If watching paint dry is the dictionary definition of boredom, watching it fade and deteriorate is something else entirely. Not that you’d literally sit around and stare at your walls, but keeping an eye on your interiors is something every house-proud person should be doing.
At Homm CPS, we often find that our customers in Chevy chase, MD, Washington, DC and across the region in general don’t really know when to repaint their interiors. For some, it’s a case of leaving things for years (or even decades) until the whole thing falls into a poor state of repair. For others, they simply assume they need to paint their interiors every couple of years, even if things still look pretty much perfect.
Needless to say, common sense would suggest that the answer lies somewhere in the middle. On one hand, there’s no point painting interiors that still look great. On the other, it makes sense to keep your interiors looking pristine, rather than putting things off indefinitely.
To put the whole thing into some kind of context, here are five clear and unmistakable signs that the time has come to repaint your interior spaces:
Fading & Dated Colors
First up, it isn’t always easy to notice interior paint that’s fading. As it’s something you’re exposed to daily and the process is gradual, it often goes completely undetected in the background. Nevertheless, find a hidden spot that shows what your paint used to look like and you could be in for quite a surprise.
Alternatively, it could simply be that your once-chic color choices have fallen out of favor with modern interior decorating trends. Or perhaps, you simply don’t like them anymore. If your interiors aren’t bringing you the same joy and happiness they used to, it’s time to think about sprucing things up.
Peeling & Cracking
Significantly more likely to occur as time passes, paint that peels and cracks can be indicative of an underlying issue. Your home may be excessively humid, there may be dampness in the surface itself or the material that was painted could be damaged. Alternatively, it could also be that the paint used in the first place was of comparatively low quality, making peeling and cracking somewhat inevitable.
Unfortunately, problems with cracking and peeling paint don’t simply go away on their own. Nor do they slow down or stop once they’re started. It’s a problem that’s only going to get worse, so you may as well take care of it as quickly as you can.
Stains and Marks
Some types of paint are borderline impossible to clean. From grubby fingerprints to the accumulation of everyday dirt and grime, a previously pristine paint job ends up looking anything but inspiring. Sadly, taking to it with a sponge or cloth only seems to make matters worse.
In which case, you may want to consider learning from your mistakes. Along with repainting your interiors, it’s worth considering a more durable type of paint that’s easier to keep clean. Particularly where kids’ bedrooms and high-traffic areas of the home are concerned, we recommend checking out paints that are specifically designed with easy and effective cleaning in mind.
Mildew & Mold
Again, the presence of mold or mildew suggests an underlying problem that should probably be addressed. More often than not, it could be something as simple as poor ventilation, resulting in excessive moisture buildup. Though it could be something more serious, such as a leaking pipe or moisture issue within the wall or ceiling itself.
This is why simply painting over areas affected by mold and mildew really isn’t the way to go. Consider carefully why the issue may have occurred in the first place, or have the experts conduct an inspection if preferred.
Relocation
Last but not least, there’s little you can do to improve your interiors more at an affordable price than to treat them to a fresh coat of paint. This is precisely why real estate agents worldwide universally recommend painting your interiors in full, before putting your property on the market.
Stick with something relatively neutral, as anything too personal to you and your family could make it difficult for prospective buyers to picture themselves making it their own. It’s the classic case of creating something of a blank canvas, though one of absolute flawlessness from top to bottom.
For more information on any aspect of interior painting or to discuss our services in more detail, contact a member of the team at Homm CPS anytime.