Signs the exterior of your home is ready for repainting…
Painting the exterior of your home, in some cases, can be tricky and dangerous and best left to the professionals. Painting the exterior of your home adds a new depth to your curb appeal. In any case, here are some tips on whether or not you need to run to the nearest hardware store for a new coat of paint.
1. Damage
If there is clear damage to the surface of your home, it likely means there’s a larger problem. Cracks or rotting indicate there’s something that needs to be addressed, so fix those problems first before you choose a new exterior color.
Each house has a different surface, and there are lengths of time when the surface is likely ready for a fresh coat.
Here is a good guideline to help:
Brick: 15-20 years, but cleaning frequently
Wood: 4-7 years, but more so if it’s stained
Stucco: 5-7 years or as needed
Aluminum siding: up to 5 years.
While these numbers are a ballpark range, assess your siding and materials properly to decide if a paint job is needed.
2. Fading
All paint fades, but if it begins to fade significantly, it’s time to grab a paintbrush. Darker colors fade more quickly than lighter or neutral colors, so consider that before selecting a new hue.
3. Peeling, Chalking, and Morphing
All of these, peeling, cracking, and morphing, cause the paint to look run down and ruined.
Environmental factors like harsh weather conditions and extreme temperatures, can all contribute to peeling. If the paint is of high quality, it should not peel.
Chalking is a term used to refer to the residue that’s left on your hands if you run your hand over the paint. If it leaves behind a chalky texture, then it’s time to repaint.
Morphing is when patches of the paint turn a different shade entirely. This makes the paint job look splotchy, and usually occurs because of UV rays.
4. Bubbles
Bubbles might be fun in a bath, but you don’t want to see them on your wall. Bubbles and cracks are a sure sign of mold and rotting, so repainting and mold extraction is needed.
5. It Looks Bad
There’s no shame in admitting that a color you choose did not turn out as you expected! If you painted your home, and it leaves a bad taste in your mouth, consider repainting to something more tasteful. Give Calgary’s Exterior Painters a call!