Exterior paint in the East Valley wears out from sun and heat more than from anything else. Rain matters too, mostly during monsoon season, when storms find the cracks that months of sun have opened.
What wears exterior paint out here
- Sun on the south and west walls. These walls get the hardest afternoon light, so they fade and chalk first.
- Heat on fascia, trim and doors. Wood and metal expand and shrink every day, and the caulk and paint around them crack.
- Monsoon storms. Wind and rain push water into open cracks in stucco and failed caulk.
Signs it is time to repaint
- Color that looks washed out on the sunny sides but not the shady ones.
- A chalky film on your hand when you rub the wall.
- Peeling or bubbling on fascia, trim, doors or the garage door.
- Hairline cracks in stucco and gaps in the caulk around windows.
Why prep decides how long it lasts
Tim Rochford puts it this way on our blog: "In more than 25 years, I've learned that repaint longevity depends almost entirely on preparation." Cracked stucco gets patched, failed caulk gets cut out and replaced, and loose paint gets scraped before any new paint goes on.
If your house shows two or more of these signs, ask for an estimate. Tim walks the house with you and writes down what it needs.
