7 Signs When Your House Exterior is Due for A Paint Job
After investing your time and energy into finding your dream home, keeping it looking as fresh as the day you bought it requires attention and diligence. A failing exterior paint job will overshadow any exterior home improvements. Therefore, it is wise to keep up with your home’s exterior maintenance for curb appeal and to protect it from degradation.
The paint on your home’s exterior does more than highlight its architectural features. Quality exterior paint helps to protect your home against weathering, water damage, and mold. Here are 7 signs that indicate your exterior paint needs attention.
1 Wood Rot
Check for visible wood rot and exposure. Rot occurs on problematic siding and trim. Door frames and windows are often areas to inspect for damage.
2 Caulk Failure
Caulk that has separated will allow water to enter behind the surface. Signs that caulking is subject to failure include oxidation and becoming brittle. Once caulking loses its flexibility, failure is imminent.
All surfaces that contain caulk joints will need checking and recaulking if needed.
3 Chalking Paint
Chalking is detected by to the touch or visible white streaks. A chalky surface leaves a residual white residue to the touch. Chalking is a chemical breakdown of paint molecules due to weathering and causes exterior painted surfaces to lose color.
4 Cracking & Peeling Paint
Cracking and peeling paint involves small cracks or bubbles on a painted surface. Paint may curl at the edges and peel away from the surface, making removing it easier. These areas must be scraped, primed, and repainted.
5 Dull Paint Finish
Don’t wait until the paint fails to repaint your home. When the surfaces start to dull or wear, repainting is easy to maintain and prevents further damage and paint failure. Windows and doors get more use than most other sections of your home’s exterior. If the trim begins to show its age before your entire home needs repainting, the trim can be painted separately. The house should be repainted every 5 to 10 years.
6 Excess Mold Growth & Water Stains
Exterior water stains are indications of concern and should be assessed. When paint starts to degrade, water stains will become more prone, revealing areas exposed to excessive moisture.
Premature mold and mildew growth are signs of the exterior paint finish becoming more porous, allowing water vapor to penetrate more than usual. Once permeation rates are above average, it is time to repaint the home.
7 Minor Surface Cracks
It’s perfectly normal for small wood cracks to persist on outdoor wood surfaces. However, when multiple cracks develop on the surface, it is due to water penetration. Surfaces such as stucco, wood, and fiber cement are all adversely affected by heavy moisture. It is time to paint when new cracks develop on surfaces outside your home.
Waiting Too Long to Paint
Exterior house painting costs are continually rising, and some are inclined to delay painting for as long as possible. However, postponing exterior painting can cost you more in the long run.
- Any exposed wood will rot.
- Damaged surfaces will require more prep, increasing labor costs.
- The structure of the home could become jeopardized.
- Mold and mildew could grow and proliferate.
Start Early
When the paint job on the exterior of your home is beginning to show signs of weathering, consider repainting it as soon as possible.
If you live in Raleigh, NC, or within the Triangle Area, contact us for guaranteed professional exterior house painting services that add curb appeal and protection against the elements!
