Exterior House Paint: How Long Can I Expect it to Last?

Paint is one of the most important parts of a house, but its quality is something many homeowners take for granted. Sure, homeowners are concerned about the color and the overall appearance, but exterior paint does much more. Exterior paint protects your home from costly damage. Using the wrong paint or not painting at the correct time can cost money in the long run. The thing is, paint doesn’t last forever. Learn how long it will be before you need to repaint and what signs to look for that let you know it’s time to repaint and protect your investment.

How Long Does Exterior Paint Last?

How long exterior paint lasts often depends on the quality of the exterior paint you choose. Exterior paint typically lasts for five to ten years. Many top-of-the-line paints have warranties up to 15 years.

Because some exterior house paint lasts longer than others, and to ensure your paint lasts, protects, and looks great as long as possible, choose exterior paint that is high in quality. The question is: how do you know quality exterior paint when you see it?

Choose Quality Paint

When choosing exterior house paint, look for paint that has these ingredients on the label:

• Proper pigments – Good paints cover completely with a single coat if they use quality pigments while paint with low-cost pigments often requires multiple coats of paint. The finest pigment for your paint to have is titanium dioxide. Make sure the label on the can specifies this pigment.
• All-acrylic binder – The binder keeps the pigment, mildewcides, and other solids in place that make up the actual paint film. If you want a more weather-resistant paint, look for latex with an acrylic binder, which is more durable than vinyl or vinyl-acrylic. Modified acrylic is often used for interior paints, while all acrylic is used for premium exterior paints that can withstand harsh weather.
• Solids – What are solids? When the paint dries, the solids are what remain on the walls. Ideally, your solids level should be above 45 percent. You’ll get a denser, more durable coating when the level of solids is higher. You won’t usually find information about solids on the label so ask your paint retailer for the product data sheets, or search the company’s Website for the information.

How to Know It’s Time to Repaint the Exterior of Your Home

You may think that your home’s exterior is in perfect condition, but look closely and check for these tell-tale signs that it’s time to repaint. Overlooking these details may cause long-term damage to your home.

• Cracks, chipping, and bubbling paint – These signs indicate damage to the wood and possible moisture problems.
• Gaps around doors and windows – This indicates the caulking has shrunk possibly allowing moisture to seep into your home. Moisture seeping into gaps and cracks in the exterior of your home causes mildew and damage over time.
• Faded paint – The sun fades exterior paint over time causing your home to look outdated and ruining your home’s curb appeal.

Protect Your Investment

Your home is one of the biggest investments you’ll make in your lifetime. Protect it with the care and quality paint it needs. If this sounds like something you need help with don’t hesitate to reach out! Our team at Elite Pro Painting can help you protect your investment.