How Often Should I Repaint The Exterior Of My Home?
Your home is one of your biggest investments, but improving the curb appeal of your home doesn’t have to cost a fortune. A few great ways to improve the curb appeal of your home are to landscape, power wash your driveway and sidewalks, install a new front door, or apply a fresh coat of paint. A new paint job is a great way to freshen up the exterior of your home, while also protecting your investment from the elements and maximizing your home’s value. Painting the exterior of your home is an inexpensive way to overhaul the look of your home, but does require some maintenance, as we will detail below.
Since every home is different, knowing how often you’ll need to repaint is based on several factors, though most professional painters agree that you will likely need a fresh coat roughly every 5-10 years.
Exterior Surface
Based on your home’s exterior surface alone, here are some approximate repainting timelines.
Wood Siding: Every 3-7 years
Aluminum Siding: Every 5 years
Stucco: Every 5-6 years
Cement Fiberboard Siding: Every 10-15 years
Painted Brick: 15-20 years
Vinyl Siding: Even vinyl siding can use a coat of paint to bring it back to life
The 3 biggest factors to consider when trying to determine how often you’ll need to repaint the exterior of your home are how and when your home was previously painted, how your home has been maintained since that paint job, your home’s exposure to the elements, and the climate you live in.
Previous Paint Job
If possible, it’s great to know when your home was last painted, whether or not it was properly prepped and primed (were professionals hired, or was this a DIY project?), what type of paint was used, and how many coats were applied. Properly prepping your home for paint goes a long way in guaranteeing that your paint job will last as long as possible.
We recommend power washing to clean the surface, as well as to loosen up any chipping or peeling paint. After the house has thoroughly dried, we scrape any remaining loose or peeling paint (placing plastic on the ground to catch paint chips will save you a lot of frustration at the end of the project!). Next, we identify any damaged wood and either repair or replace it, and then prime any new or bare wood with an oil-based primer. The next step is caulking around windows and doors (along with additional penetration points as needed). All of these steps ensure that the exterior of your home is clean and prepped for paint to properly adhere, and last for years to come.
Surprisingly enough, the color of paint used also plays a role in the longevity of your paint job. Lighter shades of paint tend to be more durable, especially when more than 1 coat is applied, and darker shades are more apt to fade. Likewise, professional quality 100% acrylic paint is the longest-wearing and most resistant to fading.
Preventative Maintenance
As with all repairs that need to be made to your home, it’s better to address them before they become larger problems that you’ll have to deal with. Regularly inspect your home’s exterior to look for signs of wear and tear – chipping or peeling paint, wood rot, entry points and mold, and take care of them right away to help your paint job last longer. Gently power washing your home every spring and fall is also a great way to keep your home clean, prevent contaminants from breaking down your paint, and keep up your curb appeal.
Climate & Weather
All Minnesotans know that our weather offers extremes for all seasons, including harsh winters, intense storms, and high humidity – fun! These are all factors that can shorten the lifespan of your paint job. Also, if your home is exposed to direct sun, your paint will tend to fade more quickly. Different sides and areas of your home will be affected differently by direct sun. Typically, the south and west sides of your home will need attention first, followed by the east and north sides.
Hiring The Right Painting Contractor
We know that the prospect of hiring a contractor to paint the exterior of your home can be daunting. Will you hire the right team? Will they show up on time? Will they do a professional job? Our goal is not to be the one of the biggest companies, or to sell the most work, but to be one of the best. We strive to deliver the customer service that you expect every day, but rarely receive. All of our decisions are made based on meeting this one goal… we will help guide and advise you through every step of the process, we will be upfront and honest with our estimate, and we will complete your project to the highest industry standards. And we won’t be done with your project until you’re completely happy with our final product. You can rest assured knowing that we offer a 2-year guarantee on all labor, and are fully insured and licensed with the State of Minnesota.
Twin Cities Resurfacing services the greater Twin Cities area, and we can’t wait to get started on your next painting project. Click the link below to get started today!