Why and How to Paint Your House's Exterior

The exterior of a home is its first impression. It's also the part of a home that has to face all sorts of weather, and rightly deserves to be taken care of. However, it often seems like a daunting task when it comes to giving the exterior of your home a painted facelift. There are many long lasting benefits of painting the exterior of any home.

Here are some reasons why you should consider painting your home's exterior:

Increases home value, enhances curb appeal
The outside of your home is usually the only part of it that a passerby will see. First impressions last a lifetime, so why not make a good one? Painting the exterior of your home will give it an entirely fresh look and can cover up permanent, unappealing stains. Not only will you be the envy of the neighborhood, but your home will be more attractive to potential buyers. If you're in the market to sell, exterior painting is an inexpensive way to greatly add to your home's real estate value.

Protects the exterior
A house is built to withstand harsh weather. A home can prematurely rot because of the snow, salt and ice it bears every winter. However, once wood begins to rot, it cannot be painted over. Painting the exterior not only makes it look more charming, but it also adds a protective barrier to the home. By decreasing the risks of weather-related damage, painting the exterior actually saves your from future, much more costly repairs.

Maintains structural integrity
Creating a defensive barrier doesn't stay isolated to just winter weather – rain and dew can soften, swell and decay a home's structure. If left unprotected, wood is more susceptible to water damage. When a home's structure begins to decay, it can lead to replacing more than what you would hope – structural decay can lead to replacement of all the siding, or can expose critically architected areas of the home. This exposure is a welcome to unwanted insects like termites, who will speed up the damage the water had started.

Adding a fresh coat of paint will seal and protect the structural integrity of your home. A coat of exterior paint also prevents mold and mildew and seals off exposed areas prone to termites.

Extends siding lifetime
Finally, exterior painting is a proactive step in extending the lifetime of its siding. Exterior siding is built to last 50 years. While this is a long time, siding usually doesn't make it that far. Although siding is a presentable cosmetic feature of your home, it does help to keep your home clean from the outdoors and serves as an aesthetic to your property. Painting a siding's exterior hinders damage that could cut its lifespan drastically.

Painting the exterior of your home brings with it a slew of benefits. Now getting the look and seal your home needs is best done by a professional. Professional painters are sure to deliver the best quality and the optimal number of coats, giving your home a charming look with all the preventative benefits.