How Often to Paint a House Exterior? 11 Signs Your Home Needs Repainting

The exterior of your home is the first impression you make of your style and how you take care of your house, and you want it to come off perfectly, right? To keep your home looking beautiful, experts suggest painting a home exterior at least once every 10 years, though many factors can affect this.

But pure aesthetics aren’t the only reason painting and repainting your house is so important. Repainting an old house can actually help protect it, with the paint providing an initial layer of protection from the elements. With everything from weather, to insects, and regular damage affecting your exterior, maintaining a clean home, both inside and out, is no easy task.

To enhance your home for a modern finish that can withstand the years you’ll spend within your cozy space, understanding how often to repaint house exterior surfaces is a must. From the right shade to different hues and paint styles, there’s a lot to consider when repainting the outside of a house, but as the team of Oahu Pro Painters shares their wisdom, you’ll know just when it’s time to do so.

11 Signs It's Time for Repainting an Old House Exterior

Wondering if it’s time to tackle repainting an old house exterior? There are a number of reasons your house needs painting or repainting, and knowing when to repaint the house exterior can prevent any damage from having long-term effects. From peeling fading paint to mildew and plans to sell, there are some reasons to invest in repainting.

Still, debating whether you should repaint or not? Let’s break down a few of the tell-tale signs that it’s time for a new paint job.

#1 Fading Colors

One of the first ways you can tell that it’s time to repaint your house exterior is if your paint color is beginning to fade. 

With the sun shining bright in Hawaii, exterior paint is more subject to fade over the years due to the extensive sun exposure. Due to the sun’s rays, pigments are actually absorbed by the light, causing the fading hues you’re noticing. To prevent your home from looking dull and tired, repaint before it gets too far along.

#2 Peeling and Cracking

Bubbling, peeling, and cracking pain is extremely common when it comes to exterior paint jobs, especially in the hot Hawaiian climate. When this damage begins to show, you’ll start noticing lines in your paint job that actually show the surface beneath. And once water and dirt begin to settle in the cracks, you can expect that your paint will start peeling. 

As with fading colors, this cracking, peeling, and bubbling is a key signal of when to repaint the house exterior. If it goes unrepaired, this damaging effect will spread, creating a patchwork-like look on your exterior, leaving your home looking worn and worse for wear. 

Keep in mind this kind of cracking and peeling may signal that your paint wasn’t applied well, or it has been too long since you’ve repainted. The sooner you repair it, especially with a skilled professional, the better. 

#3 Damaged Caulking

Another key sign that it’s time to repaint your house exterior is if you’re starting to notice damage to your caulking. Caulking is used to seal gaps between panels and stones, ensuring water doesn’t get through and cause damage to your home. 

So, if you notice this is starting to peel or is falling from the seal, moisture is likely getting into the structure of your home, which can lead to much more significant damage. It’s in your best interests to repair this immediately. 

#4 Mildew

Wondering, “should I repaint my house before selling?” Usually, the answer is “Yes.”

Repainting the exterior of your home, as well as the smaller elements like repainting house shutters and trim, can do a lot to increase your home’s value. This fresh coat of paint will make your home instantly more appealing to prospective buyers. 

Plus, the right, on-trend color can further elevate your space to a more universally appealing look. It’s a quick way to enhance your tired home to a fresh space any family can see themselves in. 

#5 Gaps in Woods

Paint can do a great deal to protect the surface of your home from the elements, and in a hot, wet place like Hawaii, this is an essential barrier. 

If you notice cracks in your stucco or hints of rotting wood, you will need to do some damage control before repainting. This involves assessing and repairing the damage to the surface. Once that’s done, a fresh coat of paint is essential to properly protect your newly repaired surface. 

#6 Selling a House

Wondering, “should I repaint my house before selling?” Usually, the answer is “Yes.”

Repainting the exterior of your home, as well as the smaller elements like repainting house shutters and trim, can do a lot to increase your home’s value. This fresh coat of paint will make your home instantly more appealing to prospective buyers.

Plus, when you make the effort to repaint home exterior, the right, on-trend color can further elevate your space to a more universally appealing look. It’s a quick way to enhance your tired home to a fresh space any family can see themselves in.

#7 Paint Aging

Paint aging is an obvious sign that it’s time to repaint your house exterior. An aged-looking home is never appealing, and when it comes to a combination of cracks, peeling, fading, and overall aging paint, your home will look dull and tired. With more inconsistencies and a lack of vibrant, even color, a once gorgeous home will look less welcoming, and we certainly don’t want that.

To upgrade your home, opt for an on-trend color that will take your home from drab to fab, elevating it to a more modern finish and retiring an old-fashioned color that no longer works. A quick coat of paint can make painting your house exterior worth the time and energy and bring even the oldest of homes into the new millennium.

#8 Wrong Color

Do you regret the color you chose to paint your home a decade ago, or did you buy your home recently and feel as though the exterior doesn't scream “you”? Don’t fester in that frustration - it’s time to repaint.

Our team is happy to repaint the exterior of your home to a color you prefer and will even offer color consultations to ensure we find a color you’ll be satisfied with for years. A fresh coat of paint can totally change the style of your home, and we want to get it right.

