Preparation

Paint is your house’s first defense against the elements and the first impression guests and potential buyers receive. When paint fades, chips or peels, it’s obviously time to repaint. But there are other telltale signs.

Exterior

  • Eaves
  • French doors
  • Garage doors and carports
  • ​Gates
  • ​Patios, pagodas, decks
  • Playhouses
  • ​Shutters
  • ​Storages
  • Stucco
  • ​Window bars
  • Wood siding

Finish

Don’t wait until paint chips are visible from the street to repaint. Painting your house early minimizes damage to the exterior of the home and also minimizes the need for preparatory work, like scraping flaking paint, caulking seals or replacing wood. Minimizing the need for prep work lowers painting costs.

Most homes need to be painted every seven to 10 years, but the actual timeframe varies by material and region.