The exterior of your home is the first thing people will notice about your house. Having family over? They’ll see the outside of your home long before they see the inside. The first impression you make is a crucial social construct – and that applies to your home as well.
More often than not, people clean the inside of their homes before having company over – it’s common courtesy. No one wants people to think that they don’t take care of their home. But it’s not just about having an organized kitchen or a clean living room. Granted, that’s important. But what good does an elegant indoor living space do if the outside of your home looks like it hasn’t been cared for since construction?
Exterior paint is a tricky subject for homeowners. Does it last long, what should I buy, when should I paint it? These are all common questions when considering an exterior paint job. Knowing how often to paint your house exterior will help you keep your home looking its best and keep its curb appeal.
When it comes to knowing how often you should paint your house exterior, most people know to look for the obvious signs of bubbling and chipping. But many are surprised to learn these telltale signs aren’t the only clues as to how often you should paint your house exterior. There are many factors that come into play, such as the material your house is constructed with, the climate where you live, and the age of your house.
Generally speaking, it’s best to get a paint job every five or so years – regardless of the material.
There are many factors that affect how long a paint job will last: temperature, humidity, wind strength, the care put forth by the original painters, etc. It’s hard to know exactly where your home lands on this scale.
Thankfully, a painting professional like the ones here at Colorado Commercial & Residential Painting can answer any questions you may have.
So, Do I Need a New Paint Job?
Truthfully, this is a question you can only answer yourself. Are you proud of how your home looks? If your answer is a “no,” a “maybe,” or even an “I’m not sure” – then it’s probably time to get a paint job.
Look at the exterior of your house. Do you see cracks, bubbles, or mismatching colors? It’s not uncommon. Colorado weather can do a number on your home – it was eighty degrees a week ago, how is it snowing?
How often you paint the outside of your home is, ultimately, up to you. Let’s go over some of the basics of house painting so you know exactly how often your home needs to be painted.
Factors to Consider When Painting House Exterior
When deciding whether or not to get a new exterior paint job, you need to look at a few key factors of your home’s exterior.
- What material is the exterior made of? Examples could be brick, vinyl, wood, etc. The material will affect how long a paint job will last.
- What type of paint was used originally? There are several different types of paint – water-based, oil-based, latex-based – these all have different lifespans.
- What is the weather like where your home is located? If your home is in an area with extreme weather (like Colorado), you may need to paint more often than those who live in moderate climates.
- How well was the original paint job done? If shoddy work was done on your house originally, then you’ll need to paint much sooner.
Exterior House Material Makes a Difference
Different materials all hold a paint job differently. You need to figure out what your home is made of when deciding whether or not to paint.
The lifespan of a paint job differs between construction materials:
- Wood siding – We typically recommend wood siding be re-painted every 3-5 years. Climate plays a huge factor in this, but for Colorado exterior residential painting, this is a good range to go by.
- Stucco – Stucco is slightly more resilient than painted wood and aluminum, but in Colorado, we recommend 5-6 years for a re-painting job.
- Brick – Well-painted brick lasts longer than most other options. In Colorado, we recommend re-painting your brick siding every 12-15 years. If you are just using brick that’s not painted, this requires very little maintenance.
- Cement board – becoming extremely common among homebuilders, it should be painted every 10-15 years.
- Aluminum siding – We find that aluminum siding can weather the elements a bit longer than wood, but it’s a fairly similar time period for when you should re-paint. Our recommendations are every 4-6 years for painting exterior aluminum siding in Colorado.
- Vinyl siding – paint jobs on vinyl siding last around 10 years.
These are the most common types of siding. The material of your home should be the first consideration when debating whether or not your home needs to be painted.
Different Paints Have Different Lifespans
Determining what type of paint was used during the last exterior paint job might not be easy – but it will make a difference on when you’ll need to paint again.
Typically, house painters will use acrylic or latex-based paints for exterior painting. These paints dry the fastest and are generally the easiest to apply. An acrylic paint job should be good for around ten years depending on exterior material. This is a slightly longer life span than latex and oil-based paints.
The quality of the original paint is also a determining factor. Cheap paint won’t last nearly as long as the high-quality, more expensive variants.
What’s the Weather Like?
Weather plays possibly the biggest role when considering a paint job. Moderate climates lead to ideal conditions – you don’t have to paint as often.
In Colorado, we’re far from moderate. The often-low humidity mixed with high precipitation in winters contributes to a paint job not lasting as long as it would elsewhere.
Instead of painting a home every five years, in Colorado, it’s slightly less. This also depends on the above-mentioned other factors. A wood-sided home in Denver will need a paint job likely every two years.
How Well Was the Last Paint Job Done?
Obviously how you paint your home contributes to how long it will last. Factors like when it was painted last, how many coats were applied, and what time of year it was painted in will all affect how likely it is that you need a new paint job.
See if you can get in contact with the original or last painters to find out everything you can about your home’s last paint job.
What Factors Most into the Longevity of Exterior Painting
While every house has a different story and it’s a combination of factors, below is the list of factors that typically most affect how long your paint will last in Colorado.
- Climate: Let’s face it, the weather in Colorado is very volatile. While we may not receive much rain, heavy snowfall and over 300 days of sunshine beating down on your house’s exterior ultimately cause some wear and tear.
- Last Paint Job: You really do get what you pay for when it comes to exterior house painting. From the quality of the paint used to the number of coats, a quality exterior residential painting job will always outlast an inferior one.
- Maintenance: Have you kept up your siding when it was damaged? From termites to mold, there are a number of problems that can drastically decrease the life of your paint on the outside of your house. Always try to take care of your home as best you can for your paint to last longer.
Signs it Could Be Time For an Exterior Re-Paint
- Wood Damage: Our buildings do so well keeping out the elements that it’s easy to think that they’re invincible. But all it takes is a little wood rot to prove otherwise. The main symptom is a soft spot in your building’s wood siding. This is a sign of excess water exposure, which happens when paint gets worn down by day-to-day exposure. When you start seeing these spots, it’s time to shop for painters.
- Fading Paint: When your home’s beautiful shade of red becomes a sickly salmon, it’s obvious you need to paint. What isn’t always obvious, however, is where to look for signs of fading. Monitor the sides of your building that get the most sun exposure. Those areas tend to provide the first heads-up that new paint should be in your near future.
- Splitting Caulk: A home or building’s caulk is important to its structural integrity. It seals up all the little cracks that can let in the elements, then it’s covered in a layer of paint. By the time your caulk is showing signs of damage, you can rest assured that pthe aint has worn away. If your caulk is splitting around windows or is brittle to the touch, prepare to replace it and cover it up with a good layer of paint.
Do You Need Exterior House Painting in Colorado?
If you’re in need of exterior painting services, we are one of the best choices in the state. We’re an honest company with over 35 years of serving the Colorado community. We will make sure your house gets painted right so you can maximize the amount of time before a re-paint. If you’re curious about your house and how often you should paint the exterior, talk to one of our specialists today.
The Bottom Line
How often should you paint your house exterior? In most cases, once every five years.
But there are many variables that you need to consider when asking this question – weather, quality of the last paint job, type of paint, and type of material.
Each home is different. If you’re unsure of exactly when you need to paint your home again, consider talking to professionals.
We can tell you everything you need to know about exterior paint jobs and answer any questions you might have.
If you’re debating on a new paint job right now, contact us to get a free quote and start improving your home.