#9 Enough Time Has Passed

How often should you repaint your house exterior? There’s actually a pretty standard answer to this question. 

Typically, an exterior paint job is good for five to seven years. While some paint may last around 10 years in a more mild climate, those areas that experience damage from elements are subject to more frequent paint jobs. So, while the exact amount of time is subject to your environment, you can typically expect that after five years, you can safely repaint with good reason. 

To ensure you paint at the best time for your exterior, look into how the timeline varies for different surfaces. The frequency you need to repaint shingles may vary from how often you should repaint brick house exteriors or wood. Our professional team at Oahu Pro Painters can help provide advice based on your exterior and our unique knowledge of the effects Hawaii’s weather has on your paint. 

#10 New Construction

Another sign’s time to repaint your house exterior is if it’s new construction. Typically, when building a new space, the wood for construction comes with one single coat of paint. While this may be fine for some climates, painters may actually recommend a second coat of paint to better protect your home.

If you’re not sure of what went into the construction of your home, Oahu Pro Painters recommend painting within five years of construction to maintain the necessary level of protection for your home. More often than not, people trust that their new home has all the protection it needs, allowing damage to get out of control much sooner than they anticipated. To avoid this, stick to the five-year timeline.

#11 More Curb Appeal

Repainting a brick house exterior can do a lot to elevate the curb appeal. Beyond landscaping and a smooth driveway, a fresh, modern coat of paint can take the home up a notch. To find the right coat of paint to appeal to all passersby, look into the color trends at the time. With color trends constantly changing, this can really show off how modern (or outdated) your home is and increase home value.

Before selecting a color, look into exterior trends to find the right up-to-date color for your home. If you’re stumped, our team at Oahu Pro Painters provides color consultations to help find the right shade for your space.

How Often to Paint a House Exterior?

It’s generally understood that you should repaint house exterior panels every five to ten years, but it always depends on the kind of house you have, your exposure to the elements and the kind of paint you use.

Oahu Pro Painters can always advise you on the best time to take action, but below you’ll find some information about how frequently you should paint your home depending on the kind of property you own.

Brick

Brick should typically be repainted every three to five years. This helps ensure the color looks right, that the paint adheres firmly to the stone, and that all protective coatings are working as they should.

Wood

Exterior wood paneling should be painted every five to ten years. Hawaii might be hot, but we still get plenty of rain! That means wood is susceptible to damage and will need fairly regular treatment and painting to ensure it remains structurally sound.

Aluminum

Painting your home exterior is something you should be doing roughly every five years for aluminum siding. Some properties may be able to get away with doing this every ten years, so long as the paintwork is done professionally and with high-quality paint and coatings.

Stucco

Again, exterior stucco should be repainted roughly every five to ten years. It’s always better to avoid going as long as you possibly can, instead opting for quality paintwork that keeps your home’s exterior looking great and functioning properly.

Vinyl

How often should you repaint your house exterior if it’s vinyl? This home exterior is incredibly durable and built to withstand the elements, making the need to repaint your home less of a pressing requirement. With this exterior, we recommend painting your home every 20 years. Yes, really - it’s that good. 

Cement Fiberboard

Repainting your house with a cement fiberboard exterior offers another less frequent painting timeline. This material is actually one of the most weather-resistant options for exteriors and will better maintain your paint color for at least a decade, if not more. With a cement fiberboard exterior, expect to repaint every 10 to 15 years. 

What Changes Your Paint's Lifespan?

We know when it’s time to repaint your house exterior, but what factors play a role in causing this need to repaint? Repainting the outside of your house is a routine need, but there are a few considerations that can affect the lifespan of your paint. 

The changes that extend or shorten your paint’s lifespan include:

• Paint Quality: There are both low and high-quality paints, and, as expected, lower quality versions will offer a shortened lifespan. Though lower quality paints come at a cheaper cost, they simply won’t look good for as long as a high-quality paint will, causing you to repaint your house exterior more frequently. 
• Location: In Hawaii, the beach is one of our favorite parks, but this can have a big effect on the paint. The closer you are to the beachfront, the faster paint will wear down from the salty air and sun. 
• Climate: Is your home in a wet or dry climate? What about hot and cold? These factors can affect your exterior paint, causing it to wear for different periods of time. 
• Weather: Similar to climate, the weather in your location can further affect paint. If you experience a lot of storms or a great deal of sun, expect your paint job to need more frequent updates. 
• Damage from the elements: Exposure to the elements can play a role in how long paint lasts as well. Long, hot summers cause fading and sun damage due to the sun’s effect on exterior paint. Heavy rainfall can cause chipping and other signs of wear over time.
• Previous paint job: You may not know the last time your house was painted if you’ve just moved in recently, and the quality of the last paint job will affect its longevity. If the former tenants used low-quality paint, repainting old house exterior may need to be done sooner than you think.

Bring in Your Local Painting Experts!

Whether you’re still wondering, “how long does it take to repaint a house,” need to know the cost of repainting the outside of your house, or are all set to tackle repainting, our team at Oahu Pro Painters is here to help.

With a team of professional, experienced painters, we are equipped to handle repainting an old house, no matter how faded, chipped, and weathered your exterior may be. To begin the process of repainting your house, contact us at 808-427-1186 or schedule an estimate online today.