Trim Takes

November 20th, 2010 admin

Trim+Takes

When Do You Repaint Your House?

Homeowners eventually come around to asking when their home should be repainted. It is one of the more common questions a contractor will hear. Any home with cedar clapboard, aluminum siding, or wood siding and trim will eventually need repainting.

A good, well-applied, and quality house paint can last 8 years or more. Most people in most parts of the United States can expect to repaint their home ever 5 to 7 years. Timing for the new paint job will depend on a lot of factors, but for many, the need for a change in the look of the home is a big one of those.

Factors for the repainting equation include the type of paint last used, your area's climate, and the material that makes up your home's exterior.

Examine the exterior of your home to see what kind of shape it's in, especially if you are unsure when it was last painted. A home with wood siding, for instance, might begin showing wear and tear as paint around the bottom and edges begins to flake. Then it is time to start getting together the tools to repaint your home. Likewise when the cedar finish begins to flake from clap board, it is time for a new finish.

Aluminum siding will eventually start showing wear and willchip, fade, or otherwise begin to show its age; then it's time for new paint. Similar changes in appearance with concrete fiber also signal time for painting.

When the signs begin to appear, you are now on the clock. If the damage is minor, is on aluminum, etc. you can probably put off painting until your budget allows or the winter comes. Otherwise, you will need to get going on it quickly.

The longer you wait to fix it, the worse it will get and the more time, money, and effort it will take to repaint your home. This is especially true of wooden trim, such as that around windows, which often takes the brunt of the weather with less to protect it.

In some places like the Dakotas where winter can be harsh, painting the trim every 2-3 years and the house every 6-7 is not unusual. Wooden trim can take a beating in comparison to the relatively flat and well-protected walls.

Some general rules:

-If your home was brand new when you moved in, you will probably have to repaint in five years or less because the contractor likely only put on one coat of paint over the bare wood.

If you live in an area with high heat and low humidity (like Arizona), you will probably have to repaint more often. A wood sided home in these areas will probably need painting every 4 or 5 years.

-If your area experiences harsh winters, you will either need to repaint more often or use more coats when you do. This is especially true of trim and exposed corners.

-Aluminum-sided homes will require repainting every 7-10 years on average. Vinyl never needs repainting, but may fade with time and require replacing.

Hopefully, these ideas have helped you figure out when is the best time to repaint your home. Ask a professional if you have any doubts. Most assessments and bids for repainting are free and an honest contractor will tell you when you can wait another year or two.

For more information about house painting, take a look at Naperville Painters.