Exterior Painting-How Long Should It Last?
That is probably the #1 question that I get from homeowners as they are compiling quotes. The answer is not always cut and dry, but I will attempt to give some contributing factors both from the application process as well as what a homeowner can do.
Preperation is probably the biggest factor in a lasting paint job! We will power wash 90% of every home that we paint with the exception of homes that still have lead based paint present. Homes built before 1978 still have the potential of lead based paint that requires differnt cleaning and disposal issues.
After power washing, we then scrape any loose peeling so that the peeling does not return.
We then use a high quality paintable caulk (50 year rated or higher), in order to keep moisture from getting into cracks in the siding, trim boards, etc.
At this point we brush and roll a complete bonding primer as a base and then a full finish coat of high quality paint such as Sherwin-Williams Super Paint, MAB SeaShore, or Porter Acri-Shield.
The enviornmet is a major factor as well in how long you can expect a paint job to last i.e. heavy sun, trees, etc. In Indiana, you can expect a quality paint job to last at least 5-7 years. Some of our customers will enjoy a much longer life such as 10 years or more.
They key is in the preperation and the application. Some companies like to spray the paint on and then back-roll. The paint manufactureres that we deal with have told us that the brush and roll application will typically last much longer and that is why we have never used the spray application on a home.
The type of siding that you have such as Fiber Cement, Cedar, Clap Board, etc., will also determine the length that you can expect. Fiber Cement as an example will not soak in the paint like Cedar will.
By watching your paint fade or flake as the years go by, you can save the cost of a paint job by not letting the bare wood get to the point that the moisture penetrates and causes wood rotting.
When you notice the caulk pulling away which exposes cracks that moisture can get in and deteriorate siding and trim boards, its probably time to get your home looked at.
The major cost of a paint job is how much labor goes into the overall project i.e. scraping, wood replacement, cauling, etc. By monitoring your home a couple of times a year, you can observe fading and cracking issues which lets you know that it is probably getting close to that time again.
Posted on 2/28/2010
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