When should you repaint the outside of your house?

Repaint the outside of your house when the paint starts to fail rather than on a fixed timetable: look for flaking, peeling, cracking, blistering, a chalky powder that comes off on your hand, or bare wood showing through. Woodwork such as windows, doors and fascias usually needs attention sooner than painted walls, and the sides of the house that face the weather wear fastest. Plan the work for a dry, settled spell, which in Kent usually means late spring to early autumn.

The signs it is time to repaint

• Flaking and peeling, where the paint has lost its grip and water is getting behind it.
• Cracking, especially on timber, where fine cracks let water into the wood.
• Blistering or bubbling, often caused by moisture or heat trapped under the paint.
• Chalking, a powdery residue that comes off on your hand when you rub the surface. It means the paint is breaking down in sunlight.
• Fading, which shows first on the walls that get the most sun.
• Bare wood showing on window sills, the bottoms of doors and frames, or fascia boards.
• Mould or green algae that comes back soon after cleaning, often on shaded walls.

Check the woodwork first. Window sills and the bottom rails of doors and windows take the most water, so they are usually the first places to fail. Press a screwdriver gently into any suspect timber. If it sinks in easily, there is rot to deal with before any painting.

Why it pays not to wait

Exterior paint is protection first and decoration second. Once the paint film breaks, water gets into timber and starts rot, and gets in behind loose paint on walls. Repainting while the paint is merely tired is mostly a matter of washing, sanding and painting. Leave it until it is badly flaking, and the same job can mean stripping back, cutting out rotten wood and making repairs before a brush comes out.

What affects how long paint lasts

There is no honest single answer to how many years exterior paint will last, because it depends on several things:

• The surface. Painted timber moves with the weather and generally needs repainting more often than painted masonry.
• The preparation. Paint put on over dirt, flaking layers or damp timber fails early, however good the paint.
• The paint. Products made for outdoor use on that particular surface, such as masonry paint for walls and exterior wood paint for timber, last far better than the wrong product.
• Exposure. Walls that face the sun fade sooner, and walls that take the prevailing wind and rain, which in most of the UK comes from the south west, weather faster.
• Setting. Homes in coastal towns face salt air and stronger winds, which are hard on paintwork and metalwork. Houses on tree lined streets, like many around Tunbridge Wells, can stay shaded and damp, which encourages mould and algae.
• Water from above. A gutter that overflows soaks the wall and woodwork below it, and paint there fails early. Make sure the gutters are clear before you repaint, and see how often gutters should be cleaned.

The best time of year to paint outside

Paint needs a dry surface, dry weather while it dries, and temperatures that are not too low. Manufacturers give minimum temperatures and drying conditions for their products, and they are worth following to the letter.

In practice that makes late spring to early autumn the main season for exterior painting in Kent. Early mornings can bring dew, and in autumn the damp sets in earlier in the evening, which shortens the working day. Strong, direct sun is not ideal either, because paint can dry too quickly to bond and level properly, so painters often work round the house following the shade.

What good preparation involves

Most of the work on a good exterior repaint goes into preparation. In general that means:

• Washing down the surfaces to remove dirt, and treating any mould or algae.
• Scraping off loose and flaking paint, then sanding the edges smooth.
• Filling cracks and holes, and repairing or replacing rotten timber.
• Priming bare wood and repaired areas so the topcoat has something to grip.
• Protecting windows, paths, plants and anything else that should not be painted.

Only then does the finish go on: a weather resistant paint made for each surface, with enough coats to build a proper protective layer. When you compare quotes for exterior painting, look closely at how much preparation each one includes, because that is usually where the difference in how long the job lasts comes from.

Painted walls and bare brick

If your walls are already painted, keep them painted with a breathable masonry paint that suits them. If they are bare brick, think carefully before painting them for the first time. It changes the look of the house, it is hard to undo, and it commits you to repainting in future. If your home is listed, check with your council first.

Paint will not cure failing mortar either. If the joints are crumbling, re-pointing should come first, and seven signs your brickwork needs re-pointing will help you check.

Safety points before anyone starts

• Height. Upper floors, gables and fascias need safe access, such as scaffolding or a tower, and are a job for a professional.
• Power lines. Keep ladders and long poles well clear of overhead power cables.
• Lead paint. Older homes may have layers of old lead paint under the newer coats. Do not dry sand, scrape hard or burn off old paint until it has been checked, because the dust and fumes are harmful.
• Asbestos. Soffit boards and some other boards on homes built or altered before 2000 may contain asbestos. Do not sand, drill or scrape them until they have been checked.

Questions to ask a decorator

• What preparation is included, and what happens if rotten timber turns up?
• Which paint will you use on each surface, and why?
• How many coats will go on?
• How will you reach the higher areas safely?
• How will you protect windows, paths and plants?
• What happens if the weather turns during the job?

Getting a quote in Kent

Meridian Maintenance offers exterior painting and decorating for homes across Kent, covering the surface preparation as well as weather resistant finishes. It is a small, family run business based in Tunbridge Wells, run by Charlie, with ten years of experience in the trade.

Quotations are free and there is no deposit to pay. Find out more about exterior painting and decorating, get in touch, or call Charlie on 07742 413224.