Bonnie Marcus
For many Arizona homeowners, the only time we think about painting the exterior is when we get that letter from our HOA saying it’s time. At this point, it is likely bad enough that you can notice it from the street, or worse, down the block! It’s never “too late” to paint, and the longer you wait to fix issues, the more expensive it will get as your home’s condition deteriorates more and more.
Here in SunBird, most of us live in stucco or wood-siding homes, and the problems we see in exterior paint conditions are very similar for each style. To know if your home needs to be painted, take a walk around the exterior and inspect the following areas for problems:
* Run your hand over the walls on the south and west side of your home. Do you see any chalking paint coming off on your hand? Chalking paint is a sign that your paint coating has completely broken down and has literally turned to dust. This is like your winter jacket you were wearing turning to dust… time to get a new coat! (No pun intended)
* Inspect the stucco for cracks around the windows, by corners and along the foundation. If you see any cracks that are larger than a business card, it’s time to paint. Those cracks will allow water or bugs to infiltrate which can create larger issues.
* Inspect the stucco for any areas coming loose; rub your hand over these areas. If stucco comes off, it’s time to get it repaired. Loose stucco may be caused by either water hitting the wall from sprinklers or even an issue with how the stucco was originally applied.
* Do you have peeling paint on your foundation walls? Can you see the wood through the paint on your fascia boards? If so, it’s time to paint!
* Clean out gutters. They’ve likely accumulated leaves and grime/sediment from the wind and dust.
* Repair/replace damaged or discolored sun screens.
* It’s monsoon season! Check the exterior drainage. Will rain water flow away from the house? Puddles should not stand around your home for more than 24 hours.
* Clear dead plants and trim shrubs. Plants can weasel their way into cracks and holes on the exterior of your home, causing damage and shortened longevity. Nip that in the bud before it’s an issue.
* Take care of any insect problems you may have. Summer is their playground. You probably won’t have to look too hard to notice any insect problems. Ants, spiders, termites and scorpions are all common and fairly easy to take care of. Keep cobwebs clear, have bug poison handy, and make sure all doors close tightly.