Having the exterior of your home painted is a big investment of either time, money, or both. This is why it’s important to know the best way to maintain your exterior paint job so it looks good for years to come.
The exterior paint of your home does not last nearly as long as the interior paint for one big reason. It is constantly having to withstand the weather.
In Indiana, you have to worry about all the seasons. Sunlight, rain, hail, snow, humidity, frost, and bugs are all things that can have an impact on the way your home looks.
Some parts of your home are going to be affected by the elements more because of where they are located. Places, where the sun hits more often, are going to age much quicker than places that are shaded.
We are going to go over things that you can do to make sure your exterior paint job looks good over the years.
Tips to Maintain Your Exterior Paint Job
Caulking
Caulking is the most important part of maintaining your exterior paint job.
Caulking is a sealant that is used to fill in cracks and gaps around windows, doors, and other areas where air and water can leak through. Where air and water can leak through, mold can very easily begin to grow.
Making sure caulking is done correctly and that there are no cracks or gaps will play a big factor in the longevity of your exterior paint job.
It can also improve your heating and cooling costs due to better insulation.
Wash your house!
Most of the time, you won’t need to wash your home. Your home is exposed to a lot of things, but rain does a good job of keeping it clean for the most part. If your house has mold, mildew, or algae on it, this is when you should wash your house.
But…
Don’t immediately reach for a pressure washer!
Most of the time, a garden hose will do the trick. You can pick up a siding cleaning kit from a local home improvement store near you. It should come with a nozzle attachment for your hose.
If there are areas of your home that are very grimy or mildewed you may need to use cleanser along with your garden hose. The siding cleaning kit will have a place for you to put the cleanser.
You will most likely not need a cleanser. Unless your siding is in very bad shape, water should do the trick.
When to use a pressure washer
Use a pressure washer on vinyl, wood siding, or some sort of hybrid material. These are usually strong enough materials to withstand pressure washing.
Only use the pressure washer if there is serious grime. A light layer of dirt can be taken care of by a hose.
Don’t use a pressure washer on delicate wood shingles, brick, or stucco. These are best handled with a hose so you don’t damage them.
Touch-up Painting
Like we said earlier, different parts of your house are exposed to the elements more than others. This means that some areas may need to be repainted before others. There is no need to repaint the entire house when this happens.
Touching up certain areas of your house every one to two years can increase the longevity and beauty of your exterior paint job.
As you can see it is very simple to maintain your exterior paint job. A little bit of effort can drastically improve the longevity and beauty of your home’s paint job.
