Let’s be honest, if you’ve spent any amount of time on Pinterest or Instagram looking at homes, you’ve probably seen some pretty amazing before and afters of houses that have been completely transformed by simply changing the paint colors. But did you know that paint on the exterior of your home serves a far more important purpose other than simply making your house look amazing? The paint on the exterior of your home is actually used as a protective barrier between your home and the elements. Unfortunately over the years that protective barrier wears down little by little until it's hardly of much protection anymore! Without a fresh coat of paint, your house may become vulnerable to dry rotting, mold growth, and even water leaking into the house through cracks in the windows. All of these issues can and will lead to very expensive repairs in the future! The good news is that you can identify the signs that your home is in serious need of a paint job before it’s too late? Here are the 5 definitive signs that your house needs to be painted ASAP! (Plus 2 bonus signs!)
Faded Paint
If the paint on your home looks like it is fading to a whitish or grayish version of its former glory, chances are you're going to want to consider painting your home sooner rather than later. I put this sign first on the list because it is the least critical. Think of this more as a visible warning sign of the age of your last paint job. Depending on the quality of the paint purchased, the colors might look great for significantly longer. So while fading is a telltale sign that your home needs to be painted, the next 4 signs will be significantly more important to take note of.
Peeling, Cracked, or Chipping Paint
Paint that has begun peeling, cracking, or chipping away is a definite sign that you should be considering painting much sooner rather than later! If this problem is addressed early enough minimal amounts of scraping and prep work will be needed. If this problem is allowed to persist the peeling and cracking will continue to spread over larger and larger areas of the house. All affected areas will require considerable amounts of scraping to correct making your paint project significantly more expensive. To avoid paying for an unnecessarily expensive paint project you’re going to want to jump on this project as soon as possible.
Mold and mildew
If you’re seeing signs of mold and mildew on your siding as well as on or around your woodwork and windows chances are it’s time to start thinking about painting the exterior of your house. Mold and mildew are signs of moisture collecting and not drying properly. High-quality paints are mold and moisture resistant, so if you are seeing mold and mildew growing in your paint it means it’s probably past its prime. If this problem is located only on your woodwork then you might consider simply painting the trim instead of the entire house, however, if it’s been a long time since you last painted the exterior of your house, you might find that it’s more economic to simply take care of everything all at once.
Cracks in the Woodwork
This technically doesn’t mean there is a problem with your paint but More often than not failing caulk coincides with the age of the paint job. If there are gaps in your woodwork where the caulk has failed it would be best not to leave it that way. Simply put all of those gaps are places for moisture to gather. The last thing you want to find out is that your woodwork has rotted out from the inside and needs to be completely replaced. You could simply re-caulk the cracks and then leave it be, but aesthetically it not going to look very good. So while you're at it, it only makes sense to at least paint the woodwork to freshen things up. Trust me you’ll thank me for this later!
Cracked or missing caulk around windows
This is an absolute sign that it’s time for something to be done! Leaving cracks around windows can and will lead to moisture getting inside of your home. If you see any major cracks on, or around the windows of your home, right now would be the time to address them. Painting your home now can help prevent this project from bleeding into the interior of your home! Water leaking into your home can ruin the paint on the walls and ceilings inside of your house, it can even lead to mold growing inside of the walls. Taking care of this issue is a major priority for any homeowner!
Bonus Signs!
The Colors are Out of Date
If your home doesn’t look anything like some of the houses you’ve pinned recently on Pinterest then it’s probably a sign that your house hasn’t been painted in a long time! Do yourself a favor and transform your home into a place that you love coming home to every day! If it makes you feel better remember that a fresh coat of paint in a trending color can add thousands of dollars of value to your home which means the money is theoretically going right back into your pockets!
Self Expression
This can’t be understated. Your home is just that “YOUR” home. It represents you and your family, it’s where memories will be made, and it’s an amazing way to show your personality to all of your neighbors! You deserve to live in a place that is an extension of who you are as a person and that starts with the way your house looks even as you’re pulling up to it!
Conclusion
If your home is showing any of the signs mentioned above, chances are your house is begging for some paint. Remember your house is one of, if not the biggest investment that you will ever make. Painting is simply part of the maintenance process, and by taking care of it sooner rather than later you can not only save yourself a lot of money, but you'll also protect your house and keep it looking amazing for many years to come!
Want to learn more about our process for painting the exteriors of homes in Baltimore County? Visit our site by clicking here! You'll learn more about us, our process, and the general costs to paint the exterior of a house!