Taking care of your home is one of the most important things you can do to maintain its value. A clean, maintained paint job looks inviting and put together. It stands as your home’s first and best defense against the elements. Your exterior paint has a strong impact on your home’s appearance. It protects the exterior of your home from the harsh rays of the sun, excess moisture, and other weather damage.
But when is the right time to repaint? Below we will reveal some signs that will let you know when it is time for exterior painting:
Stucco damage:
There are a number of warning signs that can indicate your stucco is compromised. If you notice any of the following common stucco problems with your home, you should see to it immediately:
Lasting water spots, staining, and discoloration
Cracking in your stucco
Extending below grade
Bubbling paint:
Paint bubbling is just another way of saying paint blistering. A blister is a pocket of fluid that congregates between dried paint, which can expand and form into blisters or bubbles and break open, leaving damaged paint surfaces or holes and marks left behind. Paint bubbling can happen shortly after a paint or longer term.
This issue is commonly caused by the following:
Painting in direct sunlight or on a surface that is too hot,
Application of an oil-based or alkyd paint over a damp, wet surface,
Exposing a fresh paint film to dew, high humidity or rain,
Moisture passing through interior walls from common household sources such as bathrooms, kitchens and laundry rooms,
Peeling paint:
The telltale signs of peeling paint are hard to miss: spidery cracks, holes in the paint surface, even large strips or sections of paint that come off on their own. The reasons for peeling paint can vary widely. Painting over dirty walls, excess moisture, improper prep, and using latex paint on top of oil paint can all affect the paint's adhesion and cause it to eventually begin flaking off. To solve the problem, you'll need to remove the peeling areas and start over with fresh coats of primer and paint. You can read up more about how the Professional painters do it.
Fading paint:
One of the most common painting problems is fading. It is a typical outcome in dark-colored walls, as such shade is prone to absorb more heat than the lighter walls. But if you fail to prepare the surface before painting it, you can also expect a lot of fading. There are a couple of additional factors that can lead to fading paint, as shown up next.
Extensive exposure to sunlight
Thermal difference
Not layering your paint correctly
Improper film thickness
Paint quality
Lack of correct maintenance
Once the paint pigment has faded and broken down repainting is the best solution.
Because YOU want to!
If you’re looking for a way to update your curb appeal and you’ve already done all the landscaping and driveway work that you can think of, a fresh coat of paint could be exactly what you need. The average “shelf life” of an exterior paint job is about five to seven years. Some paint products will last up to 10 years or more, and in some milder climates, paint may not be as susceptible to damage from the elements. But sometimes, the need to paint the exterior of your home is purely an aesthetic one. If the house was painted in more of a trendy color the last time it was done, it may start to look a little dated.