Exterior Painting Services: How Often Should You Paint Your Home?

Sometimes estimates and ball-park figures simply aren't enough to base big decisions on. You want firm answers, and you want to know why!

For example, determining how often you should paint your house can be a tricky question to tackle. There are so many variables to consider, and everyone seems to have a different opinion. 

Relax! 

Our years of experience in exterior painting services have equipped us with all the information you need to make the best decision for your biggest asset. Let’s work out how often you should paint your home, and what factors you should consider along the way. 

Signs That Your House Needs Repainting

Contrary to popular belief, it’s not always immediately obvious that your home needs a lick of paint. Yes, it may look a little drab or the color may have faded over time, but there are other telltale signs that your property needs some TLC.

For example:

• Paint is cracking or flaking
• Caulking has become hard and brittle
• Signs of water damage
• Bent or bowed siding
• Cracks in ceiling boards on patios
• One side of the house is a different color than the other

Far from being a simple cosmetic procedure, exterior painting forms part of the essential maintenance of your property. Repainting your home isn’t something you want to put off until you absolutely have to. Remember, the longer you wait between coats of paint, the more damage can occur in your home. 

Determining How Often to Paint Your Home

When it comes to painting the outside of a home, the frequency varies depending on several factors. These include:

• Climate and weather conditions
• The condition of your home
• The age of your property
• Previous paintwork
• Exterior building materials

Let’s examine how each of these affects the lifespan of your exterior paint. 

The Effect of Weather on Your Home

If you live in an area with harsh winters, high winds, or heavy rainfall, you may need to get your home repainted more often than homeowners in areas that don’t see as much extreme weather. Even the best quality paint can become compromised over time when exposed to harsh elements. 

UV rays from the sun also impact the integrity of the paint. Over time, these UV rays degrade the resin in the paint resulting in brittleness and cracking, allowing the sun to bleach the color out of the exterior of your home. 

As a rule of thumb, the harsher the climate, the more exterior maintenance your home will require. 

The Age and Condition of Your Home

Older homes or those that are not regularly maintained are likely to need more work on the exterior; things that a coat of paint just won’t fix. Peeling plaster from water damage, plant growth, mold, rotting wood or compromised stucco are frequent issues that need attention. 

Rectifying these problems properly as soon as they are detected will certainly give you a little breathing room between paint jobs. But quick fixes or shortcuts will mean you’ll be hauling out the paint rollers again in a few months’ time. 

Previous Paintwork

If your property has benefited from a professional painting service before, then you’ll have a great base to work from. Properly prepared surfaces and quality products equal a longer-lasting finish. Generally speaking, two or three coats of a lighter paint color will outlast a single coat of a darker shade. 

Building Materials

What is the exterior of your home made from? In addition to the above, this is the single biggest determining factor dictating how often you should paint your house. 

• Brick can last around 15 years between painting (If unpainted it just needs an occasional clean)
• Cement fiberboard will benefit from a coat of paint every 10 - 15 years
• Aluminum siding paint has a lifespan of approximately 5 years
• Painted stucco will need attention after approximately 5 years
• Depending on the product and treatment, wood siding will need repainting or revarnishing every 3 - 7 years

It’s tough to calculate an exact timeline for painting and maintenance, but these estimates should give you an idea. 

Why Your Home Should be Painted Regularly

As we’ve seen, exterior paint can fade, crack and degrade over time. This can lead to moisture entering your home through these cracks and creating problems like mold growth, mildew, and pest infestations. 

To keep your house looking great for years to come, it’s important to have it professionally painted by an exterior painting company. And while there are plenty of painting companies out there, you want to make sure you hire a reputable one that has been in business for several years. 

The right company will not only provide quality work but also offer a warranty on their services so that if any issues arise they will fix them at no cost to you. 

The Professional Home Painting Process

Are you in the process of scouring the web for well-respected exterior painting companies? That's great! It means you’re doing your homework and asking all the right questions. 

Our team has painted thousands of homes in Southwest Florida, and we know the difference between a simple coat of paint and quality exterior painting services. Our processes include:

• Pressure cleaning exterior surfaces such as pool cages, roofs, and driveways when necessary
• Trenching out the base of the building, at least 2-4 inches prior to painting and repairs
• Applying Loxon sealer to ensure the new paint will not peel or flake
• Recaulking all of the windows and doors with a good 55-year caulk
• Repairing all cracks in the wall, ceiling, and stucco
• Replacing or repairing rotted or compromised wood
• Rust is neutralized and primed
• Finish off the exterior with a coat of 100% acrylic exterior paint by Sherwin Williams

With such a thorough process, you can rest assured that your exterior will look fabulous for years to come.

Exterior Painting Services … at Your Service

Maintaining your home’s exterior is crucial for your overall property upkeep. We know, though, that it can include a lot of work that you don’t always have the time or know-how to manage.

We warmly invite you to call on our experienced, professional team and allow us to lift the burden from your busy shoulders. Our exterior painting services are second to none - and we’re confident that you will agree. 

Call us today for advice, home painting tips, or a comprehensive quote.