Any kind of home improvement task can feel daunting, especially when it comes to repainting the exterior of a house. The normal recommendation is to repaint a house every 5-10 years. However, different exterior surfaces may require paint sooner than 5 years. Numerous different signs can also determine if a house’s exterior needs to be repainted sooner than the recommended 5-10 years.
This article is going to discuss those signs and the different exterior surfaces that make up a house to help determine if the house needs to be repainted. Our team at Mr. Happy House is one call away and our professional eyes can lend a helping hand when it comes to deciding if a house should be repainted.
The first thing is to determine when the last paint job occurred and what paint was utilized since some paints do not hold up as well as other paints. For example, Acrylic paint is known as the best paint to use on exterior surfaces because it lasts longer. However, there are a few other things that can determine if a house needs a new exterior paint job.
Wear and tear, fading, repairs, and more are all signs a house needs a new exterior paint job. Our team at Mr. Happy House is always available to answer questions and we can help determine if a house needs a new exterior paint job.
Wear and tear are very normal on a house, but signs of cracking, bubbling, and peeling are not something to take lightly. Exterior Paint is the house’s first defense against the elements. When the paint begins to peel and crack it allows water to infiltrate the underlying surface. This can be dangerous especially if the underlying surface is wood.
As soon as these signs are noticed a professional should take a look at the house to determine if any damage has occurred to the underlying surfaces. Our team at Mr. Happy House can determine the extent of the damage and perform siding repairs and repaint the exterior of your house.
A house’s exterior paint color can begin to fade after 5-10 years. Some houses will fade faster than others, it really depends on the quality of the paint that was used. The color of the house and whether it gets direct sunlight play a role in how fast a house’s exterior paint fades.
Earth tones are known to fade less when compared to reds or blues. However, if a house is not in direct sunlight the blue or red exterior paint will not fade as bad. While fading exterior paint color does not pose potential damage to the house, it can be an eyesore. Faded houses look sad and tired. Some HOAs will require a homeowner to repaint if the house is too faded.
When trying to sell a house, repainting the exterior can add much more value to the home. A fresh coat of paint on the exterior of a house helps increase the house’s curb appeal. Everyone knows that first impressions can make or break relationships and the same is true when purchasing a house.
A buyer’s first impression is the outside of a house. Our team at Mr. Happy House is familiar with the area and the top trends for exterior colors. We can help liven up your house with fresh paint and eye-catching accents. This will make the house pop and drive more traffic to showings and open houses.
Stucco is used on the exterior of houses to add texture to the house, and caulk is used to seal gaps around windows, doors, and more. Sometimes small areas of stucco on the exterior need to be repaired if it is worn out. In theory, a patch job can be performed on the repair, but there is a risk that the patch job will not match the color of the rest of the house.
If the specific color of the exterior paint is known, the patch job may still stick out due to the rest of the exterior paint being faded (this will only apply if you haven’t painted the exterior of your house in a long time). If a house needs a stucco repair it is best to repair all of the patches at once and then repaint the entire exterior of the house for the best results.
Stucco, wood siding, and Hardie board siding can all last different amounts of time in between paintings. The biggest thing that will affect when a house needs to be repainted is the quality of the previous job and if wear and tear are taking a toll on the current paint.
If the previous paint job was performed by an unexperienced individual and not a professional, it may not last long before it starts to fade or bubble and crack. The Mr. Happy House team are painting professionals and we can ensure the paint will last a long time. Below we will go more in detail about the different exterior surfaces and when they need to be repainted.
Stucco exterior surfaces should be repainted every 5-6 years. Stucco does not hold up well in areas with a lot of precipitation and direct sunlight, therefore a painting routine should be established to help with the upkeep. Stucco is also very prone to cracking. Small cracks may not seem like a big deal but they allow water to seep into the surface underneath the stucco.
An exterior painting regimen with quality and durable exterior paint coatings covers and seals those small cracks and can help prevent other damages from occurring in the house. If cracking or peeling is present the stucco should be repainted, but the root cause of the cracking or peeling should be determined. Our team at Mr. Happy House can find the cause of the damage and help prevent it from occurring again.
Engineered wood siding is the most susceptible to the outside elements compared to other exterior surfaces. Since wood can be easily damaged and rotted, more so in hotter climates, it is recommended to repaint natural wood siding every 3-5 years and engineered wood siding every 5-10 years but monitor for signs of wear and tear.
Signs of damage in the paint can lead to damage to the wood underneath the paint. If water seeps through the cracks and crevices of the paint it will seep into the wood.
It is significantly easier to repaint a house and repair the peeling than to remove and replace wood siding due to wood rot, however, we do not recommend this practice, as the root problem (which is the rotted siding) should be resolved first before any type of exterior painting.
James Hardie Siding is made to mimic the look of wood, but it is a very durable cement composite material. Hardie siding can last for 50 years and it is recommended to paint it every 10-15 years. Paint on Hardie siding is still susceptible to the elements.
The paint can still fade, peel, chip, and develop cracks. It is important to repair cracks in between paint coats. This will keep the crack from spreading and it will protect the material under the paint from becoming damaged. Mr. Happy House can repaint Hardie siding and repair any damage that may have occurred since the last coat of paint.
Damage from the elements, the previous paint job, and general house maintenance can all affect the durability of a paint job. A house that is constantly exposed to high winds, tornadoes, rainstorms, hail, and even snow, will require a paint job sooner than one that is not exposed to high-intensity elements.
The conditions in which the current paint job was done can also affect the durability because the paint that was applied in direct sunlight dries differently than paint applied on an overcast day. Depending on what company previously painted the house, the paint could be of lower quality or applied incorrectly.
However, this is not a concern when Mr. Happy House performs a job. We do not cut corners to get a job done faster. We utilize the best paint type depending on the surface of the house and we make sure it is properly applied to the exterior of the house. Now, minor maintenance and monitoring will need to occur no matter who paints a house. The homeowner will have to monitor for mold and mildew that may naturally come up and keep up with an exterior cleaning routine.
Realistically speaking, anyone can repaint the outside of their house, but it can be very difficult to hide mistakes on the outside of the house. A professional painting company like Mr. Happy House also knows exactly what to do and what not to do for a quality and long-lasting paint job.
There is a lot more that goes into painting a house than many people realize. For instance, a house has to be clean before painting so that dirt, insects, and other debris are not forever stuck on the outside of the house.
The team at Mr. Happy House is aware of this. We also possess all the equipment needed to complete a repainting job. Not many homeowners own a ladder tall enough to reach every inch of their house. We will use high-quality paint and we know which paint holds up best on the different exterior surfaces. Let us give your house a facelift and make it feel brand new with a fresh coat of paint.
If you need a professional house painter in The Woodlands or Spring, Texas, give Mr. Happy House a call and we can make your house HAPPY!
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Mr. Happy House is a professional roofing, siding, and painting contractor specializing in residential roof installations, roof repair, siding repair & replacement, house painting, and seamless gutters. We service the North Houston areas including The Woodlands, Tomball, Spring, Conroe, Cypress, & Magnolia, TX. Call today to make your home happy!
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