There’s a lot confusion about the life span of paint job on exteriors. In some instances professional painting contractors can provide as little as 2 years, while other businesses boast 100 years or more. Finding a reliable estimate for your home will require you to consider various variables, many of which you’ve got limited or no control over.
At the most fundamental basis the properly applied exterior acrylic paint can last for 5-10 years, while oil-based and latex-based paints lasting only a bit less. These estimates aren’t easy to generalize, since the weather, the materials being painted, the type of paint and how good the work in general can affect the length of time you’ll need to paint again.
The following aspects should be considered prior to deciding whether or not for painting your home, and could help you get a more precise estimates of the project’s duration.
Unavoidable Factors
There are many factors that can shorten the life span of exterior paint. Certain of them are more preventable than others. Of the factors over which you control of, preparation and time are two of the most crucial factors that shouldn’t be overlooked.
Color
The color you pick can have a significant impact on how the paint will last in time. The darker colors take in more light, which causes the paint to fade more quickly. That means that you can expect that the sun-facing part of your house to require re-painting in the next three to five years with a dark color and 5 to 7 years for light paint when the side that is sheltered has 10 years of life.
Curing
Exterior paint needs the time to completely dry. A dry surface does not necessarily mean that the paint has been cured. Most latex paints for exterior use 4 to 6 hours for drying however 24-hours is an optimal amount of time for the paint to fully cure.
A best practice would be to apply paint on your house at a time that you anticipate no rain for at least 12 hours, but ideally all day. Paints made from oil take longer to dry while acrylic and latex both dry in a short time.
Additionally, it is important to be aware of the humidity levels. A rain that is good after six hours is likely to do little harm than painting with humid conditions, since the humidity will cause slowing or stop the proper curing process.
In some cases the high humidity or fog can result in the paint completely melting away. This is why it is recommended to pick the day that has relatively low humidity when painting walls on the outside.
Materials and Techniques
One of the best tips you can take to make the most of a painting job is to put money into the work. Paint, caulking, and primer ought to be of a high-quality brand and are designed specifically for use on exteriors.
Select a semi-gloss or satin enamel for your trim. Flat finishes are the ideal for siding, and 100% acrylic is the most long-lasting paint kind. Paints made of oil are also strong however they may be restricted in your region because of being a source of VOCs.
A good technique can assist you in getting the longest life from your task. Always begin from the top, with the overhangs and proceed to lower. This will prevent paint from spilling or flowing over a surface that has already been painted.
Use an airless sprayer apply on the primer as well as the painting after which you can apply it again using a high-quality roller can improve the uniformity and adhesion. After the walls have been finished then place painter’s adhesive tape over the edges of the windows and doors and begin to work on the trimming.
The removal of the tape right away can help to reduce the amount of dust left in the dust. Apply the trim as necessary after the paint is dry.
Preparation
Paint is only as effective as the surface it’s applied to. Failing to prepare properly the exterior walls may cause peeling or chipping within a few minutes.
The paint you used previously must be scraped off in a way that is sufficient to get rid of any loose or peeled pieces. Sanding also smooths the surface to ensure greater adhesion. Old paints tend to lose their luster with time, which can impact the older coats.
The entire surface needs to be cleaned with a hose to remove dirt and dust. after which it is allowed to dry prior to applying any paint, since even a tiny amount of dirt could weaken the adhesion and cause peeling.
Make use of a high-quality caulk to seal around windows and other openings. Also, a quality primer is crucial to ensure the durability of your paint and also reducing the effect of weather on the base materials, particularly wood.
Unavoidable Factors
However much effort you invest in creating an outstanding paint job, there are certain elements that are out of your control. They can cause the paint to wear off or chip in less than the time it will last elsewhere.
Weather and Location
One of the main causes that can affect the longevity that your painted job will last is area of your residence. Arid conditions can cause the paint to age much faster than a humid one in a place close to an ocean or a ocean can cause a paint job to degrade five times faster.
The weather patterns have a significant impact on how fast a painting job deteriorates. In areas with mild temperatures all year round your paint job is likely to last longer than regions with snowy winters or severe temperatures. The force of hail, storms and frequent, strong winds could cause paint to blister or scratch. In time, this can cause peeling, chipping and fade.
Sunlight
The sun’s rays pose a threat to the exterior paint of your home. Although it’s unlikely to damage the paint by itself but direct sunlight over long time periods can cause fading of the paint. This is especially evident in dark colors than light and the part that faces the sun will fade more quickly than the sides that are shaded of your house.
Substantiating Material
The surface you paint can have a huge impact on the life span of the paint job. Wood surfaces are known to be the first to degrade and then brick or stucco. Vinyl siding and aluminum siding will keep paint for up to 20 years in the right way, if applied correctly.
The life span of wood can be prolonged with the sealing of any gap by using a good primer however, the shorter life span is evident when wood trim is painted with an extra durable wall.
