Top exterior paint problems that let you know it’s time to paint.
Exterior paint is the protection for your home. If we wait too long before repainting our home, we are leaving it unprotected from the elements. We all know that our home will need to be repainted from time to time, but how often should we do this?
Typically exterior painting in Oklahoma City should be done every 8 to 10 years.
Many homeowners may wonder how to know when it is time to repaint their home. To help our OKC neighbors, Hometown Painting has put together this guide to the most common exterior paint problems. If you are seeing any of these issues, this is an indication that it is time to paint.
Top Exterior Paint Problems OKC Homeowners Face
#1 Flaking Paint
Flaking exterior paint is probably the most obvious problem a homeowner might notice. When paint has come loose from its underlying surface it is no longer providing any protection to that area. Besides looking bad, unprotected wood can be damaged by moisture and UV rays.
How to Fix it:
New paint should be applied to the area to protect the wood but without the proper prep work done before hand the new paint won’t likely last very long.
Before paint is applied the loose paint should be removed with a paint scraper. The area should then be sanded to give more surface area for the new paint to stick to. Then a quality exterior primer should be applied to the affected area. Primer sticks to the wood better than paint and will increase the longevity of the repair.
Once the are is fully prepped, a high quality exterior paint can be applied.
#2 Fading Paint
Paint tends to fade over time. This is especially true on the south and west sides of the house that get the most direct sunlight. The Oklahoma sun shines 250 days a year on average so there is a lot of opportunity for the sun the fade out exterior paint.
A homeowner may think that fading is just a cosmetic issue but it may be an indication that the paint used was low quality or that it was applied too thinly. Either way, fading paint is an indication that the paint is ready to fail and cease protecting the home.
How to Fix it:
To fix the problem of fading exterior paint we recommend power washing the area to remove any chalky residue. Then high quality exterior paint should be applied to restore the protective layer to the outside of the home.
#2 Cracking Caulk
Joints where two pieces of wood meet should be sealed with caulk. Often caulk will crack or separate over time leaving gaps in the woodwork where water can seep in.
Moisture is the leading cause of wood rot and warping. Sometimes cracks or gaps can be high up on gables or under the eaves making them hard to notice. Often painters will use low quality caulk which is more likely to crack over time.
How to Fix it:
To seal cracked joints in the woodwork a quality siliconized acrylic caulk should be applied to any open joints in the woodwork. It should then be wiped with a finger or a rag to push the caulk into the seam and form a tight seal.
Unlike cheaper caulks, siliconized caulk will stretch when boards shift or move so it resists cracking or pulling away.
Inspecting Exterior Paint
When an Oklahoma City Homeowner contacts Hometown Painting to inspect their home’s exterior we perform a thorough walk around the entire house. We look for the problems listed above along with any other issues that may need to be addressed.
We then advise homeowners of the solutions to these problems and work with them to make a custom game plan to paint their home. Learn more about our exterior painting process here.
