The actual timing is not necessarily the calendar: most exterior homes require painting ca. 5 to 7 years, while interiors (finished areas such as kitchens, bathrooms, bedrooms, etc.) require painting ca. 10 years. Even if the wall is seemingly “tablaz” from a distance, chunks of render that show a chalky surface and hairline cracks around windows, and window skins that appear dull in daylight, look the wrong color in one direction compared to the other, indicate a need for a repaint.

This is the abbreviated version. The longer answer would be, “most people do not notice any deterioration in their paint until someone else does.” This means that it takes long enough for the change that people do not notice it.

By Thomas Hughes, Jr.

A client approached us in Madeley for a quotation for redoing her front fence, but on passing we were told that her home was “probably not in need” at the time at all. It was repainted eight years before, to her eye, and was the same as it always was. While discussing house color and shapes outdoors, we escorted her as we walked around the exterior, and we noticed the chalky white marks that she hadn’t noticed on all of our hands since touching the render, the network of fine cracks around the garage door frame, and that the color on the west-facing wall had eroded substantially more than on the shaded side of the house.

But then, she should know that nothing looked like there was a blight; nothing looked as if anything were broken, which is the issue. Paint failure is a gradual process; if you see the same wall every day, you are better able to acclimate yourself to its deterioration. The signs were not apparent unless viewed with fresh eyes, people running a hand across the surface. They could see for themselves what we were referring to, and after the repaint, she did not have any issues till the cracking turned into a real moisture problem, and not just one on a cosmetic level.

Why does it not look the same if it is fine? Why does it not look the same when it’s fine?

The job of paint includes 2 aspects: it has to look good, and preserve the surface under it from the sun, moisture, and temperature changes. The second job typically fails before the first one does. Hence, a wall can still be considered decent to look at, even though the paint film below has already ceased to actually perform the functions of sealing and protecting the wall surface.

This is the pitfall that many homeowners experience. From ten meters away, the paint may appear to be “okay” but, at a microscopic level, can be chalking, cracking, or leaking at joins and edges. When it is really a problem, the underlying surface (particularly window frames, render and weatherboard) is likely to be suffering damage that would be more expensive to repair than a superficial paint job would have been.

Telltale Signs of a Poor Paint Job: It can be an updated painting even!

It’s not always the age; it is the job that is an issue. While it may have been a while since the car was originally painted, here are a few signs that the job wasn’t done correctly.

• In patches, especially around windows or rain gutters, or where moisture is sure to accumulate, such as near sinks and behind appliances
• Open marks of paint brushes or paint rolls which failed to smooth out, despite full cure of paint.
• Patchy colored fur, as if some of the fur inside the panel is different from the use of its neighbors, and/or inconsistent fur coat numbers
• Paint that is easy to scratch with the fingernail, typically as a result of inadequate surface preparation prior to the painting
• The chalky film which just cannot be cleaned off your hand after wiping the wall due to exposure to natural degradation, etc., as compared to normal weathering.

If any of these items appear in the first couple of years after repainting the building, it is most likely not a “wait and see” situation, but indicates that a step was missed somewhere in the preparatory work, priming, or number of coats applied.

But what can be done in a realistic sense? How often should you paint a house?

As a rule of thumb, there is no single number, but it is a good rule of thumb:

• Exterior walls usually require a repaint every 5 to 7 years or sooner with higher exposure to the sun and in coastal areas.
• Interior walls with low traffic can be painted every 7 to 10 years.
• Bathrooms, laundries, etc. are generally in need of more attention more frequently, every 4 to 5 years.
• In Perth, west-facing and north-facing walls are more subject to fad/chalking than the shaded ones because of direct exposure to the excessive heat during the hottest part of the day.

These are beginning dates and not end dates. A good, properly done paint job will last for these ranges, and an improper paint job will probably fail much sooner than this. It’s about the surface, not the calendar!

If a wall’s paint appears dull, it is typically not a stain of dust.

The phrase “Does not require anything else, I believe it’s just a clean” is one of the most frequently heard comments. Sometimes that’s true. However, if the paint is dulling even after washing, and in a room where there is regular natural light, the likely cause of the paint’s dull appearance is that the sheen is dulling, not that it is being coloured by dirt. Cleaning is used to get rid of dust and marks, but not to chemically fix a finish that’s being degraded by UV and/or aging. If it does not experience a full wipe down that will bring the shine, it is a sign it’s the paint’s time and not a maintenance problem.

Looking for a few things to check off before contacting anyone.

Most of these can be spotted without any expert. Here are a couple of checks that you might want to make on your own:

• Simply run your hand along an outside wall in full sun; if there is a chalky white residue on your hand, you know the paint has broken down.
• Pay particular attention to window and door frames; not only are they peeling, but they may have cracks or splitting in them.
• Compare the fading of a shaded wall and a sun-facing wall side by side; it’s easier to notice the fading when compared to one wall than to the other.
• Look for corners and edges that are in close proximity to gutters or downpipes, as they are the first failure sites.

The reasons are compelling why it is beneficial to catch this early.

It’s nearly always less expensive & easier to do it before damage occurs than after. When paint peels down, you will end up paying for more than just paint; you will be paying for surface repairs prior to painting. The key to keeping a repaint a simple task versus a larger one is catching the signs, which may be more subtle than chalking and just dullness.

FAQs

Q: How do I know if my house needs a repaint or just a clean?

Try washing the wall first. If the dullness or chalkiness comes back or doesn’t improve after cleaning, it’s the paint breaking down, not surface dirt.

Q: What’s the biggest early sign of poor paint job quality?

Chalking within the first year or two after painting is usually the clearest sign, along with patchy, uneven color from panel to panel.

Q: How often should I repaint my house in Perth specifically?

Exteriors typically need repainting every 5 to 7 years here, often sooner on north and west-facing walls due to stronger sun exposure.

Q: Can I just repaint over chalky or faded paint without prep?

No. Chalky residue needs to be washed and properly primed before repainting; otherwise the new coat won’t bond properly and will fail early too.

Q: Is a hairline crack around a window frame something to worry about?

Yes, it’s often the first visible sign of movement or moisture getting behind the paint film, and it’s much easier to fix before it spreads.

Not sure if your place actually needs a repaint or just a touch-up?

Get in touch with City Painters WA for a free, no-obligation assessment; we’ll tell you honestly what your home actually needs.