When you get an oil change, they put that little sticker on your windshield to remind you when the next one is due. When it comes to your exterior house paint, there is no sticker, so how do you know? When is it time to paint your home exterior? How often does it need to happen?
Here in New Jersey and the Philadelphia region, the average exterior paint job lasts about 5 years, but that is only a general guideline. Here are some more specific factors that influence how long your exterior paint lasts.
Type of Exterior Siding
Wood siding is the kind that is most often painted, so we will start with that. A good exterior paint job on wood siding should last 5 to 7 years.
Painted aluminum siding will generally need repainting about every five years as well.
In the case of cement fiberboard or painted brick siding, the exterior paint can last up to 15 years.
Quality of Previous Paint Jobs
If your home exterior has always been well maintained, the subsequent paint jobs will have a longer lifespan. However, if a home has been allowed to fall into disrepair, or if a prior paint job was done very poorly, this will affect future paint jobs as well. No new paint can live up to its maximum potential if the paint beneath is failing (cracking, peeling, bubbling, flaking, etc.).
Climate and Weather
Environmental factors play a significant role in the lifespan of a paint job, including prevailing wind direction, extreme temperature changes, snow and ice, moisture, and ultraviolet radiation (sunlight). Here in New Jersey, many of these factors are relevant to us, causing our exterior paint not to last quite as long as it does in some milder regions.
In many situations, different parts of your home will need repainting at different times. For example, New Jersey homeowners may find that the south wall of their home needs exterior painting every 3 years, while the north wall may last 8 or even 10 years!
How to Maximize the Life of Your Exterior House Paint
With yearly maintenance, the exterior paint on your home can be preserved for longer. While the maintenance does have a cost, it significantly reduces your overall spending, since it delays the need for full exterior house painting.
- Pressure wash the home exterior to remove dirt, mildew and surface contaminants each spring.
- Have the caulking around all doors and windows checked and refreshed annually. This keeps water from intruding into the surfaces, which can cause mold, rot, and paint failure.
- If the paint is wearing out faster in some areas than others, get the problem areas repainted sooner. If you wait until the paint is actually failing, the repainting project will be more difficult and costly.
In addition to regular maintenance, you can extend the life of your exterior paint by making sure the job is done with excellence:
- Hire a qualified exterior painting company with a reputation for quality service.
- Use premium exterior paints. Yes, this does cost a bit more, but the real cost of painting is in the labor. The slight cost increase with premium paints will make your paint job last years longer, providing an overall cost savings.
Cherry Hill Painting
If you live in New Jersey or the Philadelphia region, Cherry Hill Painting would be happy to visit your home and give you an estimate for exterior painting. Whether you need small touchups or a full exterior repaint, we are ready to provide you with exceptional customer service and beautiful painting! Use our contact form (below) or call our office to set up an appointment.