Home Painting: What Time Is the Right Time?

by Brett Freeman

It can cost a lot to repaint your home's exterior, but the fact is that not repainting your house when it needs it can cost a lot more in the long run. Your siding can be damaged by sun or moisture, and over time the existing paint will start to separate from the house. If this occurs, you will need to strip the old paint off before repainting, adding considerable time and expense to the home painting process. To avoid this, be aware of the signs that your home needs repainting.

Is Your House Three to Five Years Old?
It probably seems counterintuitive that a relatively new house will need repainting, but most new homes have only a single coat of exterior paint over the pre-primed siding and trim most builders use. That one coat of paint will look good for awhile, but after three or so years it's no longer protecting your house from the elements, meaning it's time to treat your home to a proper paint job.

Is Your House Grayish? Beige-ish?
The sun/sand/salt-faded siding on homes in coastal towns like Cape Cod contribute greatly to their charm. Unfortunately, the same isn't true inland. If your house's exterior has faded to a color that ends in "ish," then your paint is probably no longer providing the protection your siding and trim need. Test this by running your fingers over particularly faded areas. If they come away with a chalky residue, this means the resin that holds the paint to your home, and provides much of the protection from the elements, has mostly been broken down, leaving only the paint's pigment behind.

Chips, Cracks, and Blisters
Generally when symptoms like these appear it means you've waited too long--but not always. If you notice chips and cracks only in certain spots, particularly on or around window trim, the problem probably isn't the paint, but rather moisture getting trapped behind the trim. This can be fixed by caulking around the window frame to lock out moisture. If chipping and cracking is present all through your home, this generally means your paint has begun to fail. To determine the degree of the problem, find an inconspicuous area that is peeling and go over it with a scraper. If you can still see paint under the chips that are removed, you can get by with scraping, sanding, and repainting. If the scraper reveals bare wood, you will need to strip the existing paint off before repainting.

Source:
WashingtonPost
AskTheBuilder

About the Author
Brett Freeman is a freelance journalist. He also owns a landscaping and irrigation company in North Carolina. Previously he has worked as a beat reporter, a teacher, and for a home improvement company, and he used to own a bar/live music venue.