Exterior paint adds vibrancy and character to any house. However, paint fades over time and requires a fresh coat every so often to keep your home looking clean and beautiful.
Exterior paint is a cost-effective way to boost your home’s curb appeal. Unfortunately, it can be tricky to determine the best time to update your home with fresh paint.
Use this practical guide to help you decide when it’s time to repaint your home—and follow our tips before and after your new paint job to keep your home looking new for years to come!
Straightforward Ways to Know It’s Time to Repaint Your Home
Typically, most homes require a fresh coat of paint every five to ten years.
Unfortunately, several variables at play make it difficult to create general repainting guidelines for every homeowner to follow. Thankfully, there are other ways to know when it’s time to repaint the exterior of your Indiana home.
Here are three telltale signs:
1. Siding Material
Your siding material is a significant factor that impacts how long your exterior paint will last. Here are a few of the most common types of siding—and how often you should repaint each one.
- Wood—3 to 4 years
- Aluminum—5 years
- Stucco—5 to 6 years
- Fiber cement—10 to 15 years
- Brick—15 to 20 years
These estimates are for well-maintained homes. If you’re not performing regular home maintenance, you may need to repaint your home exterior sooner.
2. Home Location
The location of your home can impact the lifespan of your exterior paint for two reasons: the weather and homeowner’s association rules.
Weather
Houses in warm climates typically need to be repainted more often than homes in cold weather. Damage from direct sunlight will cause your paint to fade and bubble quickly.
However, cold weather can still take a toll on your home—intense storms and humid weather are both likely to age your paint.
Since Indiana experiences warm, humid summers and short, cold winters, you may find your home in need of fresh paint more frequently than you would otherwise expect.
Homeowner’s Association Rules
Often, homeowner’s associations dictate how frequently you should repaint your house—especially in historic districts. Historic neighborhoods are common in Indianapolis, so it’s important to be mindful of the strict guidelines required if they apply to your home.
3. Wear and Tear
With just a bit of preventative maintenance, you can significantly extend the lifespan of your exterior paint job. Clear dirt and moss off your home every spring and fall to keep your home looking beautiful.
However, suppose problems like rot, chalkiness, mold, insect infestation, or water damage have already caused significant damage to your home. In that case, once they are repaired, you’ll need to update your exterior with a fresh coat of paint.
How to Maximize Your Exterior Paint Lifespan
Once you’ve determined it’s time for new exterior paint, here are some steps you can take before and after your paint job to ensure your fresh coat lasts as long as possible!
Prepare Your Home
Like we mentioned before, the cause of a new paint job is often damage to your home. Before you invest in fresh paint, remove mold, mildew, and rot from your home’s exterior. Fill in cracks or holes with caulk or putty. It’s also wise to sand down or power wash your home’s exterior so there is a smooth surface for your contractor to apply the paint to.
Additionally, it’s always a good idea to schedule your paint job when the forecast predicts sunny skies and temperate weather. Severe storms and heavy rain can delay your paint job or damage your new paint.
Invest in High-Quality Paint
Some paints are more expensive than others—and for a good reason. High-quality paints, like Sherwin Williams, PPG Porter, and Benjamin Moore are worth investing in to extend the lifespan of your exterior paint.
Complete Regular Maintenance
Once your paint job is complete, you’ll want to keep it looking bright and fresh for as long as possible. Taking the time to complete regular maintenance is a great way to keep your paint in tip-top shape—and it can help extend the lifespan of your siding, too!
Inspect the exterior of your home at least once a year for moisture damage, peeling or cracking paint, and rotting wood. If you spot any of these issues, fix them immediately.
You can also keep your paint clean by pressure washing your home’s exterior every year or so. Be mindful of the pressure, though—you don’t want to cause your paint to chip. Often, brushing the dirt off your home and rinsing it with a garden hose is just as effective.
Invest in a Top-Notch Exterior Paint Job that Lasts with JD Hostetter
And finally, the most critical decision you can make when it’s time to repaint your home’s exterior is who you hire to complete the job.
Our qualified, experienced team follows a detailed checklist to ensure you’ll enjoy years of long-lasting beauty from your exterior paint. It includes:
- Power washing your home before applying paint
- Repairing and replacing damaged siding and trim as needed
- Using respected, top-name paint brands
- Applying a primer and two coats of paint for enduring beauty
Visit our painting services page to discover how you can boost your home’s value with a vibrant, long-lasting paint job by JD Hostetter!
