5 Signs Your Exterior Needs a Repaint
Painting your home’s exterior is important for maintaining its longevity, value, and the protection it provides. Being exposed to the elements everyday will eventually wear these things down. A new coat of paint can help improve the longevity, value, and act as a barrier between your exterior and the elements.
How do you know when your exterior needs to be painted? And where do you look for these imperfections? Here are our top five signs your exterior needs a repaint.
Signs to Look For
1. Peeling, cracking, chipping, or bubbling paint
Changes in paint is one of the easiest and first signs you’ll be able to spot. These signs usually indicate that your exterior has been weather-beaten over time. If you see peeling, cracking, chipping, or bubbling, reach out to a professional painting contractor immediately. Waiting can lead to bigger issues down the line.
Peeling, cracking, chipping, and bubbling paint is usually found in smaller areas like the door trim, garage trim, railings, and posts. Though it is found in smaller areas, paint in this condition can lead to something worse because the material underneath the paint is no longer protected.
2. Fading paint
Fading paint happens over time, but can be exacerbated by heat, wind, rain, and snow. It can make your exterior look old and worn. If you see that your once vibrant hue has turned lighter and grayer, it’s time for a repaint.
Fading paint is typically found on the south and west sides of your home. Additionally, if your home is a darker color, the paint will fade quicker than a lighter one.
Another thing that can affect your paint color is dirt. Dirt that easily comes off is normal and simply needs a wash or power wash to be removed. However, you may find that there are dirt patches on your home that don’t come off, even with a good power wash. If your exterior has dirt that doesn’t come off, it’s time to call in the professionals.
3. Rot
Rot is what happens when moisture infiltrates wood. There are two kinds of rot you need to keep an eye out for as a homeowner.
- Dry rot – You’ll see dry rot in wood that has new gaps between boards, boards that look shrunken, and deep cracks along the wood grain. Dry rot is the most serious form of rot because it can cause the most damage.
- Wet rot – Wet rot presents itself as soft or spongey spots or black and gray spots, which indicates the presence of mold and mildew. This type of rot needs more moisture to grow as opposed to dry rot and is also more common than dry rot.
In either case, you’ll need to call a professional right away to take care of rot since it can have serious consequences if left alone.
4. Cracked caulk
Cracked caulk is one of the signs your exterior needs a repaint. Caulk seals joints between surfaces to protect them from damage and keep them intact. Caulking trim and siding will help your exterior paint job’s longevity and aesthetic.
Look for cracking or signs of brittleness in joints where the siding boards meet trim boards or where two trim boards meet (around a window or a door). Over time, cracking will occur because the caulk loses its elasticity so your exterior will need to be re-caulked and repainted.
5. Time
Can’t remember the last time you had your home painted? That may be a sign it needs a repaint! Don’t wait until you see damage—repainting your exterior offers many benefits, from protecting against weather and pests to boosting curb appeal and maintaining your home’s value. Painting is an essential part of home maintenance that keeps your property in great shape.
Most professional painters recommend the average house exterior be painted every 5-10 years. This timeframe depends on a few things including the quality of paint used last time, how well the exterior was painted, and the exterior surface type. If you’re unsure about the timing of your last exterior paint project, contact your painting contractor to discuss a repaint!
If any of the above signs apply to your home’s exterior, contact Ace Hardware Painting Services! Our friendly and experienced team can help restore and repaint your exterior to ensure your home is better protected. We’re raising the bar for what you can expect from a painting project, including offering a free paint color consultation with any full exterior painting project and free touch-ups in the first year after your project.
