3 Signs Your Home Needs Painting

Repainting your home’s exterior is one of the fastest ways to boost curb appeal and turn your house into the one all the neighbors admire. But there are other important reasons to repaint your home from time to time. Exterior paint plays a big role in protecting your home from the weather. So even if enhanced aesthetic appeal isn’t a high priority for you right now, you’ll want to keep an eye out for signs that your home needs painting as a way of safeguarding what’s probably your biggest financial asset.

As a rule of thumb, you will want to repaint the exterior of your home about every seven years.  However, there are many factors that come into play that may necessitate repainting in more or less than this time frame.  Some of these factors include the climate where you live and whether your home is in a shady area or is exposed to direct, harsh sunlight every day. If you live in one of the coastal areas of the Southern United States, for example, your house may need to be repainted more often than homes in other areas because of constant exposure to intense sunlight, high humidity, and possibly saltwater spray.

Therefore, instead of relying on a set timetable for repainting your home, you can look for the following signs that your home needs a fresh coat of paint:

Peeling & Cracking

This is one of the first signs that your home’s exterior paint is past its prime. Peeling, flaking, chipping, or cracking paint is losing its ability to protect your home from mold, mildew, and rot.

A Faded Façade

Faded paint is not only unsightly, but it’s also a sign of excessive wear that means your exterior walls are not being adequately protected. It may also be a clue that the color choice was not ideal for your home. For example, light colors tend to hold their vibrancy longer than darker shades on homes that endure day-in, day-out exposure to harsh sunlight. The quality of the exterior paint can also play a role in how well it resists fading. If you’re planning to repaint your home in one of the communities served by Southern Painting, you can request a color consultation with an expert who can help you choose the best colors and type of paint to stand up to the climate where you live while also suiting your fancy and meeting your homeowners’ association guidelines, if applicable.

Worn Caulking

It’s natural to focus on the colorful exterior paint itself when you think about repainting your home, but there are less obvious components of an exterior painting job that are equally important. One of them is the caulking that provides a protective seal against water, air, dirt, and insect intrusion—all of which can lead to premature structural deterioration. If you notice cracked caulking around your window and door frames or in corner joints and trim, that’s a telltale sign that your home’s exterior is due for a paint job.

We Are The Interior & Exterior Painting Experts

Established in 1989, Southern Painting has a proven track record of delivering beautiful, long-lasting results for homeowners throughout the Southern United States. Whether you’re planning to repaint your home’s interior or exterior walls, you can’t go wrong when you turn to one of our local painting contractors, who will be delighted to help you choose high-quality paint products that are ideal for your project. Contact us today to find out whether we have local painters serving your community.