Email Us 
414-559-4761
An exterior paint job can enhance your home's value and provide an attractive aesthetic curb appeal, while also helping to weatherproof against the intense fluctuations in Wisconsin's weather. Typically, exterior house paint can last around 10 to 15 years, with numerous factors contributing to its resilience and lasting power.
To improve its durability, a qualified painter should identify the best paint to use, decide how to prepare the surface, and work out other variables to provide a long-lasting exterior paint.
Factors That Affect How Long Exterior Paint Lasts
High-quality exterior paint should last a long time, but the following factors can impact its longevity.
Climate Conditions
Wisconsin is known for its ever-changing climate. Yearly weather fluctuations take a toll on exterior paint as the weather shifts from scorching heat to snow, and from dry weather to rain with high humidity.
Excessive moisture leads to bubbling, peeling, and mold growth, while unrelenting UV rays break down paint and fade colors. Regular freeze-thaw cycles in Wisconsin cause paint to expand and contract, leading to eventual cracks and blisters. That's why it's important to choose a good time to paint your home.
Paint Quality
Exterior paint is based on a sturdy resin component that forms a protective layer against deterioration. Depending on your home’s exterior surface, your painting contractor will choose acrylic, vinyl-acrylic, or oil-based paint to achieve the greatest protection from weather and environmental influences.
When applied correctly, acrylic-latex paint forms a sturdy, weather-resistant layer that can last against shifting outside conditions. Low-quality paints tend to break down faster against the elements, cracking and fading more rapidly than quality options.
Paint pigment is also a factor in paint longevity. Consult with a professional painter about which is ideal for your house, and consider selecting a paint that contains moisture-resisting and UV-absorbing additives that will extend the life of your paint. Here at GRH Painting LLC, we only use premium paints from brands like Sherwin-Williams and Benjamin Moore for our projects.
A professional can also advise you on sealants that will protect your new paint from deteriorating. A clear protective coating can reflect UV radiation, keeping your paint colors strong and bright.
Surface Preparation
Surface preparation is one of the key factors that will impact how many years your paint will last. Your painter will clean the surface and scrape it free of peeling paint, dirt, and mold.
Power washing the surface before painting is also a good thing to do. The surface should then be sanded to smooth out rough areas, and cracks and holes should be caulked.
Priming is important for surface preparation, as high-quality paint lasts even longer on a primed surface. Primer provides a uniform base to receive new paint, and the paint will bond strongly with porous surfaces and adhere better over time.
Different surfaces like wood, brick, aluminum, and others each require specific paint, primers, and preparation. Ensure that the prep work and the type of paint suit your home’s exterior surface.
Ongoing Maintenance
The exterior paint on your house will warrant ongoing maintenance to last a long time. It’s a good idea to make a maintenance schedule and refer to it each season.
Regularly trim vegetation, keeping plants, tree branches, and vines away from the paint surface to deter mold and mildew growth. Wash away dirt and grime as soon as you notice it and caulk any cracks, holes, or peeling spots that appear.
In Milwaukee, where homes are subjected to excessive rain, snow, and ice, be sure to keep all gutters clear of debris to prevent water damage. Make periodic checks for wood rot and water stains, and do repairs quickly. You may also have to power wash your home’s exterior once a year to extend the lifespan of the paint.
Signs You Need New Exterior Paint
Even if you maintain a timely maintenance schedule, you’ll eventually see signs that it’s time to refresh your exterior paint. It is important to watch for these signs and schedule a repaint before the old paint has completely worn off. This will keep your home looking great and produce better results.
Fading Colors
Even high-quality paint can wear out, and over time, the colors will fade beyond recognition. Faded exterior paint detracts from your home’s curb appeal and is a sign that the paint is no longer protecting your home’s exterior from the elements.
Recurrent Mold Growth
If, despite your seasonal cleaning efforts, you find that stubborn mold, mildew, and moss stains keep returning, you’ll know that the paint barrier has deteriorated beyond repair.
Chalking Residue
Chalking is the dusty, powdery residue that sticks to your skin when you wipe your hand along your home’s exterior surfaces. While chalking can simply appear due to UV exposure over time, it might indicate that the original paint was low quality, not the right choice for the surface, or that the surface was improperly prepped.
A small amount of chalking can be washed away, but when chalking becomes excessive, your home will require new primer and a new coat layer.
Peeling and Cracking
You may see small cracks in your exterior paint here and there, but when multiple areas show cracking and peeling, the damage may be too extensive for repairs.
If you begin to notice entire areas without paint, or you discover rotting spots, it’s time to call a professional to evaluate your home’s exterior.
How Often Should You Paint Your Home Exterior?
Wisconsin’s extreme weather necessitates careful maintenance to extend the life of your exterior paint. When considering an exterior paint job, have a professional assess your home and recommend the best paint according to the present condition of your house's exterior.
If you invest in a quality paint job and you keep to a regular maintenance schedule, your home’s exterior may only require a new paint job every 10 to 15 years. Make sure to hire a trusted painting company like GRH Painting LLC to ensure you get a high-quality exterior painting job that lasts.
