Who has the time to repaint the exterior of their home? Home ownership is a big responsibility that takes up a lot of time and forces people to prioritize the home repair projects they give their time and money to.

Painting the exterior of your home isn’t one you want to put off. In fact, in many cases it may need to be at the very top of your list.

Fortunately, this is also a project where hiring a trusted residential painting contractor is your best option. At Hughes Painting, our trusted team of professionals have the experience and the equipment to get the job done right the first time, so you won’t have to repaint a few months down the line.

A quality exterior paint job should last your home for five to six years. While this is a great rule of thumb, you should always be watchful for the classic signs you may need to repaint sooner.

Your home’s exterior paint is up against the elements. Homeowners in Virginia Beach VA and Chesapeake VA know exactly how wearing the sun and humidity can be. Paint is your home’s first layer of defense against the wear and tear your home is up against.

It’s also one of the most important aesthetic elements that keep your house looking like your home, a place you’re proud to make your own.

You want to take care of your house. Here are some of the signs you need to watch for so you know when it’s time to call in expert exterior painters for help.

1. Damage From Moisture

This will look like a large stain on the side of your home, or the telltale signs of mildew. In some cases, you’ll catch this and it will just be accumulating on the side of your building, not yet under the paint’s surface. In this case, you’ll be able to wipe the mold away. Perhaps you’ll need a pressure washer to be sure to get the surface really clean so the mold doesn’t grow back.

In other cases, you will attempt to clean it up and find that the stain runs deeper. This stubborn spot is a sign of damage in need of a professional’s help.

While it may be tempting to ignore this or make a plan for solving the issue on your own, you don’t want to mess around with mold growth. A professional can help you find the source of the problem so the full damage is repaired before further damage can happen, costing you more time and money in the long run.

An expert exterior painting company will also be able to help you repaint the damaged area so your home’s exterior paint job remains consistent.

2. The Color is Changing

Is your paint color faded in spots? Or maybe it’s changed altogether? The sun’s rays can alter your paint’s color in areas where the sun hits it the hardest. You’ll often notice the paint looks worn out in some areas, losing it’s glossy finish, or perhaps that the color takes on a different shade completely.

Between the UV rays from the sun and heavy rainfalls during the wetter seasons, your home’s exterior paint gets hit with uneven wear and tear.

This isn’t just an aesthetic issue. This is a sign the paint is wearing out in those areas. Remember, the paint is protecting the building materials of your home. You want to keep it in good condition so the sun and heavy rainfall isn’t going against your bare building materials. This is an important sign it’s time to repaint.

3. There’s Been Damage To The Building Materials

Did your home recently undergo some damage? Did the wood rot? Was there a crack in your stucco? Did the outside wall get gouged by debris in a storm? These things happen. Accidents will come up as part of homeownership. When they do, it’s important to get them repaired, and then have your exterior paint professionally done.

The right exterior painters will have enough experience to match your home’s current color and keep the look consistent. This way, no one will ever be able to tell there was recent damage there and your home will look as good as new, and stay protected against future damages.

4. The Paint Has Begun to Peel

Is your Virginia home’s exterior paint beginning to flake off? Whether the paint is bubbling, cracking, or otherwise peeling away from the building materials, this is a sure sign it’s time to have the surface repainted.

The different ways the paint peels off may be signs of other underlying issues. For example, a bubbling paint may mean that the underlying material is rotting or that mold is pushing the paint up in that shape. A professional painting contractor will be able to look at your current paint, diagnose the problem, and offer a plan for solutions that will keep further damage from occurring to save you money in the long run.

5. It Leaves A Residue On Your Hands

This one is a bit messier than other signs your home’s exterior needs repainting. You’ll likely first notice this when you run a hand over the outside of your home and your hand comes away with something on it.

It’s common to ignore this and believe it was just dust. To get a better idea of what you’re looking at, grab a towel and run it over the surface of your home. Is there a chalky residue on your towel? That’s your home’s exterior paint.

Over time, the paint can break apart. The pigments in paint and the binders that hold it altogether separate and form a chalky substance on the side of your home.

You will want to call in trusted experts right away to have the situation assessed and make a plan. When the paint has become this chalky substance, your home is no longer protected from the elements the way it should be.

6. You Don’t Like The Colors Anymore

Sometimes, you just need a change! This is your home and you should be happy with it, afterall. Repainting to get an updated look you love can make you fall in love with your home all over again.

Professional painters will be happy to consult with you on your color choices. You’ll want to consider the surrounding elements to find a shade that will complement the landscape surrounding your home and the design of the building. You’ll also want to make sure it’s a shade you’ll enjoy looking at every day. Our team has experience helping homeowners find the right shade for them.

Are You Ready To Repaint?

You probably have questions! Every homeowner has unique needs.

Maybe you aren’t sure if your house needs repainting? That’s okay, our team of experts are happy to be called in to assess the situation for you! Maybe you have special scheduling concerns for when you need your house painted by? At Hughes Painting, we’re always happy to work with our clients to make the experience as easy as possible for them. Maybe you just need to know what color options are out there? We can help with that, too!

Contact our team today to have your questions answered and take care of your home’s needs!