How Often Should I paint my Home?

 A question asked all the time for anyone in the painting Industry by homeowners is "How often should I paint my house?". This is going to vary depending on where you live in the country and what kind of climate you live in. There are of tons articles that will tell you anywhere from 5-10 years. This is a wide gap and factors do come into play that will dictate how long the paint job will hold up. Let's dig into some details on how often you should paint the exterior of your home and what things to look out for.

First of all, if you used cheap products (Paint, Caulk) from the start your going to get a final product that will not last as long. Cheap paints are exactly that, Cheap and are more of a band aid. Your home must also properly be prepped prior to the actual painting process. You don't have to buy the best paint, but the mid-grade is always a safe route to go. A professional painter should discuss with you your options. Now if you just bought a home or have been in yours for a while and have no clue if you need a paint job, this should give you all the information you need to make an educated decision. 

To begin just walk around your home and take a look at everything. Is the paint fading in areas? Are joints and seams cracked where it should be sealed? Are seals around the window cracking? Is paint chipping or peeling off? Is paint blistering or bubbling? Are there areas of rotted wood? These are just the basic things to look for but can tell you a lot. If you see any combination of these signs, it's a good chance that area needs to be repainted. Factors that will dictate how long a paint job will last are the weather and how well it was prepped prior to being painted. Assuming your home was prepped and painted properly where you live and what climate you're in plays the next biggest role. How much sun does the home receive? How much moisture does your area get annually? How much snow do you get? How many months of very cold or hot weather do you have annually?

All of these are things that will determine how long a paint job will last. For example, I operate my painting business in western Colorado. Most don't realize that's it's basically a desert climate and is very dry. With that being the conditions, its usually always the south side of homes here that peel first and take most of the beating. Do you have a side of your home that takes a lot of weather and natural element abuse? If so, this is a great place to start. Now to the point, a solid timeline for repainting your home depending on the current condition and siding material is as follows:

Wood siding: 5-7 years, Aluminum: 6-8 years, Brick: 3-5 years and Stucco: 6-10 years

Again, all the factors listed above will determine how things hold up. Having 2 coats put on in the first place will also add some years. A home that is in need of a paint job will not only damage faster but also have a lesser curb appeal. Remember to just keep an eye on things through the years and take a mental note of areas starting to deteriorate. The longer you wait when you know you need something painted, most of the time it will cost more in the long run. Be wise and call a professional or do it yourself so things don't get worse and ultimately more expensive.