How often should I repaint the exterior of a PNW home?

In the greater PNW, expect to repaint a well-prepped exterior every 8–12 years. Homes on windward exposures (south/west facing, no tree cover) hit the shorter end. The single biggest factor is the caulking and prep before paint — a cheap paint job over bad prep fails in 4 years.

How do I know if I have wood rot in my siding or trim?

Take a screwdriver and press firmly (not hard) against suspect wood — mainly the bottom edge of trim, corner boards, and any spot with peeling paint. Sound wood resists; rotten wood dents or crumbles. In the PNW, rot almost always starts at horizontal surfaces or trim-to-siding joints where water sits.

Exterior & Weatherproofing · Siding & Exterior Paint

Siding and Exterior Paint — real answers.

Repaint schedules, siding repairs, caulking, wood rot.

All questions in this topic

How often should I repaint the exterior of a PNW home?
In the greater PNW, expect to repaint a well-prepped exterior every 8–12 years. Homes on windward exposures (south/west facing, no tree cover) hit the shorter end. The single biggest factor is the caulking and prep before paint — a cheap paint job over bad prep fails in 4 years.
How do I know if I have wood rot in my siding or trim?
Take a screwdriver and press firmly (not hard) against suspect wood — mainly the bottom edge of trim, corner boards, and any spot with peeling paint. Sound wood resists; rotten wood dents or crumbles. In the PNW, rot almost always starts at horizontal surfaces or trim-to-siding joints where water sits.

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