Keeping up with the maintenance of the exterior of your home is very important, especially when it comes to painting. This isn’t just for curb appeal, although it is nice to have a gorgeous looking home. It’s also about protecting the building, stopping water from penetrating, and preventing surfaces from deteriorating.
But how often should you repaint your house exterior, and how do you know when your house needs to be repainted?
There are factors that affect how often you need to paint the exterior of a house, and there are things you can do to prolong the lifespan of a painted surface. I’ll get into both in this blog.
How Often You Should Repaint Your House Exterior?
As already mentioned, there are several factors that affect how often you’ll need to paint your home. However, I can give you a rough guide.
- Full house repaint – 5-10 years
- Masonry render, windowsills, bricks etc. – 10 years.
- Garden walls – 2-3 years
- Wooden windows, doors, soffits and fascia boards – 5-7 years
- Metal railings – 4-6 years
Factors That affect How Often Your House Needs to be Repainted
Location
Homes by the sea will need to be repainted more often because the salt air and strong winds effect the paint.
Paint Quality
Cheap paints don’t age very well, and often lose their colour, or break down and peel altogether.
Water
If the substrate contains moisture, then the paint will fail sooner than it would otherwise.
Signs That Your House Needs to be Repainted
Flaking Paint
Flaking paint looks unsightly, but it also allows moisture into the substrate which can cause problems like rotting wood, rusting metal, or deteriorating masonry.
Algae Growth
You can keep on top of algae growth with specialist fungicidal products, but a lot of the time it is easier to repaint with products that are less susceptible.
Visible Damage
This is an obvious one, but if you can see rotted wood, displaced sealant, cracks, or any other damage, then your house needs to be repainted.
How to Make the Paint on Your house Last Longer
Paint When It’s Warm and Dry
I’ve carried out exterior painting works during the colder months in the past, but there is bigger chance of trapping moisture, which can cause your paint to fail more quickly. Summer is a better time of year for painting outside.
Use the Best Paint
Some paints last a lot longer than others. Silicone masonry paints like Emperor can last up to 25 years before they start to break down, and they’re breathable, so they won’t trap moisture. Emperor also stays cleaner for longer and is less susceptible to algae growth. It might be more expensive, but it definitely lasts longer. (Click here for product details).
The same applies when painting wood and metal: You should always stick with good-quality trade paints where you can and follow the manufacturer’s instructions for application (recoat times and number of coats).
Use the Best Fillers
Never cheap out on sundries when painting a house exterior. Red Devil OneTime Caulk seems to last well outside. A good cement-based filler like Toupret Rock Solid Filler is best for long-lasting masonry repairs. An epoxy-based filler like Oxera Rebuild is best for woodwork, and it comes with an extended guarantee.
Regular Maintenance
Regular maintenance may include applying a coat of wood oil, stain, varnish, or multi-surface paint every couple of years, which means you won’t need to carry out a full repaint.
Proper Prep
Carrying out repairs properly before painting, abrading surfaces to aid adhesion, and priming bare surfaces will ensure your paint system lasts longer.
Final Thoughts
Painting the outside of a house is a lot of work, so anything you can do so your house doesn’t need painting as often is a bonus. But just remember that regular maintenance is important.
If your house needs painting but it’s coming up to winter, then one thing you can do is prime all the bare surfaces. This may not add to the aesthetic, but it will protect the substrate until the weather warms up, and you can repaint the entirety of your home.
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