Exterior paint: Why is home painting so important?
Exterior paint schemes can not only add to the street appeal and also provides protection for your home. The better the finish, the better the visual impact and the higher your property value or rental income will be. With the right colour selection, a new paint job will beautify and modernise your home so it’s important to take sufficient time planning which colours, shades, and paint styles you want to decorate your home with.
The exterior of your home is continually exposed to harsh weather elements such as UV, heavy rains and saltwater spray which can compromise the integrity of the substrate and timber. Repainting your home serves as one of your home’s primary lines of defence against weather, insects and other damage, so it’s an important aspect of home maintenance.
Which colour to choose?
Painting the walls of your home with white or off white and using a darker colour for your trim can create a very striking and attractive look. It is important to remember that the trim and windows will need to complement your chosen colour scheme to ensure it all works together.
When to paint?
There isn’t a perfect time of the year when you should plan to re-paint your home. It varies depending on climate and the condition of your home’s current coat. Is the paint chipped, cracked, flaking, or peeling anywhere? Are there areas of exposed wood or is there any sign of water damage?
Light colours vs dark
Monochromatic colours – blacks and whites, are currently very on-trend when it comes to exterior paint trends and while dark colours such as Monument look fantastic, they may not always be the best choice. The selection or use of deep, bold, dark or vibrant colours should be carefully considered as they can actually have an adverse effect on the properties and performance of the paint. In general terms, lighter colours will always outperform darker colours, within the same product, environment and exposure conditions. Generally speaking, darker coloured paints absorb more UV rays than lighter coloured paints thereby putting more stress on the paint system and the substrate. Darker colors are going to fade faster, absorb more heat creating more moisture or condensation. They are still great to use, however, just understand that they will need repainted sooner and touch-ups become considerably more noticeable.
Upkeep of paintwork
A durable finish will require a lower level of maintenance and hence lower maintenance costs, whilst maintaining a high positive visual impact. A poor paint job can last as little as three years before it needs attention, and a good one can last for upwards of 10 years. We recommend undertaking a periodic painting maintenance program to keep your property looking fresh and to keep an eye potential substrate issues before they become costly and widespread.
