As homeowners, we ponder a lot when decorating our homes, taking special care to choose aesthetically pleasing and functional colors. However, newly painted walls lose luster over time, necessitating regular upkeep to preserve their aesthetic value and protect the wall.
Exactly how often should walls be painted? The interior house painting experts at VanDerKolk Painting outline common signs indicating it’s time to repaint and approximately how frequently interior walls need to be painted on average.
Signs Its Time to Repaint the Walls
Knowing whether to repaint your walls is easy if you keep an eye out for these telltale indicators. To keep your home in excellent condition, check the walls regularly for signs of wear and tear. Below are a few signs to look for.
Discolored or Peeling Walls
Paint can lose its luster and natural color after being exposed to environmental factors like sunlight for an extended period of time. Walls that have faded or changed color make a place seem outdated and unwelcoming.
Paint can also start to peel for a number of different reasons. Paint will peel if walls weren’t properly prepped before painting or if the walls were subject to a leak, high humidity, high temperatures, or too much sunlight. Paint can also peel if too many layers of paint are added to a wall. Whatever the cause may be, walls with peeling paint will need to be fixed and repainted.
Chipped or Flaking Paint
Chipped, cracking, or bubbling paint is a sign of a poorly applied coat of paint. Low-quality paint or improper surface preparation are common causes of this problem. Flaking paint on walls not only looks unsightly, but it can also make them susceptible to water damage. To maintain a tidy appearance, it is necessary to repaint the walls and restore their structural integrity.
Obvious Flaws
Walls acquire stains, scratches, and scuffs, particularly in highly trafficked areas over time. Stains from spills, fingerprints, and regular wear and tear can be tough to remove. If your walls have been marred by stubborn stains even after washing, your best bet is to repaint them for a fresh look.
Factors to Consider When Choosing To Repaint
When deciding when to repaint your walls, it's important to consider the paint's durability and the longevity of the options available. Choosing the correct paint type and finish for your walls can highly impact how long the paint will last.
Paint Lifespan
There is a wide range of lifespans for interior wall paint. How long paint lasts on your interior walls will be largely dependent on the type of paint used, how it was applied, the surface material you’re painting, and the environmental conditions of the room.
Generally speaking, interior paint tends to last longer than exterior paint. In some cases, interior paint could last over 15 years. There is no hard and fast rule about how often you should paint your interior walls. Typically, walls will need to be repainted every 5-10 years. If it’s been five years or more since your walls were last painted you may want to inspect your walls and consider a new coat of paint.
Type Of Paint
The kind of paint you use significantly impacts how frequently your walls will need to be repainted. Various paints exhibit different levels of durability. For example, oil-based paints can withstand a lot of wear and tear because of their durability and robustness. Conversely, water-based paints are simple to use and dry quickly, but they require frequent touch-ups.
Additionally, different paint finishes, such as flat, semi-gloss, high gloss, eggshell, and satin can affect how long interior paint lasts. Every finish has its specific advantages and drawbacks in terms of longevity, stain resistance, and ease of washing. Glossy coatings can endure more wear and tear without showing scratches or smudges than flat ones. As a general rule, the best finishes for each room in the house are as follows:
- Kitchen: High gloss or semi-gloss
- Family room: Satin
- Dining room: Eggshell
- Bedroom: Flat or matte
- Bathroom: Semi-gloss
Our painters can help you decide which types of paint and finishes would be best for the various rooms in your home when you request a free estimate.
Wall condition and Previous Paint Quality
Wall condition and paint quality will largely determine whether you need to completely repaint your walls or apply a few touch-ups. Deteriorating paint may require immediate attention, whereas slight wear or tear may only need minor touch-ups.
Taking stock of the paint's current state is the first step in establishing whether or not your walls will need to be repainted. Check for wear and tear, like peeling, chipping, and fading. Signs like these indicate the need for a fresh coat of paint to restore the surface's look and preserve it from damage.
The frequency with which you should repaint is also heavily influenced by the quality of the last paint job. When a paint job is done properly with high-quality materials, it tends to last longer. If the previous paint job was carefully done using long-lasting paint supplies, the walls might not need another coat of paint for a longer period of time.
High-Foot Traffic
Wall damage is common in high-traffic rooms. The walls in places like kitchens, corridors, and kid's playrooms tend to show signs of wear and tear more quickly. This means you may have to repaint such rooms more often than the rest of your house. It is recommended to paint high-traffic areas every three to five years to retain their look in tandem with the various other factors.
Personal Preference And Style Changes
Sometimes walls aren’t repainted because they need to be. Homeowners often change the color of their walls due to personal choice and fluctuating interior design trends. If you find yourself craving a new appearance or want to add fresh aesthetic elements to your room, repainting the walls can be a more effective and inexpensive alternative to a full remodel.
Trends in interior decoration affect the regularity with which a room must be repainted since keeping up with the most recent fashions is an important part of maintaining a room's value. If you want your interior to seem as up-to-date as possible and in line with current design trends, you may have to repaint the walls more frequently. Interior design trends tend to evolve every two to five years.
Maintenance and Precautions
You can keep your freshly painted walls looking great for years by following basic maintenance steps, using common sense safety precautions, and consulting an expert when necessary. Keep in mind that maintaining your walls with even a little effort can greatly increase their lifespan.
Keeping the Walls Fresh & Clean
It is crucial to give your freshly painted walls the care and maintenance they need to last long. Cleaning walls encompasses dusting and washing them regularly.
Dusting
To keep your walls in pristine condition, it's important to dust them regularly. If you notice dust on the surface, simply use a feather duster or a soft cloth to gently brush it off. This will prevent grime build-up and maintain the quality of the paint.
Washing
Wash the walls with a mild detergent solution if they collect dirt. Before washing the entire wall, test a small patch with a solution of mild detergent or wall cleaner diluted in warm water to ensure it doesn't damage the paint. Then, using a gentle circular motion, clean the walls with a soft sponge. Make sure to be gentle as you wash. Vigorous scrapping could scratch the paint.
Long-term protection
Outside of regular cleaning, there are a few additional things you can do to protect wall paint so that it lasts longer.
Guard Against Moisture
Peeling paint and mold development are signs of too much moisture and humidity. To prevent this, use dehumidifiers in wet areas and maintain enough ventilation in moist areas.
Shield From Sunlight
If your wall has direct exposure to the sun, it can lose its color and sheen. Protect your walls from the sun by hanging drapes, shades, or window coverings. Apply UV-resistant paint or transparent topcoat for even extra protection.
Soft Cleaning Supplies
Instead of using abrasive scrub brushes, wipe your freshly painted walls with gentle towels or sponges. Protect the paint job from scratches and other damage by using soft tools.
Is It Time For New Wall Paint?
Paint on interior walls lasts significantly longer when applied by a professional who uses proper painting techniques and selects the right type of paint to meet the needs of each room. Hiring a professional to paint your home’s interior walls is an investment that pays off in terms of both return on investment and maximizing the longevity of a paint job.
If your interior walls need a new coat of paint, our interior house painters can help. We’ve been serving West Michigan homeowners since 1991 and we offer estimates that are entirely free. Our experienced painters can evaluate the walls and rooms you need to be painted and recommend the best paint and approach for the job. We work quickly and efficiently and communicate with you throughout the process to minimize disruption in your home. You can save yourself the time and headache of having to paint walls yourself. You can request a free estimate by calling (616) 202-6570 or by filling out an online contact form.
