Keeping up with exterior house maintenance can save costly repairs down the road.
It is important to not wait until your home requires a complete exterior paint job. Exterior paint ages at different rates depending on the direction the house faces. To avoid costly wood rot repairs, use your painter like you use your HVAC technician. Once a year, ideally in the fall, have your painter come by your home and do an inspection. It is important to repair and repaint necessary areas on a yearly basis. This keeps your home up to date with protection, spreads the cost of painting your home out over years, and keeps the expensive exterior wood replacements at bay. In addition, always have the painter inspect all caulk joints around windows, doors, and trim boards. The caulk is designed to prevent water intrusion. Failed caulked is the most common cause of water intrusion. Luckily, technology has come a long way with exterior sealants and the best sealants can be painted. It is money well spent to have the caulk maintained on an annual basis. Please do not assume that your existing paint will last forever. Sun, rain, and freezing temperatures diminish the effectiveness of the actual paint. It is in every homeowner’s best interest to have yearly inspections.
