Exterior painting not only protects the exterior of the building but gives it a beautiful and polished look. It protects the structure from the elements of natural weather and insects/pests. With this in mind, you can see that painting a building (whether it’s commercial, industrial, or institutional) serves a dual purpose of being both functional and decorative. Proper siding preparation, choosing the best paint and colour, and hiring the right painter is key to a successful painting job.

Paint is the first thing people see when entering a building and keeping the overall visual look fresh is an important part of its aesthetic. Here are several signs you should keep in mind to keep it looking pleasing to the eye:

  1. Fading.  This means the original coat(s) of paint are starting to lose their color and could be caused by constant sun exposure and water intrusion. It is one of the most significant and obvious signs that the building exterior needs a repaint job. Our past expertise in the area indicates that dark hues tend to fade faster than light ones. Fading depends on the quality of the paint itself. You’ll recognize fading when the colour starts to lose the gloss it once had. When this occurs, applying a new coating is the only way to improve the exterior building painting.
  2. Peeling paint.  When the paint on the building starts to peel off, this means you need to take action – please take it as a warning sign. Sun exposure, rain, and snow can cause the exterior paint to peel and it implies your wood (or other exterior elements), and that eventually leads to decay, mold, and mildew. If you don’t act quickly, the building will have an old and dilapidated look and a fresh coat of paint will give it a fresh look and keep these issues to a minimum.
  3. Flaking, Cracking or Bubbling paint. These are usually signs of poor weatherproofing – which means making it resistant to the effects of bad weather. In Canada, the most common examples of this are harsh winters, heavy storms, strong sunlight, extreme humidity, and blowing sand, dirt, and other debris.
  4. Chalking. This isn’t always easy to notice. To help determine this, AP Painting Solutions advises running your hand over the surface to feel its texture. If the paint leaves chalk residue and feels hard, then it is a sure sign that it is chalking. It is usually caused by years of exposure to harsh weather and other elements. It can be hazardous to your health and the environment, so you should consider repainting soon.
  5. Hardened Caulking. Caulking is a process by which a sealant is applied that gives the paint job a clean finish and seals out any moisture. It’s designed from materials that protect your surface during changing weather solutions and with time it can lose its flexibility or become hard to the touch. If that’s the case, then please reach out to us and we’ll be more than happy to provide a re-caulk job.
  6. Aging paint. Different brands of paint have varying life expectancies depending on the quality of the brand itself. High-quality paints have a life expectancy of seven to ten years, while poor-quality paints last for less than five years. There are other signs such as bubbling and chalking but won’t necessarily be obvious. As soon as the paint ages out, then you repaint your home as directed on the paint cans, to avoid complications.
  7. Morphing. This happens when the paint starts to fade and begins to change color either in patches or entirely. For example, beige will morph into pink when exposed to sunlight even after only several weeks. Morphing only affects exterior painting, but some brands are designed to resist the effects of UV rays. It can really go either way and in both cases, we suggest a repaint job.
  8. Outdated colors. In addition to the physical impact on exterior paint jobs, the colors you currently have could be out-of-style making them outdated. Do some research so you can know what trendy colors are in style so you can enhance the look of your home.
  9. Stronger curb appeal. If you’ve already done all the landscaping and driveway work and you’re still looking for a way to give your appeal a very strong boost, then a fresh exterior paint job could be the answer. Keep in mind that color trends change over time, so make sure your choices are up-to-date as per the market and so the value of your curb appeal could be impacted by the colors you choose.

Sources:
https://jclicht.com/10-signs-need-repaint-home/
https://elitetradepainting.com/blog/8-signs-its-time-to-repaint-the-exterior-of-your-house/
https://ccspainting.com/9-signs-its-time-for-exterior-painting/