How often should the exterior of a house be painted?

every 5 to 10 years
Exteriors should be painted every 5 to 10 years, depending on the quality of paint and craftsmanship it was painted with last time. Here are some guidelines based on exterior surface: Wood surfaces need to be painted every 3 to 7 years. Aluminum siding needs to be painted about every 5 years.

How long will exterior paint last outside?

between 5 to 7 years
You can expect your exterior paint to last between 5 to 7 years. Keep in mind that your exterior paint will be affected by regional climate conditions, the material painted, and the type of paint used.

What exterior paint color lasts the longest?

acrylic paint
As per the industry standard for professional painters, acrylic paint is the best type of paint on exterior finishing materials. Acrylic paint lasts the longest and is also known for resisting all sorts of damage caused by weather and other natural variables.

How can I make exterior paint last longer?

For long-lasting results, apply exterior coatings on mild days – ideally, when the temperature is between 60 and 85 degrees F. – with little or no wind. In these conditions, primer and paint “cure” more slowly and form the most protective dry film.

How long does a gallon of exterior paint last?

Mixed Paint Shelf Life Estimates
Paint TypeLifespan
Latex or Acrylic-Latex Paint2 to 10 years
Oil-Based Paint2 to 15 years
Chalk Paint1 to 5 years
Milk Paint1 to 7 days
Feb 24, 2022

How long does unopened exterior paint last?

When stored properly, an unopened can of latex or oil-based paint should have a shelf life of 2 years. The best storage for paint is in a cool, dry area, away from extreme hot and cold temperatures.

What makes paint last longer?

Use Hard Coat

Most paints also hide and level better with the Hard Coat added at 16 ounces per gallon of paint. Adding Hard Coat will give your paint a longer lifespan, and will even improve its leveling.

What will make paint last longer?

6 Easy Steps to Make Your DIY Paint Job Last Longer
  1. Remove damaged paint. Scraping off your old, flaking paint is essential to helping you get a long-lasting paint job. …
  2. Clean your painting surface. …
  3. Repair damaged surfaces. …
  4. Use proper techniques to paint. …
  5. Find the right time. …
  6. Utilise the right tools.

How thick should exterior paint be?

For large exterior surfaces, use a 4″-wide (100mm) flat brush with a thickness of 3/4″ to 1″ (25mm to 3mm). For precise painting of window frames and trim, use angled sash brushes between 1″ (30mm) and 2 1/2″ (60mm) wide. Another option for your exterior paint job is using a paint sprayer.

What to add to paint to make it harder?

Hard Coat latex paint additive provides a tougher more durable finish when added to latex paints. The technology is ceramic based, similar to ceramic based exterior paints.

How do you make paint stronger?

If your piece is going to be seeing a lot of use, you need to put a good topcoat on it. I like to use Protect or a polycrylic. With this step, you can also use a paint sprayer or a high-quality paintbrush. A good topcoat will make your paint job stronger and hold up against little circuses that may be roaming around.

How many coats of paint does the exterior of a house need?

Two coats
So, How Many Coats of Exterior Paint Should You Apply? Two coats is typically all that’s needed, if you’re painting over a well-prepped, primed surface. This is particularly true if you are painting a dark color over a lighter, existing one, as you’re guaranteed to have good coverage.

Is exterior paint more durable?

Oil-based paints used to be the go-to choice for exterior projects for many years, but the recent technological advancements made in water-based paints makes them the overall better choice. Acrylic paint is the most durable of all.

Is 3 coats of exterior paint better than 2?

The general rule is that you should use two coats of paint. However, this rule changes based on the color, quality of the paint you use, whether or not you used primer, and the type of surface you’re painting.

How do you know when to paint a second coat?

If the new color is “close” to the existing color, then generally only one coat is needed, even in the case of darker colors. Creating a substantial color change, or painting over white usually requires a second coat to prevent the underlying color from “peeking through”.

Does the second coat use less paint?

The second coat of paint goes on quickly and costs very little. The first coat goes on thicker and slower. The second coat of paint serves as a second skin or protector of the first coat, adding life to your paint job. You can expect some surfaces to last twice as long with a second coat!

Can I paint the exterior of my house myself?

Don’t paint your house yourself unless you have the time, tools, skills and stamina to do the work. Depending on the size and height of your house and the condition of the existing siding, preparing and painting a house on your own can be a tedious, difficult job.

Why do Painters water down paint?

To “thin” paint, an exterior painter will add water to the paint bucket, increasing the paint’s workability and slowing down the speed with which it dries.

Do I really need to wait 4 hours between coats of paint?

After your first coat of paint is dry, it’s safe to recoat typically after four to six hours. A good rule of thumb is to wait at least three hours to recoat your paint or primer if it’s water-based.

Can I get away with one coat of paint?

Depending on the color and condition of the surface to be coated, sometimes one coat of paint is just not possible. One coat of paint does not offer full color coverage, so the base color often bleeds through and alters your true color choice.

Do pro painters use tape?

Painting Without Tape or Cutting-In

Favored by professional painters, the cut-in method is pure freehand painting. No tape is used. Metal or plastic masking guards are not used, either.