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Your house probably looked great when you bought it. Years later the paint might be faded by the sun or maybe it’s peeling or chipping off in places. Maybe it’s been scuffed or scratched up. These are signs that it ought to be repainted. Every home, office, or structure, whether it’s a massive factory or just a little bungalow will need to be repainted or stained every so often. This goes for both the interior and the exterior of the structure. Exactly how often may depend on the weather conditions, the use/abuse it takes, the quality of the paint that was used, and the material that the surface is made of. Obviously, a stained wooden fence or deck will need restaining/sealing more often than the exterior of a house covered in vinyl siding. Here are some guidelines to help you plan ahead. One of the main purposes of painting things, apart from making them look nicer, is to protect the material underneath. If you’ve ever seen wood that has been left out in nature without paint or sealant you know how it will dry out and crack or, depending on the climate, it might soak up water and rot, or even worse it may get soaked by the rain then dry out in the sun repeatedly over the course of a year. An unpainted wooden structure may not last more than 15-20 years, where a properly painted/sealed one will last indefinitely.

Exteriors

This is the outside of your home or commercial building. Note that this depends mostly on the material outside of the building is made of. This also applies to fences, decks, sheds, and kind of structure that is painted and is exposed to the elements. Generally, the paint or sealant used will also come into play. You may notice that more expensive house paints also come with a longer warranty period. In general, a paint that goes on thicker is likely to withstand the elements, and any routine use better than one that is thinner. An extra coat can go a long way toward protecting the underlying material for a longer period of time.

• Wood - 3-7 years for paint, 4 years for stain
• Brick - 15-20 years for paint
• Aluminum siding - 5 years
• Stucco - 5-6 years
• Cement fiberboard siding - 10-15 years 
• Vinyl siding - 20-25 years

Interiors

The interior of your home or workplace will need painting more often than the outside depending on use. If it’s a high traffic or high use area it will need repainting quite a bit more often. There are paints and sealants specifically designed for high use areas that need to be cleaned or wiped down frequently. Usually, we’re talking about home or office interiors. If you use a thicker paint or sealant, it will last longer and if you can prevent abuse, it will last longer still. However, even under ideal conditions colors may fade and the paint may crack or peel.

• Most home interiors - 3-5 years

Signs It Is Time to Repaint

Some signs that your interior walls need to be repainted. There are the obvious things already mentioned: color fading, cracks, and peeling. Here are a few more signs that it’s probably time to repaint. 

• Not Coming Clean - If you have cleaned the area over and over and it’s just not coming clean anymore, you have probably cleaned off your sealant and it’s time to repaint.
• Scuffs and Scratches - In your hallways or other high traffic areas people and pets sometimes rub up against the wall. Too much of this and you need to repaint.
• Stains - In the kitchen, laundry room, garage, or other places where you may be using colorful liquids that can leave a stain. If you can’t clean it off, it’s time to repaint.
• Damage -  Maybe a hole got punched or kicked into a wall. Maybe it’s just a dent or ding from moving furniture around. If you have to repair it, then you likely have to paint it too.
• Renovations - Make sure you include the cost of the paint and the labor of painting into your redeling project. Whether it’s a kitchen or bathroom or whatever room(s) you may be renovating. Any new construction or serious remodeling will always include painting as the last step.
• Aesthetics - If you’re just tired of looking at the same old walls or want to give your home a new look, painting with a new color scheme can go a long way. Many people have painted their walls after they were stuck inside them more than expected due to the pandemic. They may be on to something that would make your home feel more comfortable as well as provide a much-needed project for those with too much time on their hands.

Hire Excellent Painters

We strongly recommend hiring professional painters such as those from Excellent Painters in Colorado Springs to help you get that painting done. You may not have much time on your hands, but hate the color of the walls in your improvised home office. KIt’s one thing to pick out the paint and the colors. It’s another to clear out all your furniture, lay down dropcloths to protect the floor, and then apply masking tape around all the windows and doors, paint everything, and clean up afterward on your own. It’s a lot of work and not all as easy as you might expect. There are a lot of tools and equipment that pros have that you may not want to buy. Think about it. Do you want a project that will last for weeks or a quickly repainted home within days? There are many reasons to hire the professional painters of Excellent Painters.