Age
Depending on the type of material of which your home is constructed, it will require exterior painting at a certain interval. While wood siding will require attention every few years, brick can go without a coat of paint for decades. Here’s an overview on our guidelines for exterior painting intervals:
Wood siding: Wood siding should be painted every three to seven years. This type of siding is most vulnerable to moisture penetration and sun-aging, plus it is porous and will absorb some paint as it is applied, so it requires a coat of paint more often than other materials.
Aluminum and stucco: Aluminum and stucco are quite stable, although the paint on these surfaces will eventually chip away. Plan on painting your home every five years if you have an aluminum or stucco facade.
Cement fiberboard: This material is highly resistant to weathering. As such, you’ll only need to paint cement fiberboard siding every 10 to 15 years.
Vinyl: Similarly, vinyl siding can remain unaffected by the weather for decades. Plan on painting your home every 20 years if it is covered in vinyl siding.
Brick: Brick lasts and lasts, and so does paint on its surface. If you have a painted-brick home, its brick surfaces only require paint every 15 to 20 years.
Chipped Paint
Is the paint chipping around the ol’ castle? Well that’s enough evidence that your home requires painting. If you’re uncertain of the age of the paint on your home, keep an eye out for cracked and chipped paint — this is the most notable sign that your home requires attention. You may even have chipping and cracking if the paint that was used on your home hasn’t stood the test of time, or if it was applied poorly (paint is more susceptible to chip or crack if it is applied on a dirty surface). Damage to the paint may also be an indication that moisture is finding its way into the siding of your home — which is an indication that you may need to fix the siding before you give it that fresh coat. If you notice chipped or cracked paint around the outside of your home, then we’d be happy to give it a thorough sanding and power washing before applying a coat of paint to the clean surface below.
Discoloration
Discoloration occurs as paint ages, and eventually, your home may look odd, old, or ununiform. If you notice that your home’s surfaces are discolored, then your paint is failing and it’s likely that it will crack or chip soon. Discoloration can occur if the paint is constantly exposed to sunlight. You may also notice that your paint is discolored if moisture has wicked beneath the surface of the paint, which can create an ideal environment for mold to thrive — again, you’ll have to remedy this situation first before you repaint the surface of your house.
Overall Aesthetic
Nobody knows the look of your home’s siding better than you (or possibly your neighbors since it abuts the window to their living room). If you’re discontent with the look of your home, it’s time for an update. Often, our clients have homes that were painted with a gaudy color before they purchased the property, and it’s time to bring the home back to reality. Other times, folks simply want to transform the home with a new coat of paint to make it more of their own. Whatever aesthetic you have in mind for your abode, we’d be happy to apply the paint.
