Your home is an extension of yourself, and you must keep it maintained. Your house's exterior paint job is no exception to this rule, either.
But it's challenging to know when exactly your paint needs a little freshening up. This is especially true if you're not sure what it looks like when a paint job has outlived its usefulness. Fortunately, you can learn about a few easy-to-spot symptoms that indicate the need for a new coat of paint.
Peeling or Cracking
Some of the first signs your home needs a fresh coat of paint include cracking, flaking, or peeling on your home's exterior features. All these things indicate that your home has sustained severe weathering from the elements. And as a result, your exterior paint job is suffering.
Plus, because it's peeling off, the paint is no longer able to protect the inner structure of your home. This exposure could lead to moisture buildup and unhealthy mold or mildew growth. Thus, if you notice that your paint is starting to chip or crack, it's probably time to give it a fresh coat.
Fading Color or Luster
In a similar vein, if you examine your house and notice that the paint has lost a lot of its vibrancy or luster, it might be time to repaint it. As the years pass, the sun beats down against your home's exterior, causing its color to fade.
This is perfectly normal, especially if you live in an open, shade deficient area. However, if you feel your paint is entirely devoid of color or sheen, go ahead and have it repainted. Trust us; an expert paint job's protective and aesthetic qualities make it a worthwhile home improvement to invest in.
Pro-Tip: Homes with shaded areas require less frequent repainting. So if you're finding that you have to repaint your house more often than you’d like, consider planting some trees or shrubs to create shade.
Gaps or Shrinking Wood
Perhaps some of the more alarming signs your home needs a fresh coat of paint are gaps or shrinking wood around the exterior structures of your home. For instance, say you go out to investigate your wood siding. Upon further evaluation, you discover a gap between two wooden boards.
This is most assuredly a cause for concern, as it indicates that moisture is building in the wood and making it rot. Luckily, if you catch these issues quickly enough, you can usually fix them with a bit of fresh paint and regular maintenance. So please don't ignore these symptoms if you see them. Take it as a cue from the home and garden gods to get your house repainted.
