Signs it's Time for New Exterior Paint
How to Know It's Time to Repaint Your Bay Area Exterior
Faded Exterior Paint Color
Some signs are readily apparent, like when your exterior paint job looks washed out. Most types of paint gradually lose their color over time, mainly due to overexposure to sunlight. There are ways to slow down this process (i.e. purchasing UV-resistant paint and/or sealers), but the sun’s energy will do its work regardless. If you want to restore (or change) the color of your exterior, your best course of action is to hire exterior painting contractors to go over every surface.
Peeling, Cracking, and/or Bubbling Paint
When properly applied to well-prepared surfaces, quality paint should strongly stick to your exterior. That said, moisture, sunlight, wind, temperature fluctuations, and other external factors can loosen this bond and cause paint to crack, peel or chip away, and/or bubble from underneath. Certain types of exterior commercial paint and specialty coatings are designed to resist these forces and retain their adherence longer than standard paint types. Still, the forces of nature and time tend to have their way eventually. When your previous paint job starts to fall apart, it’s time to invest in a new coat.
Cracking Exterior Caulking
Caulking is a crucial component of exterior painting, serving as a secure seal that keeps outside forces from entering your property. The caulking process takes place prior to painting, so when your caulk begins to crack and lose its strength, it will often take paint with it. In any case, you’ll want to re-caulk your gaps and seams as soon as this happens, and then re-paint those areas to conceal the caulk and provide an extra layer of protection.
Your Surfaces Are Exposed
Exterior paint is partially meant to enhance the appearance of a given surface, but it’s also designed to protect surfaces from the forces of nature. Without a solid coat of paint protecting them, bare surfaces are wide open to moisture intrusion, pest infestation, impact, erosion, etc. So, if for whatever reason any areas of your exterior are lacking a coat of paint, don’t hesitate to cover them quickly. You may need to make repairs first, of course.
It’s Been 5-7 Years Since the Last Coat
It’s not always crystal clear that your property is in need of a fresh coat of paint, which is why it’s important to have a rule of thumb for repainting. Staying on top of your exterior paint job, regardless of whether it’s showing major signs of disrepair, will help prevent large problems from occurring, saving you time and money in the long run. Most professional exterior house painters recommend that people have their place repainted about every 5-7 years (more or less depending on various factors). If it’s been about this long or longer since the last time you had your exterior painted, it might be time to think about freshening up your property’s face.
You’re Preparing to Sell
Selling your property is no small task, especially if you want to get the highest price possible. One way to attract buyers and increase your place’s market value is by hiring exterior painting services with a knack for increasing curb appeal.
Is it time for a new coat of exterior paint? The residential and commercial painting experts at Endure Painting are just a call or click away. For more information regarding our skills and services, call us at (510) 458-2120 or send us an email at hello@endurepainting.com.
