Signs It's Time To Repaint Your Homes Interior And Exterior
The need to paint your interior can really sneak up on you. People typically don’t notice that it’s time to repaint until it gets to a point where everyone can see that it’s time to repaint. As we start this new year, a lot of us have the goal of being more proactive. Staying on top of your home maintenance projects, like interior painting, can help you avoid larger costly repairs down the road. In the spirit of addressing issues head on, we’ve got 5 signs it’s time to repaint your interior walls and trim.
No one wants to take on a big financial and disruptive project like painting the exterior of your home. Unfortunately, letting an exterior paint job go an extra couple of years can cause damage to your house. Paint is the first line of defense for your house against the elements. So, here's 6 signs it's time to repaint your house exterior!
Interior
Trim Wear and Tear
A real estate agent once told us that you should always look at the baseboards of a house to determine how it was taken care of. If the baseboards are dingy, dirty, or not well maintained then the rest of the house probably wasn’t either. The truth is, trim tends to be where paint fails first because of the wear and tear it sees year after year. If you look at the trim around your home right now you might see raw edges, chips, scuffs, and a lot of dirt that can break down the protective coating. Be sure to inspect other areas along with your baseboards like in the kitchen and around doors where traffic is high.
If your trim boards have seen better days you have a couple of options. You can either repaint just the trim to breathe a little life into it or you can repaint everything. Painting just your trim can make your walls look quite dingy in comparison, so be sure to check out the following tips before making any decisions.
Walls That Need Patching
We all have wall patches. They’re usually the aftermath of trying to hang new artwork, photos or shelves. Sometimes you can get away with hiding these blemishes, but if you have wall patching or holes that need to be repaired then it is absolutely time to paint. If your walls need to be repaired it doesn’t necessarily mean your entire home needs to be painted. If you have a room or wall that has some patching needed you can often get away with painting just that room or even a single wall. Just be wary of fading. If you haven’t painted within the last two years it might be best to repaint all of the walls for color continuity.
Fading Paint Color
We all know exterior paint fades, but we often don’t think about the paint inside our homes fading. The fact is, the interior paint on the walls and trim of your home will fade as well. This is especially true for rooms with south or west facing windows that take in a lot of sunlight. Choosing lighter paint colors can be really helpful to combat fading paint, but it’s not always easy to tell when your paint has faded. Obviously, if the color looks different than when you first painted then it’s likely faded. But there’s another great way to check––take some of the artwork or pictures off your wall and see if there is any discoloration on the walls. If your paint has faded you can easily fix this with a fresh coat.
Wall Stains You Can’t Clean
Just like any surface, paint has the ability to become stained over time. If you’ve got stains that you can’t seem to clean no matter what you use then a new layer of paint might be just what you need. Do a thorough inspection of high traffic areas like kitchens, bathrooms, game rooms, and kids rooms. These spaces tend to get smudges, marks, and fingerprints easily, which can make the space look unmaintained. If this is an issue you battle with constantly because of your kids or pets then we highly recommend upgrading your paint to a product like Sherwin Williams Emerald Urethane. This paint contains stain-fighting technology that will help keep your paint looking fresh and clean!
Clashing Colors
One of the number one reasons people paint is to change their paint colors. This might seem like a trivial reason to paint your interior but if you’re looking around and hate your paint colors then you aren’t creating a comfortable space. Your home is a reflection of you, and your paint colors play a huge role in creating a “feeling” within a space. If you don’t feel confident choosing your own colors then you should absolutely explore hiring a professional color consultant like Melo Power Washing.
In the spirit of the new year, let’s all make a conscious effort to check these projects off our to-do list and protect our homes. Homes are often our largest investment and staying on top of maintenance allows you to protect that investment and enjoy your home to its fullest while you’re there!
Exterior
Wear and Tear
If the paint has started to show signs of wear and tear, it’s time to consider a paint job. Physical signs of wear include cracking, peeling and bubbling. Any of these show that the paint is no longer adhering to the house. Moisture is being allowed to penetrate the paint film and cause issues beneath. It’s best to have a professional assess the issues and potential damage that lies beneath.
Fading
Faded paint, while not a terrible issue, can make your house look sad and tired. If the house is faded more on particular areas, the sun is leaching the pigments from your paint. It’s probably a good idea to paint. Even though there is no physical damage happening, your house can still be a sort of an eyesore.
Selling
A fresh exterior paint job can increase your curb appeal and potentially bring you some bucks at the closing table. Before you list your home, it’s a good idea to at least get a consult from a professional. They will be able to tell you if the cost of an exterior painting outweighs the cost associated with it.
Gaps
If you are seeing areas around your home where it looks like the house is pulling away from door and window frames, it’s probably time. Most likely you will need your home caulked to fill in the gaps. A professional will be able to tell you if moisture has leached into the wood and caused any issues you should be concerned with. Any place where you can see gaps should be addressed.
Cracked Caulk
Caulk is used to seal areas between the walls and windows or doors. It’s used to keep your home sealed tight. Over time, it gets brittle, loses elasticity and can crack and fall away. Any area where there was caulk and now is not should be corrected. There is paintable caulk for cracks that will show immediately if repaired. You will have to paint over them to mask the repair.
Time
If you are lucky and your paint doesn’t show signs of failure, it could still be time to redo it. Even if you don’t see these signs, repainting is a good idea if the appropriate amount of time has passed. It means that the paint has done its job and protected your house with a good paint film for years. If you can’t remember when your house was last painted, or it’s been a decade or more, call a professional to avoid damage.
So how often does your house need to be painted?
Exteriors should be painted every 5 to 10 years, depending on the quality of paint and craftsmanship it was painted with last time.
Here are some guidelines based on exterior surface:
- Wood surfaces need to be painted every 3 to 7 years.
- Aluminum siding needs to be painted about every 5 years.
- Stucco should be repainted every 5 to 6 years.
If you’re seeing any of the failure signs, give us a call. We offer free, in home estimates for paint jobs. Contact us today to set up an estimate request.
Remember when you last painted the exterior of your home? Or gave your deck a nice new coat of stain? It felt so great just looking at the finished work – your home looked renewed and refreshed. Wouldn’t it be nice to look at your home and enjoy that feeling again?
But it’s been a few years; most of us can’t quite remember how long ago it really was. So how do you know when it’s time to repaint your home’s exterior?
Maybe you’re inspired by a great new color combination that caught your eye, and you think it would be perfect for your home. Or perhaps you’re just tired of the current color and want to make a subtle shift. Either way, we can help!
If you’re still happy with the color, painting may be necessary due to your home’s condition. Melo Power Washing® recommends doing a walk around your home’s exterior and keeping this checklist handy:
- Are your soffits, trim, or fascia cracking, peeling or flaking?
- Is your siding fading or chalking (a cast that can be noticed when you rub your fingers across the surface)?
- Is there any discoloration on the siding, especially on the sunny side of the home?
- Are there any signs of wood rot? Look for soft spots in your wood siding that have more exposure to water.
- Is your front door color looking dirty or dull?
Any of these conditions may indicate the need for repair and repainting your home’s exterior. Protect your investment –
contact Melo Power Washing for all of your painting needs!
