After the busy holiday season and celebrating a new year, warmer weather is on the horizon! As spring approaches, now is a great time to start planning for exterior paint projects. We encourage homeowners to asses their homes to see the condition of both paint and siding.
Vivax wants to give you a quick checklist for things to look for on the exterior of your home and see if it’s time for a new paint job!
- Loose or leaky gutters- April showers bring May Flowers! As the spring clouds roll in, it’s best to take a look at the gutters now and make sure everything is intact and draining properly. Are the gutters pulling away from the house? If so, you’ll want to address those as soon as possible to avoid costly water damage.
- Flaking or peeling paint- Paint is your home’s first line of defense when it comes to dealing with the elements. Cracked or peeling paint usually means the bare surface is exposed and susceptible to damage and rot. This could be caused by moisture and water getting under the paint film or if you are experiencing peeling under the eaves that is typically due to a loss of adhesion.
- Rotted wood- Whether it’s the trim or your wood siding, rotted wood is a sign that fungi have penetrated unprotected wood. This is definitely something to take care of quickly as to avoid costly replacements!
- Missing caulk- If you’re noticing missing, cracked caulk, or caulking that is pulling away from surfaces this is a sign that the caulk has lost its adhesion. This can develop overtime or from the use of the wrong type of caulk on the home.
- Blistering- Lifting of the paint film from the surface is typically a sign that moisture has been trapped beneath the paint film. If you see your paint bubbling up in areas you will definitely need to scrape off the failing paint, ensure that the board has not been compromised, and prep and repaint the surface.
- Damaged siding- Whether you have vinyl, stucco, or brick siding it’s important to take a look for trouble spots. Water damage or cracks are signs that you may need repairs and fresh paint.
If one or more applies to your home, it would be a great idea to get this checked out by a professional who will be able to make an assessment of the damage and work with you to develop a plan of action.