The exterior of your home is the first thing you'll notice every time you come home, it's the first thing a friend or stranger will see when they visit you, and of course, if you're selling your home, it's the first thing a potential buyer will see! Having a clean and well maintained exterior not only makes you feel good about your home, but it also gives off a great impression to visitors, no matter who they are. The best way to keep your home exterior looking its best is by ensuring the paint always looks fresh and full of life, just a swift paint job by a professional painter is all you need to liven up your home, keep the exterior standing firm against the weather, and have it looking brand new all year round! If you're entirely sure if your home is in need of a new coat of paint, check out the signs to look out for below to help you decide.
1. Fading Paint
No matter what you do, over time, the paint will fade. The sun causes paint to fade, even when it isn't summertime, and as the years press on, the fade will become more noticeable. What's more, if there are areas of your home constantly in the shade, these will fade less quickly and the color around your home will become uneven. The darker the paint the quicker it will fade, so choose a light color if you want the fade to be less impactful.
2. You're Selling Your Home
If you're selling your home, you'll want to do whatever you can to ensure that lots of people love your house and a sale can go through quickly! When you're selling, it's easy to forget about the outside as you're too busy making the inside look appealing, but of course, the outside needs to be attractive as well. Paying a professional to paint your exterior will be more than worth the cost as you see how much more beautiful your home is, and how many more people take notice.
3. Cracked Caulking
Once the caulk around your trim starts to crack, then you know it's time for a repaint. In fact, checking the condition of the caulk from time to time is a good way to gauge how well your paint is doing, and if the caulk has been there long enough to lose its full function, then the paint has probably been there too long as well. Be advised that when your home is repainted, the caulk will most likely need redoing as well, but this is also something a professional painting company can discuss with you.
4. Gaps in the Wood
Painting of wood is an excellent way to protect the surface of the wood and keep it more durable. If you notice gaps at siding or trim around your home then this is a strong indicator that moisture is getting into the wood and shrinking it. If the wood is too damaged, it may need replacing completely, but a professional paint job can prevent wood rot, moisture build-up, residue, and mold.
5. Peeling Paint
Peeling paint is an obvious sign that your home needs painting and it's certainly not one to ignore. If you notice any kind of flaking, cracked, chipping, or peeling paint, then call a professional as soon as you can. This type of problem occurs when the paint has been damaged over time by the various weather conditions, and if you leave it, not only does it look unpleasant, but the surface underneath the paint is no longer protected which can lead to bigger problems such as wood rot further down the line.
6. Trends Have Changed
What may have been an on-trend pleasant color ten years ago, might be an ugly color now. There's no shame in saying that you now hate the color on your home and want something new. Trends come and go, the times change very quickly, so it's expected that every now and then you'll have to have an entirely different color on your home - so make your choice and get that ugly color covered up as soon as possible.
How Frequently Should My Home's Exterior Be Painted?
The answer to this question is dependent on several factors including things such as how much wear and tear the exterior of your home goes through, the quality of the paint used previously, and the material of your home. While there isn't an exact number we can give you, we can give you a good idea based on the most important aspect which is the material of your home.
Brick
Not every brick home is painted, sometimes, people prefer to leave the brick exposed and just have the exterior power washed each year instead. However, if your brick is painted, you'll need a new coating once every three to five years - it's vital that you consult a professional company for the job as brickwork can be hard to maintain well when it's painted and you don't want your bricks to be weakened by the paint.
Wood Siding
In order to keep the wood in great shape and looking its best, it's should be repainted every three to five years. Keep a close eye on the paint as if you notice a lot of peeling paint or excessive flaking this could be a sign that you have wood rot.
Aluminum Siding
As the most durable option of the three, you won't need it painting as often nor will you experience as many problems with the paint as the years go by - a fresh coat once every ten years is good enough for this type of siding.
A fresh coat of paint can dramatically transform the outside of your home, it can brighten up the whole street and have you smiling from ear to ear each time you see it! So, if your home is showing signs of needing repainting or you want a new color for a change, call a professional and you'll have guaranteed perfect results!