You might think that an update in your style or an HOA letter saying it’s time to clean up your paint are the only reasons to give your home a fresh coat of paint, but the reasons for a refresh, especially outside, go far beyond just giving your home a bit of a face-lift. Repainting your home is a great way to extend the lifespan of the materials from which it’s made, update its look, and increase your curb appeal!
If you’re looking to hire a team of professionals to paint your home’s interior or exterior, it’s likely that you’re wondering how long you should be going between paint jobs. No need to search any further?everything you need to know that relates to the question – how often should you paint your house? is right in this article!
How Long Should House Paint Last?
A paint job can last anywhere between 2-20 years, depending on the area of the home it is in, the frequency with which the room is used, the purpose for which the room is used, and the quality of the initial paint job. There is, however, one way to ensure you’re getting the most life possible out of your paint job: hiring a team of professional painters!
Painting your home is a big job during which you don’t want to make any mistakes, especially with exterior painting projects that you and your neighbors and other passersby will see day after day. Taking care to make the proper preparations before you begin to paint will save you time, money, and stress in the long run while giving your new paint job its best chance for withstanding the elements. But this prep work can be time-consuming and tedious, which is why we suggest requesting a quote from a professional painting company that can guarantee that your paint job will last.
How Long Does Paint Last on the Exterior of Your Home?
Generally, professionals suggest painting your home at least once every 10 years. The exact answer to how long an exterior painting job can last, however, depends on several factors:
Climate
Weather conditions such as extremely high and extremely low temperatures, intense storms, and high humidity where your home is located can cause your paint job to age more quickly. People who live in areas with harsh winters or brutal summers will need to paint their home’s exterior more often.
It is also important to note that the weather conditions on the day of painting will ultimately affect the longevity of your paint job.
Location
The north side of your house will receive less sunlight than the south-facing side, which means that the south side of your home will show wear and tear more quickly. In addition to the sun’s UV rays causing stress on your paint job, prevailing winds may affect the lifespan of your exterior paint job, so careful attention should be paid to the sides of the house facing these directions.
Surface
The material from which your home is made is a major determiner in the length an exterior paint job lasts:
- Wood siding should be painted every 3-7 years or stained every 4 years.
- Aluminum siding should be repainted every 5 years.
- Cement Fiberboard siding can last 10-15 years before needing new paint.
- Stucco should be painted every 5-6 years.
- Brick can last 15-20 years if painted. A good cleaning should suffice for unpainted brick.
Paint Used
The type of paint used, in addition to the number of coats applied and even the color, can impact the durability of your paint job. Darker colors will absorb more light and heat from the sun, making them not last as long outside. Using quality paints, such as acrylic latex paint, can help extend the life of your paint job and keep it from attracting mildew growth.
Preparation
Prep work is an often overlooked part of the painting process, but its importance is key to the life of your paint job! A better-prepped house will accept the paint better, allowing your paint job to last longer. Ensuring you’re working with an experienced team that only works with durable paint is the best way to be sure that proper preparation is taking place.
How Long Does Interior Paint Last on the Wall?
Depending on how often a room is used, what purposes a room is utilized for, and its location in your home will determine how often your interior walls will need to receive a fresh coat of paint:
- Living & dining rooms should be repainted every 5-7 years.
- The kitchen & bathrooms should receive a fresh coat of paint every 3-4 years.
- Adult bedrooms won’t usually need to be repainted unless you?re looking to update the color, but kids? bedrooms will need to be repainted once every 2-3 years.
- Hallways and other high-traffic areas should be painted every 2-3 years.
And while you’re making these top-to-bottom updates, don’t forget to consider if you’ll need to do any ceiling or trim painting:
- Ceiling paint lasts twice as long as wall paint, so you should have a professional team repaint your ceiling once every 10 years.
- Trim & baseboards in rooms with heavy foot traffic should be repainted every 2-4 years.
What is the Best Month to Paint a House?
The best time to paint a house ultimately depends on the climate in which you live, as the seasons? weather will differ wildly from place to place. Generally speaking, though, the optimal range is between early summer and early fall when temperatures are still relatively mild, weather conditions are fair, and fluctuations in temperature throughout the day are minimal.
Is Painting Your House Worth It?
Cost is one of the biggest deciding factors when considering home renovations, but it’s also important to consider your potential return-on-investment (ROI) as well, especially if you?re looking to sell soon!
On average, an exterior paint job yields a 55% ROI, while an interior paint job yields an outstanding average ROI of 107%! Although freshening up your paint is never a bad idea, your returns may be lower or higher depending on the size, location, and building materials of your home, as well as the colors you choose.
Signs Your Home is Ready for a Fresh Coat of Paint
With all that in mind, here are some signs that it’s time to give your home a fresh coat of paint:
- The exterior shows signs of peeling, flaking, or cracked paint.
- You?re looking to increase curb appeal.
- The colors have started to fade.
- It’s been more than 10 years since you last painted.
- The wood and paint have a chalky appearance.
- You’re patching stucco or replacing wood boards.
Our Pros Know Paint
If you ask us, the answer to – how often should you paint your house? – would be never. But if you wanted to know when you should have the Pros come over and paint for you, the answer is right now!
Our team at Pro Painters has been providing Houston with high-quality residential and commercial painting services, custom carpentry, and more for over twenty years, and we’re ready to bring that quality-guarantee to you.
If your home is ready for a fresh coat of paint, give us a call and speak with one of our Pros about how we can help give your home an updated look!
