As a responsible homeowner, you want to keep your house in good shape. You take care of the landscaping, fix anything that breaks, and do other routine maintenance. With some problems, it’s easy to tell when an old feature of the house needs to be replaced, but how can you know when the exterior house paint needs an update? Why is it even important to have fresh paint? Keep reading to find out!
Signs New Paint Is Needed
Nothing lasts forever, but how do you know when you should refresh your home’s exterior walls? If your paint is showing these signs, it’s time to put on a new coat.
Bubbling, Cracking, and Peeling
Obvious signs that your paint is failing and needs to be replaced include bubbling, cracking, and peeling. Basically the adhesive has been lost, and the paint bubbles when the surface is heated up in warmer weather and in sunlight. Cracking and peeling occur when the bubbles burst. With time, these areas only get worse and can spread throughout the whole wall, making your exterior appear more shabby—and not in a chic way!
Fading or Chalking
Unfortunately, even the most vibrant colors can fade over time, especially when they’re exposed to sunlight for years and years. Although the process happens slowly, one day you may notice that the color on your exterior doesn’t look like it used to, which is a clear sign that you need new paint.
At first glance, it can be easy to mistake chalking for fading as these two can look similar. However, chalking is an actual chemical reaction between the top layer of paint and the sun’s UV rays. You can tell if it’s chalking if you have a film of white dust forming. In this case, you’ll need to remove that top layer so that the new paint will adhere properly.
Mildew
When moisture is trapped and is prevented from evaporating, bacteria and mildew can set in. You’ll want to take care of the problem before painting. Otherwise, you’ll have to deal with this problem again later on.
Benefits of New Paint
Other than simply wanting to avoid the appearance of old paint, having a new coat on your home’s exterior can also be beneficial in the long term. It may be relatively thin, but the paint actually acts as the first layer of defense for your home against the moisture. Basically nothing is waterproof, but brand-new exterior paint withstands rain, heat, and other challenges Mother Nature presents. By keeping the paint in excellent condition, you are taking good care of the house as a whole.
Every now and then, while you’re doing other maintenance tasks, take a few minutes to inspect your exterior paint to make sure it looks okay. When you make the time and effort to keep the property updated, you can enjoy the satisfaction of having a beautiful, functional home.
About Platinum Painting of Dallas
Platinum Painting of Dallas began in 2008 in Keller, where Karl and Marjorie Pickens first wowed customers with their service. Since then, the company has grown to serve many areas throughout North Texas. In addition to exterior painting, we handle interior painting, popcorn texture removal, wallpaper removal, and more. If you would like to learn more about our services, you can contact us online here.