Many homeowners often wonder how frequently they should paint the exterior of their house, which leads them to another big question; how long does exterior paint last? Sadly, there is no straightforward answer to determine how long an exterior paint job will last.
It is often recommended to repaint the exterior of a home every 5-10 years. That is a pretty significant gap. Things such as climate, quality of paint, type of siding, and more can ultimately affect how long exterior paint will last.
This article will help homeowners like yourself understand what factors can affect the life of the exterior paint and ultimately provide some ways to increase the life of a paint job! If you are a homeowner in the Northwest Houston area, you can always call our team at Mr. Happy House to answer any questions when it comes to painting the exterior of your home if you’re looking to have a professional painting contractor to paint your home.
The type of paint used, the climate, the type of siding, and the experience of the painter/painting contractor all play an important role in the longevity of exterior paint. Now, these may seem kind of obvious, but many homeowners do not think about the effect routine maintenance can also have on their exterior paint. This section of the article is going to go in-depth on how all of these factors affect how long exterior paint will last on any home in the United States.
It is no secret that there are several different types of paint. Homeowners not only get to choose between brands of exterior paint but also between water and oil-based paints. One of the top recommended exterior paints is acrylic paint. It is highly recommended as it can be painted over both water and oil-based paints. Now, let’s take a look at some of the top paint brands. Sherwin Williams Duration paint is formulated to last 8-10 years on the exterior of a home.
Benjamin Moore’s exterior paint is also of great quality and will last for many years on any exterior surface. Behr’s bear brand exterior paint and primer are often favored because they are the cheapest option. However, since it is the cheapest option, it is also the lowest quality which means it will not last as long as other more expensive and higher-quality paints.
No matter what type or brand of paint a homeowner chooses, you need to be sure the paint can be used on the siding of your home. For example, if the area you want painted is brick, you will need paint designed for brick, not wood. Some paint cans will be advertised as an all-surface paint. That means the paint can be applied to wood, metal, vinyl, and more. It is important to read the label and see what specific surfaces the paint can be used on as different surfaces have different chemical makeups and will range in their ability to absorb the paint.
One huge benefit of hiring Mr. Happy House is that we will handle this task for you. We are very familiar with the different brands and their products. Therefore, we will ensure we are using paint meant for the specific type of siding on your home.
When it comes to the siding on a home, homeowners do not often think about the effects the elements will have on the exterior of their house. Luckily if you’re a homeowner in the United States, James Hardie has looked at the environmental elements and created the HardieZone System. Using this system they were able to develop two different product lines, HZ5 and HZ10.
The type of siding that is on the home has a huge impact on how long the exterior paint will last. For instance, wood siding typically needs to be painted every 3-7 years.
Wood is a natural material and deteriorates faster than some synthetically made types of siding, and this can cause the paint to subsequently deteriorate faster. Unfortunately, you cannot always choose the type of siding on the exterior of their house.
Sometimes the homeowners association (HOA) may choose the type, other times homeowners may move into a house that recently had the siding replaced. With that in mind, it is important to know what siding is on your home to determine how long the exterior paint will last.
It is also imperative to know what type of siding is on a home as some types of siding require more prep work before they can be painted. For example, brick siding will require significant prep work compared to wood, Hardie, or vinyl siding. What does prep work have to do with the longevity of the paint?
When prep work is done properly the exterior paint is more likely to last a couple of years longer. However, if the surface is not properly prepared it can cause the paint to deteriorate faster. If you have hired an experienced and establish painting contractor, you will most likely not have to worry too much about the strenuous prep work and the contractor can determine the type of siding on your home if you’re not sure what kind was used.
While a home renovation DIYer can paint the exterior of a house, this article is focused on the longevity of the paint job. With that in mind, the best decision is to hire an experienced painting contractor.
Painters who have years of experience, like the ones on our team at Mr. Happy House, know how to ensure the exterior paint will last for years. An experienced contractor is aware that the exterior of a home needs to be pressure washed before applying new paint. By pressure washing the surface, the contractor is creating a clean surface that will allow the paint to properly adhere to the siding.
Established painting contractors also know how to cover up windows, doors, decorations, etc. Keep in mind that homeowners will get what they pay for in terms of quality contracted work. The cheaper contractor may not have the experience to know how to properly cover up doors and windows.
Another perk is that an experienced painting contractor will know to apply multiple layers of paint. The additional layers of paint add protection against environmental elements. The contractor will also ensure the additional layers are properly applied. When a new coat of paint is applied on top of wet paint it can increase the risk of bubbling and blistering.
Many homeowners like the idea of painting the exterior of their houses because it is cheaper than hiring a contractor. However, they often become impatient and will apply a new coat of paint before the other coat is fully dry or they may skip over corners and trim leaving the paint more susceptible to outside elements.
Many homeowners do not think exterior paint needs maintenance, but it does. Homes should be regularly inspected for mold, rot, and other obvious signs of wear and tear. By spotting these issues before they get too big, you can fix the small problem and increase the longevity of the paint job. The exterior paint should also be cleaned regularly.
Homeowners can easily clean the exterior of a house with mild soap and water depending on the type of siding that is on the home. Some types of siding can be pressure washed to ensure all the dirt and moss are removed. Cleaning the house will make the paint look newer and cleaner and help increase the life expectancy of the paint.
There are a couple of signs that will tell you it is time to repaint the exterior of their house. While it can be a burden to repaint, allowing the paint to go years longer than it should will cause more damage to a home.
If you have noticed gaps or cracks in the caulk around windows and doors then it is definitely time for a fresh coat of paint. A contractor will be able to apply new caulk and search for signs of water damage.
Any sign of cracking, peeling, bubbling, or fading is another giveaway that it is time for fresh paint. Before the exterior of a home can be repainted it is critical that these damages be fixed and addressed. If the siding is not in pristine condition then the new coat of exterior paint will not last as long as it should.
Many experts recommend repainting the exterior of a house every 5-10 years. This timeframe can be affected by the type of siding, the type of paint used, and so much more. For example, exterior paint on wood siding will not last longer than 7 years and may need to be repainted as early as every 3 years. One of the easiest ways to guarantee the paint job will last for many years is to hire an experienced painting contractor. Our team at Mr. Happy House will know exactly what paint to use for different types of siding and we have the experience to properly apply exterior paint on any home.
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