How Often Should You Repaint Your House Exterior? Signs It's Time
Exterior paint does more than make your house look good. It's the layer that keeps rain, snow and sun off your siding and trim. Once it starts to fail, water gets into the wood underneath, and a simple repaint can turn into repairs.
So how often should you repaint? It depends mostly on what your house is made of and how much weather it takes. Here's what to expect for London-area homes, and the signs that tell you it's time.
How long exterior paint lasts
As a rough guide, here's how often each common surface needs a fresh coat:
| Surface | Typical time between repaints |
|---|---|
| Painted wood siding and trim | 3–7 years |
| Stucco | 5–6 years |
| Aluminum siding | 5–6 years |
| Vinyl siding (if painted) | 5–10 years |
| Painted brick | 15–20 years |
These are averages. Sun, wind and moisture can shorten them, and a good prep job and quality paint can stretch them. The best guide is the condition of your own paint.
Signs your exterior needs repainting
Walk around your house and look closely, especially at trim, window sills and the lower parts of the walls. It's time to repaint if you see:
- Peeling, cracking or chipping paint. Once the paint lifts, water can reach the wood.
- Fading or chalkiness. Rub the siding with your hand. A powdery residue means the paint is breaking down.
- Bare wood. Any exposed wood on trim, sills or corners should be primed and painted soon.
- Mildew that keeps coming back. Worn paint is hard to keep clean.
- Soft or rotting spots. These need repair before painting, and they get worse the longer they wait.
- Failing caulking. Caulking that has cracked or pulled away around windows and doors lets water in behind the paint.
What our weather does to paint
Southwestern Ontario is hard on exterior paint. Winters bring repeated freeze-thaw cycles, and summers bring strong sun and humidity. That wear shows up in predictable places:
- South- and west-facing walls get the most sun, so they usually fade and wear first.
- Areas near the ground catch splash-back from rain and snow, and often peel before the rest of the wall.
- Horizontal surfaces like sills, railings and porch floors hold water and wear faster than siding.
It's normal for one side of the house to need attention before the others. Touching up the worst areas early can buy time before a full repaint.
Plan your exterior now
You don't have to wait for peeling to get worse. Walk around the house now and take photos of any problem spots, so you have a record to show a painter.
Exterior painting is busiest from June to August, so getting a quote over the winter puts you ahead of the rush. For more on timing, see the best time of year to paint your exterior in Southwestern Ontario.
Common questions
Should I touch up or repaint the whole house?
If the wear is limited to one or two areas, like a sunny wall or the window sills, touch-ups can carry you a few more years. If the paint is chalky or peeling on several sides, a full repaint usually makes more sense, since touch-ups on faded paint won't match.
Can you paint vinyl siding?
Yes, with the right prep and a paint made for vinyl. The colour matters: going much darker than the original can make vinyl absorb too much heat and warp, so stick to shades that are similar or lighter.
Do darker colours fade faster?
Generally, yes. Dark and very saturated colours show fading sooner, especially on south- and west-facing walls. A quality exterior paint helps them hold their colour longer.
Not sure if it's time?
Forest City Painters has been painting homes in London and the surrounding area since 1999. We can look at your exterior and tell you honestly whether it needs a full repaint, some touch-ups, or nothing yet. Learn more about our exterior painting services.
We work across London, St. Thomas, Strathroy, Komoka, Dorchester, Ingersoll, Woodstock, Aylmer and the surrounding area. Request a free, no-obligation estimate to get on the spring schedule, call (519) 951-0222 or email info@forestcitypainters.ca.