Taking care of your home here in the Anne Arundel County area, including keeping up on the maintenance of your painted interior and exterior walls, is one of the most important things you can do to keep its value up. Along with keeping your kitchen and bathrooms updated, a clean, maintained paint job looks inviting and put together. Quality paint also protects your home’s exterior against the elements. Repainting your exterior or interior is a great way to make a big impact in updating your home, but it’s also a smart investment.

So how do you know when it’s time to paint your house? Watch for these 6 signs.

The Paint Shows Signs of Wear

Peeling, bubbling, and cracking paint are signs that the paint wasn’t applied correctly in the first place or that the paint has succumbed to the elements. These signs may also mean you’re dealing with dry rot or mold. They shouldn’t be ignored, as they can lead to bigger problems down the road.

The Paint Is Fading

Fading paint makes a house look worn and tired. It’s time to repaint when the paint doesn’t have that same vibrant color it had when it was originally painted. Dark paints will fade quicker than lighter paints, so keep an eye out.

You’re Putting the House on the Market

First impressions only happen once. That’s why curb appeal is so important when you want to sell your house. Potential buyers will make split-second opinions about your house the moment they drive into your driveway. If the paint job is old, or was poorly done, they’ll notice — and that may affect their decision to place an offer or not. Likewise, the interior of your home needs to look fresh and taken care of. New paint can make your home look modern, clean, and inviting.

You’re Seeing Gaps or Shrinking

Do the boards on your home’s exterior look as if they’re shrinking? Do you see gaps between the boards? This is a sign of potential dry rot, meaning moisture could be getting into the wood. You’ll want a professional to assess the damage.

The Caulk Is Cracking

If the caulking on the exterior of your house is cracking or showing signs of being brittle, it has lost its elasticity and it’s time for an updated paint job.

The Right Amount of Time Has Passed

You don’t have to wait to see signs of paint failure before you paint. In fact, it’s better if you don’t. Just like you want to replace your roof before it’s caving in, repainting before you have huge issues will save you a headache or 12 — and it will keep your house in tip-top shape.

So how often does your house need to be painted?

Exteriors should be painted every 5 to 10 years. This timeframe depends on how well your house was painted the last time, the quality of paint that was used, the quality of the prep work that was done, and the surface of your exterior.

• Wood surfaces need to be painted every 3 to 7 years.
• Aluminum siding needs to be painted about every 5 years.
• Stucco should be repainted every 5 to 6 years.

If you’re seeing any of the above signs, give us a call. We use quality paint and expert prepping and painting techniques to ensure you get lasting results.