Walls and paint

When to Repaint Your House Exterior in Georgia

Signs your exterior paint is wearing out and the best seasons to repaint in west Georgia's heat, humidity and storms.

Exterior paint does more than make a house look good. It's the first layer keeping water out of your siding and trim. In west Georgia, that paint takes a beating from sun, humidity, summer storms and spring pollen, so it pays to know the signs that tell you when to paint your house exterior again.

Signs Your Exterior Paint Is Failing

Walk around the house on a clear day and look for these:

• Peeling or flaking. Paint lifting off the surface means water is getting behind it or the paint has lost its grip.
• Cracking or "alligatoring." A pattern of cracks like reptile skin means the paint has gotten brittle.
• Chalking. Rub your hand on the siding. If it comes away with a powdery residue, the paint is breaking down from the sun.
• Fading. Sun-facing walls often fade first. Fading by itself is cosmetic, but it's an early warning.
• Bare wood showing. Any bare spots on trim, fascia or siding let water soak right in.
• Mildew that keeps coming back. Shady, damp sides of the house grow mildew. Paint that's worn thin holds onto it.
• Failed caulk. Gaps around windows, doors and trim joints let water get behind the paint.

If you see soft or spongy wood while you're looking, that's rot, not just bad paint. Paint won't fix it. The rotted wood has to be replaced first.

How Georgia Weather Affects Exterior Paint

Our climate is hard on paint in a few specific ways:

• Heat and sun break paint down faster, especially on south and west walls.
• Humidity keeps wood damp and gives mildew a place to grow.
• Heavy summer storms drive rain into any gap in caulk or paint.
• Pine pollen coats everything in spring. Painting over it leaves a gritty finish that doesn't stick well.
• Red clay splashes up onto the lower siding and stains it.

The Best Time to Paint

Most paint labels list a temperature range and say not to paint when rain is due. In general:

• Spring (after the heaviest pollen) and fall are usually the best windows.
• Avoid painting in direct mid-day summer sun. Paint can dry too fast and leave lap marks or blister.
• Avoid painting when dew is likely to settle on fresh paint in the evening.
• Plan around a stretch of dry days, not just one.

How to Prep for Exterior Painting

Prep is what makes a paint job last. If you're doing it yourself:

1. Check for lead. If your home was built before 1978, have the paint tested before you scrape or sand.
2. Wash the siding. Use a garden hose and a soft brush with a mild cleaner to get off dirt, pollen and mildew. Let it dry for a day or two.
3. Scrape loose paint. Get everything that's lifting. Sand the edges so they don't show through.
4. Repair wood. Replace rotted trim or boards. Fill small gaps and nail holes with exterior filler.
5. Caulk. Recaulk joints around windows, doors and trim. Don't caulk the bottom edges of lap siding; those gaps let water drain out. Our guide on caulking windows and doors covers this in detail.
6. Prime bare wood. Use an exterior primer made for the surface.
7. Paint. Two coats of a quality exterior paint usually hold up better than one heavy coat.

Safety Notes

• Ladder work is the riskiest part of exterior painting. Set ladders on firm, level ground, keep three points of contact, and never reach far to the side.
• Stay well clear of overhead power lines with ladders and poles.
• Don't scrape or sand lead paint without proper precautions.

When It Makes Sense to Hire It Out

Touching up a porch rail or a shed is a fine weekend project. A full house, especially a two-story one, is a lot of ladder time and a lot of prep. That's where most people decide to hand it off.

With our exterior painting service, we handle the prep, wood repair and painting. If we find rotted trim or porch boards along the way, we'll show you and talk through options. Porches tend to rot first, so our guide to porch wood rot prevention is worth a read too. For porch boards and railings that need more than paint, see porch repair.

We don't do roofing. If we spot problems with shingles or flashing while we're up there, we'll let you know so you can call a roofer.

Get a Free Exterior Painting Estimate

Text us a few photos of your siding and trim, or call (706) 594-5049. You can also use our free estimate form. Pricing depends on the size of the house and how much prep it needs, and the estimate is always free.