One of the most common questions we get asked at Home Painters Toronto is, “How often do I need to paint my exterior?” or “How long should exterior paint last before fading?“
The answer to this question is a bit complicated, but it is simple: It depends. As with most things, exterior paint will last a long time, based on many factors.
First, you need to know that there isn’t one right answer. There are a lot of factors that influence how often you should do exterior house painting.
If you regularly paint your exterior siding, trim and door, you can prolong its life. It will also keep your home looking fresh and will add to your overall curb appeal. The natural elements of the weather will wear down the paint on the outside of your home. Therefore, you should paint the outside of your home more than the inside. But did you know most people change the colour and paint on the inside of their home more often? This is likely because they want a change. Plus, a fresh coat of paint looks good.
How Often Should You Repaint Your House Exterior
If you’re looking for a quick and easy rule of thumb, we recommend painting your exterior every 3-5 years. But what if you want to get a little more scientific? What if you want to know precisely how long it will take before your paint begins to fade?
- If you have wood siding, it is recommended you repaint it every three to seven years or stain it every four years.
- For the stucco exterior, you should paint it every six years. Cement fiberboard siding, such as Hardboard, can last 10 to 15 years before it should need a repaint.
- Aluminum siding should be painted every five years. Painted brick generally needs to be cleaned and not painted.
Signs It’s Time to Paint Your Exterior
- You’ve Reached A Recommended Timeline For Repainting – Regularly repainting your exterior material is key for proper maintenance. Even if any of the signs below are absent, if it’s time to repaint, you should. Properly maintaining exterior paint is much easier than repairing cracks and bubbles before repainting.
- You Want to Boost Your Curb Appeal – Maybe you do not like the colour of the outside of your house, or you are getting ready to sell and want to make your home more visually appealing. Sometimes people paint the exterior of their home to make it look better. If you’re unhappy with your current colour, that’s one sign it’s time to paint your exterior.
- Your Paint is Fading – The exterior of your home is exposed to sun, wind, rain, snow and hail. All of these weather elements can fade the paint on your home.
- Your Paint is Flaking, Bubbling or Cracking – Weather can wreak havoc on your exterior paint. Exposure to UV rays, harsh winters, rapidly changing temperatures, extreme humidity and storms can all contribute to wearing down your paint. Flaking, bubbling or cracking paint can also indicate a sign of dry rot, wet rot or mould. If you notice flaking, cracking or bubbling paint, it is best to repair and repaint immediately.
Factors That Affect the Durability of A Paint Job
It’s important to consider several factors when determining how long should exterior paint job last.
These factors include:
- Weather – Exposure to sunlight, rain, snow, wind and storms can cause paint to wear down. If you live in an area with weather fluctuations or any of the above, you may need to repaint sooner than the generally recommended timelines.
- Quality of Paint – Some paint is more durable. You can extend your paint job by using a quality product recommended for outdoors. A cheap paint may be less expensive, but generally, it comprises cheaper ingredients and will not last as long or look as good.
- Previous Paint Job – Again, quality is key. If the paint is not applied correctly, it will not last as long. If only one paint quote were used, it would not last as long. If repairs are not done correctly, the paint job will not last as long. Also, if the house is painted in humid or wet conditions or too hot or cold, it will not last as long. The weather and time of year can affect durability.
The Colour – Dark Colours Tend to Fade Quicker
Your choice of exterior paint colors can also affect the durability of your paint job. Dark colours fade quicker than lighter ones, such as white or ivory. This is because darker colours contain more pigments, which makes them better at hiding dirt and stains. As a result, they attract more sunlight and heat, which speeds up the fading process.
Softer, lighter colours will fade less quickly than bolder, darker hues. This is because they reflect more of the sun’s rays than absorb them.
Consider Hiring Professional Exterior Painters
If you’re unsure about the whole process of exterior painting, then it may be wise to hire a professional exterior painter.
It’s a big job to paint your exterior siding and stucco. You have to plan according to the weather and your timelines.
Moreover, Painting the outside of a house is typically not something that can be done in one day. You must also properly repair any cracks, holes and peeling or bubbling paint. Exterior caulking is also a big job that must be done correctly for the paint job to last as long as possible.
Often, exterior painting in Toronto is best left to those with a lot of experience in painting. You need to ensure the company you hire is experienced in painting outside of Toronto homes. Search Google for “exterior painters near me” or “exterior painters Toronto“. You should be able to get a list of companies that can help you with this project. Once you narrow it down, call each one and ask about their experience in painting exteriors.
What about deck painting?
Maybe it’s your deck stain or fence painting that needs a bit of refresh. It depends on what type of condition your deck is in. If there’s been quite a lot of wear and tear over the years due to weather, it will likely need repair work more often.
You also need to watch out for peeling paint as well as bubbling and cracking. But for the most part, a decent deck painting or staining job should last you anywhere from 2 – 4 years. Again, if exterior painting isn’t your thing, contact local painters to come in and do a quick refresh on your deck!
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“HOW OFTEN DO YOU NEED TO PAINT YOUR EXTERIOR?”
Have we given you a lot to think about when it comes to exterior painting? If the work involved in repairing or exterior house painting sounds like it involves too much time and energy to do yourself, let our pro painters handle everything! Call us at 416.494.9095 or email Brian@HomePaintersToronto.com for a FREE quote. And don’t forget to check us out on our social media channels below!
