Home Decorating Ideas - Plotting Your Home Improvement Projects This Summer

(ARA) – “An Englishman’s home is his castle." Clearly his cousins across the Atlantic share the same sentiment. In fact, Americans spend over $4.8 billion annually on home maintenance services.

The elements wreak havoc on a home’s exterior, and summer finds many homeowners making lists and planning for projects around the house.

“For many Americans, their home is their largest investment,” says Charles Chase, president of CertaPro Painters, the largest North American residential painting company. “It’s therefore vital to stay abreast of its maintenance, including repainting.”

Here are 7 telltale signs that it’s time to paint your home:

1. Chalking: The formation of a fine powder on paint surfaces occurs after long-time weathering. Chalking may also occur if poor quality paint was used, over-thinned or was spread too thin or not primed and sealed. Left unchecked, chalking causes color fading.

2. Scaling or Cracking: Paint begins to split, giving way to severe cracks. Cracking can be caused by over thinning; poor surface preparation; painting under cool or windy conditions; or, in multiple layers of old paint. The only remedy is complete removal.

3. Flaking: If cracking is left unchecked, paint chips are loosened and peel off.

4. “Alligatoring”: Long-term cracking results in deep fissures akin to alligator skin. Complete removal is the only treatment.

5. Lead Threats: Today, with almost 50 percent of the U.S. housing stock at least 35 years old, many homeowners wish to address the threat of lead-based paint since it was banned by the government in 1978. Peeling lead-based paint needs immediate removal. Complete removal is the only remedy.

6. Discoloration: Discoloration often appears when shrubs, vines or trellises are removed.

7. Loose caulking: Around window and door panes, this can give rise to rotting and further disrepair.

The best results come from proper preparation and quality materials. When a homeowner has determined it’s time to renew the exterior of his house with a fresh coat of paint, many find exterior painting too challenging to take on themselves due to scaffolding needs, or simply because they want to allow themselves more leisure time by the pool or at a barbecue with family and friends. Hiring professionals, like CertaPro Painters, enables homeowners to rest assured that all preparation work, painting and cleanup will be performed on time and on budget with not a dirty paintbrush left behind.

CertaPro Painters now operates across America and internationally. For more information, contact (800) 462-3782 or visit www.certapro.com.

Courtesy of ARA Content