You probably know you need to repaint your home’s exterior occasionally. It protects your siding against the external harsh conditions, and boosts your curb appeal, they say. But when should you repaint your exterior? How do you even know it’s time for a repaint in the first place? In this article, we share a few tell-tale signs that it’s time for a new coat of paint on your home’s exterior.
Why is this important? Oftentimes, homeowners either repaint their entire home too soon, which increase maintenance costs, or too late, which leads to costly damage repairs. So as you can see, both ends are not favorable to your budget, time and peace of mind.
Signs It’s Time To Repaint Your Home’s Exterior
1. Fading Colors
This is one of the earliest signs of paint failure, and it negatively impacts your home’s curb appeal and your moral as you walk back home. While you can safely ignore the first minor signs of paint fading, extensive paint fading calls for a full exterior repaint. Paint color fading doesn’t go well with touch-ups because chances are there will be color variance between your old and new paint coats.
2. Chalking
Chalking happens when the paint pigments break down to form a fine chalky residue. If you run your finger on the siding and you notice a fine residue left on it, your paint is chalking. In some cases of advanced paint chalking, you might notice a small deposit of fine residue along the base of your siding – and this is definitely time for a new paint job.
3. Moisture Stains and Mildew
Large patches of moisture or traces of mildew on your siding could be much worse than just unsightly. Mold and mildew release spores that contaminate the air and can potentially cause allergies and respiratory issues. It could also be a sign of rotten siding substrate underneath. A professional exterior painting contractor can advise on the best way to treat and get rid of the mold and mildew and address the underlying problem before repainting.
4. Cracking and Peeling
Small patches of localized paint cracking or peeling can be patched by a minor touch-up paint job –you don’t have to redo an entire exterior. However, if you notice extensive patches of paint cracking and peeling, you need to call a professional painting contractor immediately. This is usually an advanced sign of paint failure and can lead to more problems if not addressed in good time.
5. Your Paint Has Aged Out
No matter how good the quality of your paint is, it eventually breaks down and wears out. A painted exterior typically takes about 5-8 years before requiring a new paint job. The exact number of years the paint job will remain intact depends on a number of factors such as type of paint used, siding substrate, weather conditions, quality of the paint job, location, and maintenance practices. Generally, if it’s been years since you last painted, you don’t have to wait until you see advanced signs of paint failure for you to repaint.
Other than the visible signs of paint failure, you might also want to repaint your home’s exterior if you’re considering reselling it. This boosts its value, attracts more potential buyers with better offers and helps you sell your home faster. Or, you could simply be tired with the current paint colors on your exterior –that’s a good enough reason for an exterior repaint.
Closing Thoughts
Exterior painting in San Diego, CA is the best way to protect your property, increase its value and prevent expensive repairs down the line. But to avoid repainting too early or too late, keep the above tips in mind.
If you need help repainting your exterior, Ron Rice Painting can help. We’ve been doing exterior residential painting in San Diego for decades and would like to add you to our long list of happy clients. Simply give us a call to get started.