How often should you paint your house exterior? Repaint intervals and what each repaint costs
How long exterior paint lasts on wood, fiber cement, stucco and brick, the signs it is time to repaint, and what a repaint costs on three house sizes, priced by our quote engine.
Exterior paint does not fail all at once. It goes on the south and west walls first, where the sun is hardest, and at the trim and sills, where water sits. Here is how long each surface holds paint, how to tell when yours is due, and what the repaint costs.
How long exterior paint lasts
Typical intervals between repaints. Full sun, coastal air and poor prep last time all shorten them.
| Surface | Repaint every |
|---|---|
| Wood siding and trim | 3–7 years |
| Engineered wood | 10–15 years |
| Fiber cement | 12–15 years |
| Stucco | 5–10 years |
| Painted brick | 10–20 years |
The paint job matters as much as the surface:
- One coat, light prep: lasts about 4–6 yrs. Same colour over sound paint only.
- Two coats, full prep: lasts about 8–12 yrs. Most houses, and every colour change.
- Premium paint and repairs: lasts about 12–15 yrs. Rotten boards replaced, top-line paint.
Signs it is time
- Chalking: rub the wall and your hand comes away coloured. The binder has broken down; the paint no longer protects.
- Peeling and cracking, especially at sills, the bottoms of boards and around gutters.
- Split caulk at trim, windows and corners, which lets water behind the paint.
- Bare wood anywhere. Wood left bare through a wet season starts to rot, and rot turns a repaint into a repair.
- Fading on the sunny walls against the shaded ones.
What a repaint costs
| Type | 1 storey, 180 ft around | 2 storeys, 160 ft around | 2 storeys, 220 ft around |
|---|---|---|---|
| One coat, light prep | $2,415 | $4,099 | $5,542 |
| Two coats, full prep | $4,147 | $7,178 | $9,776 |
| Premium paint + repairs | $6,330 | $11,059 | $15,112 |
Priced by the same engine our free quote tool uses, on the wall area of each house, before trim packages and repairs. Painters set their own rates; for what a quote should include, see exterior house painting cost.
When to schedule it
Spring and fall. Paint needs dry walls and temperatures above the minimum on the can (often 35–50°F), and in Texas summer the sunny walls get too hot to paint in the afternoon. Good painters book spring work over the winter, so ask early.
Common questions
How often should a house exterior be painted?
Every 5 to 10 years for most houses: sooner for wood in full sun, later for fiber cement.
What does a repaint cost?
About $4,147 for two coats on a one-storey house 180 ft around, and $7,178 on a two-storey house 160 ft around.
What are the signs a house needs repainting?
Chalking, peeling, split caulk, bare wood and faded sunny walls.
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