Most people call us because their house looks tired. That's a fine reason to paint. But looking tired and falling apart are two different things. Only one of them costs you money if you wait.
Here's what we check when someone asks if it's time.
Is the paint peeling?
Walk around the outside of your house. Look at the spots that get the most weather: the south and west walls, under the roof edge, and around the windows.
Look for paint that is lifting off the wood. Press your thumbnail on it. If a flake comes off, water is getting behind the paint. That's when waiting starts to cost you.
Dull paint is just a looks problem. Peeling paint is a wood problem.
Does it leave chalk on your hand?
Rub your hand on a sunny wall. If your hand comes back with white powder on it, the sun has worn the paint down.
A little chalk is normal. A lot means the paint is near the end of its life. It's not an emergency, but it's a sign. It also means the next painter has to wash the house well, or the new paint won't stick.
Check the gaps
Look where the trim meets the siding and where two boards meet. Check the bottom ends of boards that run up and down.
Open gaps let water into the wood. Cracked or missing caulk is worth fixing even if you don't paint. It costs a lot less than replacing a rotten board.
Inside is different
Paint inside the house almost never wears out the way outside paint does. Inside, you paint because you want a change.
The only spots to watch are rooms that get wet: bathrooms, laundry rooms, and the wall behind the stove. If paint is peeling above a shower, or a stain keeps coming back, have someone look at it. Something may be going on behind the wall.
When can it wait?
If the paint is dull but not peeling, the caulk is good, and you don't see bare wood, you can usually wait a year or two. Try washing it first. A lot of houses that look tired are just dirty.
We'd rather tell you that than sell you a job you don't need yet. Your house will still be there next spring, and so will we.
Not sure what you're looking at? Take a few photos of the worst spots and send them to us. We'll tell you what we see.