Exterior painting is an effective way to protect your property against harsh exterior elements in Eugene, Oregon, boost curb appeal and avoid costly repairs down the line. If you’re planning to sell your property any time soon, adding a fresh coat of paint will instantly increase the value of your property.

So you know you need to paint your home more often, but how often? And how do you even tell it’s time to repaint your home? Well, use the following signs to know it’s time for a new paint job;

1. Paint Fading
Paint fading is the excessive lightening of the paint color. Fading often happens as a result of the effects of UV rays which break down the color pigments in the paint. Using low-quality paint that has a lower concentration of color pigments and binders can also cause premature paint fading. You don’t have to repaint at the earliest sign of color fading, but excessive fading often makes the exterior look unappealing and neglected.

2. Paint Peeling
Paint peeling occurs when the paint loses adhesion to the painted surface. Peeling could be as a result of painting on a wet, dirty, or poorly prepped surface. Water seeping behind the paint film via fine cracks in the paint can also cause loss of adhesion. This is an advanced sign of paint failure, and you should report it to a painting contractor as soon as possible for correction to avoid further damage to your siding.

3. Paint Bubbling
Paint bubbling is another advanced sign of paint failure that occurs due to localized loss of paint adhesion. This can be caused by painting on a wet or damp surface, painting when there is high humidity or using low-quality paints. This paint failure is characterized by small- to medium-sized ‘blisters’ of raised paint film.

Small sections of blistering can be touched up by scraping off the damaged paint and applying a primer, followed by a coat of paint in the same color. Extensive bubbling, however, may warrantee a new paint job. If there is any underlying issue –such as a leaking pipe – it should be addressed before a fresh coat of paint is applied.

4. Chalking
Chalking occurs when the paint is broken down into fine powdery particles that are often deposited on the surface of the wall. Low-quality paints that have low concentrations of chemical binders are partly to blame for chalking. You can identify excessive chalking by a line of powdery particles deposited along the base of the wall, and this is a clear sign that a new paint job is long overdue.

5. Mildew
Mildew is a type of fungi that typically grows on damp surfaces, including the exterior siding. Wet conditions on the siding can be caused by excessive rain, broken gutters, and downspouts, leaky plumbing, etc. To adequately eliminate the mildew menace, you first need to address any issues that are causing dampness.

Professionals usually treat the affected areas with either a bleach solution or a mildewcide before repainting the siding. Mildew can spread quickly if not well handled, so you should preferably only let a professional painting contractor handle the mildew situation.

The Bottom Line

If your home’s exterior is showing signs of paint failure such as fading, peeling, cracking, bubbling, or organic growth, it’s probably time for a new paint job. Additionally, if it’s been over five years since you last painted your home’s exterior, consider repainting.

If you need any professional help repainting your home’s exterior in Eugene, our team at Sir Paints A Lot can help. Call us on 541-600-2025 to get started.