Is It Time To Repaint the Exterior of Your Mississauga Home?

Your house’s exterior paint presents an image to the neighbourhood, but that’s not its only function. Depending on your choice of finish and formula, paint also seals wood and metal against moisture, protecting them from rot and rust. However, nothing lasts forever, including paint jobs. After a while, you’ll need to hire painting services in Mississauga.

When is new paint necessary? Many factors impact the answer, from weather to paint quality. However, there are a few obvious signs it’s time for a fresh coat.

1. The Colour Is Fading

Weather can fade paint, but the most dangerous culprit is sunlight. Ultraviolet radiation breaks down chemical bonds, including those in pigments. Over time, paint exposed to sunlight bleaches, rendering your exterior a pale imitation of its original vibrant hue.

Of course, it’s not easy to tell if the paint’s faded when the process is so gradual. One way to gauge how badly the exterior’s been bleached is to compare areas that get direct sunlight and those that don’t. If the shaded walls are more vibrant than those with sun exposure, it’s time to repaint.

2. There’s Obvious Damage

Weathered, sun-exposed paint is brittle, making it more prone to chipping and flaking. If you let too much paint flake, you expose the underlying wood to moisture, UV radiation and wind, all of which can decrease its lifespan.

Moisture also wreaks havoc by interfering with the adhesion between the paint and the wall. The result is cracking and bubbling. If you notice either, it’s essential to check the underlying wood for damage, as moisture can damage wood’s structural integrity.

Paint can also chip from scrapes, gouges and other accidents. A lived-in house is bound to see a few mishaps, and some of them may undermine the paint job. If the spots are small enough, you can touch them up, but large areas of damage are better off with a complete refresh.

3. The Curb Appeal Needs a Boost

First impressions impact property value, and your home’s exterior paint plays a big part. Flaking paint makes your house and you look bad — if you let something so obvious go, how intense is the damage inside? Your home’s interior may be in fine shape, but passersby don’t know that. They can only judge based on what they see, which is a terrible paint job.

To keep the homeowners’ association off your back and maintain high property value, you should ensure your home’s exterior is always presentable. If you’re not sure how much the paint has degraded, take a look at pictures from when you first moved in and compare them to your residence today. If there’s a significant difference, you need to call the painters.

4. The Paint Has Reached the End of Its Life

Even if you take care of your home’s exterior, the paint will eventually degrade. Even heavy-duty formulas that seal out dust and moisture only last 10 years at most. In a wet or harsh climate, that number drops to five years. Touch-ups can only do so much, so if it’s been over five years since the last paint job, you’re better off getting the whole house done.

5. It’s Time To Sell

To sell your house for a reasonable price, it needs to look its best. Even if it’s only been a few years since the last paint job, you should consider getting a fresh one. It will make the house look new and allow you to update the colour palette to current trends.

Handyman Connection helps homeowners transform their properties with large-scale renovations and small-scale decor changes. Whether you need your house painted or require deck services in Mississauga, we’re happy to help. Learn more by calling us or visiting us online.