper choice of paints help to make homes look beautiful. The appearance of your home depends greatly on the choice of paint, and the color scheme and homeowners only know best what could make it look even better. You become used to the appearance of your home so much that even the slightest degradation should not escape your attention, and if you are unhappy with it, then waste no time but get it painted.  If you purchased a home despite not liking its exterior color scheme, it is also a reason to get a fresh coat of paint done of your choicest color.

If you see signs of rotting in the wood of the siding or see cracks in the stucco, you must assess the damage and arrange for painting it immediately to restore the looks and apply the protective coating.

Chipped paint

The most ominous sign that tells you it is time to paint the home exterior is when you observe paint chipping off at places. If allowed to persist, the coating of paint will wear away from different areas and damage the surface. Paint chipping, bubbling, and crackling can happen if the painting is too old, and it even happens for not so old painted surfaces due to poor quality of painting like applying the paint on a dirty or uncleaned surface that impairs paint adhesion. Damaged paint may even indicate moisture penetration into the siding of your home, in which case you need to fix the siding first and then take up fresh painting. Proper surface preparation before painting by sanding and cleaning the surface with power washing ensures prolonged paint longevity.

Cracked caulking

Caulking is applied around the doors and windows for proper sealing. If you see minor cracks, you can repair it by filling it with fresh caulking. Leaving it unattended will lead to moisture penetration through the cracks, which can cause a lot of damage. In case of larger cracks, you must replace the caulking and then apply a fresh coat of paint on it for added protection.

Mold and moisture stains

On seeing moisture stains and mold growing on the surface, you must take a closer look to understand if it is superficial, which you can wipe away with elbow grease or remove it by pressure washing. But, if you find that the stain is hard to remove, then it is a sign of some serious problem that can damage the walls of the building. Cleaning the surface thoroughly and repainting it ensures proper surface protection, but if the damage is extensive, then you may have to replace the material.

Discoloration

The shine and luster of paint fade with time and undergoes heavy discoloration after few years. Discolored paint just not only makes the building look old and unattractive, but it can even expose the imperfections of the surface.  Since discoloration happens with aging, it will eventually lead to paint chipping and cracking due to exposure of the exterior surface to the elements of weather, especially sunlight. Discoloration can also happen if moisture seeps under the paint surface, which creates an ideal environment in which mold and mildews thrive. This can create health hazards, and although repainting can remedy the situation, you must first clean the surface thoroughly to eradicate the problem from the roots.

Aging

The general rule in house maintenance is that you must paint the exterior surface at some interval, maybe 5,7 or 10 years, depending on the nature of the construction and the quality of paint. Some special quality weather-proof paints last longer.  A brick exterior may need painting after a decade or more, but if you have wooden siding, then painting it at an interval of few years is a must. The recommended interval for different types of building exterior is given below.

• Wood siding stays good for 5-7 years after which you must paint it. Wood is very vulnerable to moisture and sunlight, and if you are living at a place that experiences heavy rainfall, then more frequent painting may be necessary.  Wood absorbs some paint, which is also a reason for painting it frequently.
• Paint lasts longer on stucco and aluminum, but still, a time will come when the paint chips away. Painting aluminum or stucco façade after every five years is the norm.
• Cement fiberboard siding will need painting after every 10 to 15 years, the same as that of brickwork and Vinyl siding is even better in retaining the coat of paint that lasts for 20 years

Painting the home exterior on time, prolongs the longevity of the building and adds immense aesthetic value that makes homeowners proud.