5 Signs it’s Time to Repaint Your Home’s Exterior
5 Signs it’s Time to Repaint Your Home’s Exterior
Exterior home painting in Amador County, California is a vital step towards ensuring that your house remains protected and appealing to both regular visitors and potential buyers when the time comes. Exterior house painting is the first line of defense your siding has against harsh natural elements such as rain, UV rays, humidity, organic growth, and bug invasion.
As a maintenance practice, regular exterior repainting prevents paint failures from escalating into costly damages. Many homeowners understand that fact, but figuring out the appropriate repainting frequency or even when it’s time for exterior repainting is often a challenge. In this article, we want to share five telltale signs that show it is time to add a fresh new coat of paint to your exterior. Have a look:
Paint Chalking
Your paint breaks down over time to release pigments that get deposited on the surface in the form of chalk particles. You might not be able to see them right away, but if you run your fingers on the wall, you might be left with a fine residue on your fingers. Chalking can be hazardous to air quality and can cause vegetation damage. Chalking is often caused by the use of low-quality paints and leads to paint fading, which takes us to our next point.
Fading Colors
Faded colors is another common early sign of paint failure, and it robs your exterior of the aesthetic appeal. If your house has faded paint, it can be tempting for someone to assume that the entire house is neglected. In addition to paint chalking, fading can be caused by UV rays and the use of low-quality paints. A bold, sharp paint job can increase your home’s value and restore your favorite glorious colors.
Cracking and Peeling
Paint cracking is an advanced sign that your exterior paint job needs immediate attention. If the paint breaks or peels, it allows moisture into your paint system, causing further paint damage. This means even if the cracks are relatively small, they can still cause bigger problems if not timely addressed.
During exterior repainting, the painter scrapes off the top loose flaking and cracking paint before applying a new coat of paint. Oftentimes, cracking is caused by inadequate surface preparation, low-quality paint and inferior painting methods.
Blistering
Blistering is essentially the formation of bubbles under a paint film. This is often caused by painting over a wet surface when the moisture is trapped under the paint film. Paint solvent can also be trapped under the paint film, especially when using water-based paints. In some cases, moisture evaporating from the damp wall substrate fails to make it out and gets trapped under the film.
When the painted surface is heated further, paint is pushed off the surface, forming unsightly bubbles that may or may not burst. Either way, when this happens, it’s time to give your exterior a new paint job.
Moisture Stains and Mold
If you notice patches of moisture damage and mildew/mold growth, you probably have a bigger problem than just an unsightly exterior. Mildew and mold can emit spores that may cause problems with allergies and other health conditions. They might also be an indication that your wooden siding has water damage. A professional painting contractor will inspect your siding, repair any damages and apply mold/mildew treatment before repainting.
The Bottom Line
If you notice any of the above major signs of paint failure, don’t wait for too long before calling a professional painting contractor. This also means that you should be regularly inspecting your home’s exterior as part of your maintenance schedule.
If you’re in need of exterior home painting in Amador County, California, our team at Michael Hines Painting can help. Please give us a call 209.256.4587 or email us any time to schedule a meeting so we can discuss your needs.
Or you can also call us at Galt House Painter, our painting company based on Galt, CA.