Good-quality paint is designed to last and protect your interior walls, but unfortunately, it’s not designed to last forever. There will come a time when you have to repaint your walls. If you aren’t too familiar with painting, knowing when your walls need a fresh coat of paint can make you feel like you’re a little out of your depth. But there are a few signs that’ll let you know when to slap on a new coat.
Signs of wear and tear
One of the more obvious reasons for needing to repaint the interior of your home is when there are clear signs of excessive wear and tear. The paint on your walls will fade, get scuff marks, dents, or even chips over time; it’s unavoidable. However, every time you see a dent or scuff on your paint, it doesn’t mean you have to repaint the interior of your home. Touching up these areas goes a long way if you do it when you see it.
If the walls have multiple areas of chips, scuffs, or fading, or if they have any other kind of wear and tear that’s become extremely noticeable, you may want to consider repainting them.
Discolourations
Paint is designed to protect the interior of your home for years, but it will eventually fade and discolour. Normally, this is an indication that the paint is no longer as effective as it once was. In many cases, exposure to the sun can be a reason why paint fades. UV rays break down the colours over time, making them look dull. Generally, the best way to bring life to the interior of your house again would be to repaint it.
Stains that don’t come off
Stubborn pains can be a huge eyesore on the walls around your house. But let’s be real, they’re sometimes unavoidable. Whether it’s because you’ve spilled coffee on the wall or one of your kids goes all Van Gogh with a permanent marker, it happens. Usually, when there are stains that can’t be removed with chemical cleaners or other methods, the best way to deal with them is to simply repaint the wall.
Note here for the parents. If your kid used a permanent marker on the wall, you may want them to get a bit older before you repaint it. Just incase they do it again. Cleaning the walls off, using a primer, and repainting your walls can give them a nice fresh look that will last.
Cracking
Cracks generally develop on the walls because of a deeper issue. Sometimes, it’s just the paint that cracks over the wall’s surface, showing that it may not have been mixed properly or from general wear and tear, or it could be structural cracks, caused by the foundations or walls shifting slightly. Either way, they can look horrible in a home, especially if they are larger cracks. For that reason, they would need to be fixed. Larger cracks generally need to be filled, primed, and painted over to ensure the fix remains for a while.
You need something different
Sometimes, we just need a change. You don’t need a reason like wear and tear, cracking, or water damage to want something different. Maybe your home has traditional old colours and you want to go for something that’s more modern or natural. Or, you might want to liven up the home for your kids a bit, incorporating fun colours. Whatever the reason, repairing your home can completely transform its atmosphere!
Moisture damage
Moisture damage is progressive and generally gets worse with time. It happens when the wall holds more moisture than it should, causing dark spots, mould, or mildew to form on the walls. You’ll generally notice it in darker rooms or rooms that hold a lot of moisture, like bathrooms and kitchens. In some cases, you might find that the wall right against the bathroom on the other side shows moisture coming through. If this happens, you need to address the moisture issue first.
Check to see if there’s a burst pipe or maybe the walls on the bathroom side aren’t sealed properly. If so, you must seal the walls on both sides before repainting.
Hire a professional
If you notice that your walls need a fresh coat of paint, then it might be time to get a professional painting contractor in to get the job done. We recommend taking a look at this helpful page from DC Decorators & Painters if you haven’t found a reputable contractor yet. DC Decorators are some of the best residential house painters in Australia. They have been providing premium painting services for years, offering a professional and fast service, limiting any disruptions painting your home would cause.
Final thoughts
You might think that if you find any of the above issues, you can leave it until you have the money to repaint. While this may be the case with things like faded paint, other issues like moisture damage or cracks tend to get progressively worse with time. So, if you can, try repainting your interior sooner rather than later.
With a Master in Architectural Studies from University of Pennysylvania, Marwa Haydar has pioneered living spaces since 2005. Her expertise, initially honed in a prestigious architectural firm, is evident in her approach to creating environments. Marwa became part of our team in 2019 and has since been a driving force in our home improvement section, known for her practical yet stylish solutions. She’s been spearheading our design workshops since then, infusing her passion for teaching into her work. In her leisure time, Marwa enjoys exploring historic architecture and is an enthusiastic pottery hobbyist, further enriching her understanding of form and texture.
