Every gallon of milk we buy comes with a "best before" date; wouldn't it be nice if our homes came with a similar stamp so we know when they need exterior painting? In reality, the longevity of your exterior house paint can vary based on many factors, so it is important to consider them all together.

The short answer is that an exterior paint job lasts 5 to 8 years in the Washington, D.C. region, but don't stop there:

How Weather Affects Exterior House Paint

In northern Virginia and the Washington, D.C. area, there are numerous factors that cause stress and wear on our exterior paint. Snow and ice, heat and humidity, strong winds, heavy rains, occasional hail storms, and ultraviolet light from the sun all take their toll. The south side of your home bears the brunt of this.

Because different parts of the home are affected disproportionately by the climate, some areas may need repainting every 3 to 4 years.

Type of Siding

Painted wood siding and trim can generally go about 7 years on average, and the same goes for painted aluminum siding. Painted brick typically lasts up to 15 years, and cement fiberboard siding gets about the same exterior paint performance.

Previous Exterior Paint Jobs

Because your new paint is almost always going to be covering a previous exterior paint job, the quality of that prior paint will continue to play a role. If the old paint was done poorly, or if it was allowed to deteriorate too long before repainting, it can continue to fail even after the new paint is applied. This will shorten the life of new coats of paint.

How to Get the Most out of Your Exterior House Paint

There are several ways that you can extend the life of your exterior paint, thus reducing your overall home maintenance costs and keeping your home looking fantastic:

• Washing your siding each spring will remove mildew and surface contaminants, helping your paint job last longer.
• Refreshing your caulk around windows and doors, ensuring water is not intruding behind the paint.
• Repainting problem areas where the paint is wearing out prematurely, preventing paint failure and costly remediation.
• Using premium exterior paints, which only increases the painting cost marginally, while significantly extending the life of the paint job.
• Carefully preparing surfaces prior to painting, so that all surfaces are clean, dry, sound, and ready for paint to adhere.

Williams Professional Painting

Homeowners in the Washington, D.C. region and northern Virginia have an excellent resource they can turn to for giving maximum value and protection to their homes. Williams Professional Painting has been serving homeowners since 1979, offering exceptional customer service and unbeatable quality in exterior painting.

We would be happy to give you a free estimate for your home exterior, whether you need pressure washing, touch up painting, or a full exterior repaint. Use our online contact form, or call our office today!