How do you know when it’s time to paint the outside of your home? There are a few obvious signs to watch out for, like cracking and chipping paint, but there are also some less obvious things that can cause problems too. If you spot your exterior house paint starting to look a bit drab, it might be time to hire a professional house painter. But what do you need to know about house painting, and how do you go about hiring a house painting company?
How Often Should I Paint my House?
Unfortunately, there is no set timing for house painting. Since every home is different, how often you need to touch up or repaint your house will depend on what it’s made of, where you live, the quality of the previous paint job and even what the weather is like. That being said, there are a few rough guidelines you can follow:
- Wooden Siding – Every 3-7 years, or every 4 years if it’s stained.
- Aluminium Siding – Every 5 years.
- Stucco – Around 5-6 years.
- New Types of Materials – These are usually more durable, so need to be touched up less often. Most will last between 10-15 years before they need repainting.
- Brick – If it’s painted, you can get around 15-20 years of wear between paint jobs. If it’s not painted, then it only needs the occasional clean.
What Affects the Durability of an Exterior Paint Job?
Once you’ve had your house painted, it’s understandable you would want to know how to best keep it looking as good as new. In general, there are three things that can affect how long your exterior paint job lasts. These are:
Previous Paint Jobs – If you’ve only just bought a house, then you might not know exactly when it was last painted, or with what quality paint. Generally, it’s a good idea to try and find out, since having detailed information about the previous paint job can make a big difference. In particular, you should try to find out the types of paint used, the quality of the paint, how many coats were applied and even what colour was used – since this all affects how long the paint will last. It’s also helpful to know what time of year the house was painted, as the weather can have a big impact on how well the paint dries, and how well it wears in the future. In general, high-quality paint in lighter shades tends to last longer, especially when you paint 3 or 4 coats instead of 1. As far as paint types go, 100% acrylic is the most durable you can find, and perfect for exterior painting.
Damage from the Elements – Where you live will have a big impact on how long your paint job lasts. Weather can change a lot of things – for example, if you live somewhere with hot summers (and your house isn’t shaded by trees or other houses), then the exterior paint is likely to bubble and fade. If you live in a place with cold, harsh winters, intense storms or very high humidity, then it can make the paint peel and age much more quickly.
Poor Maintenance – Maintaining your house isn’t just an indoor sport – the exterior needs some love too. Good preventative maintenance can help you spot problems while they are small and take steps to fix them before they cause bigger issues. Specifically, you want to look out for things like dampness, rot, chalkiness, insect infestations, rats or mould. Any one of these can affect the quality of your exterior paint, and how long it lasts.
Do I Need to Prepare my House for Painting?
Before you hire a house painting company, you probably want to make sure your house is ready for painting. There will be some prep work that only your house painter can do for you – but there are also some ways you can prepare your house yourself. For example, you can treat any spots of mould or rotten wood, fill in any cracks, caulk any seams and generally give the exterior of your home a wash. Doing this before your house painter arrives will give your house time to dry and make the painting process easier.
When your chosen house painting company arrives, they may do their own prep as well. If you’d got a lot of bubbling or peeling paint, they might decide to sandblast or power wash it to get a smooth surface, as well as fill in any cracks or damage. Once they are satisfied with the quality of the surface, they will probably apply a primer coat to prepare your house for painting and give you a smoother finish.
How do I Choose a Good House Painting Company?
That’s the million-dollar question, isn’t it? House painting is a bit job, so you probably don’t want to try and tackle it yourself. Instead, you’d be better off hiring a professional house painting company to do the hard work for you. So, make sure you do your research. Ask around for recommendations, read up on painting companies near you online and chat to a few. Ask to see examples of their work, read testimonials, and get a few estimates. By the time you’ve done this, you’ll have a good idea of who the reputable house painting companies are in your area, and which you want to work with.
At DPM, we pride ourselves in the quality of our house painting. We work with homeowners throughout the Hampshire, Berkshire and Surrey area, refreshing the outside of houses and giving the insides a good makeover. You can see some examples of our work here, and we are always happy to meet, discuss your ideas and give estimates. For more information, just get in touch with us today.
