Giving your home a fresh coat of paint is a relatively inexpensive and an effective way for
you enhance the appearance of your interior. In fact, one of the quickest ways for you to give
your house a makeover is by painting the interior.
However, before having that new layer of paint, there’s probably a number of questions you
may have about interior painting. And we’re guessing that one of the questions is going to be
how long exactly will an interior paint job last?
Ideally, all homeowners seek for a paint job that not only complements their interior, but also
one that is long-lasting and durable. Thus, this post seeks to provide you with general
information on the different factors that can affect how long a paint job lasts.
The paint’s quality
This is an obvious factor which can drastically impact how long your paint job can last. High-quality paints are more than capable of lasting longer, while a lower-end paint will only last for some time before it starts to crack and peel all over.
A high-quality paint can be characterized by the quality and quantity of its binder. Essentially, a binder is a part of the paint which is responsible for binding the paint’s pigment to your walls. So, the higher the quality and quantity of binders, the longer and better the paint is when applied onto your house.
In addition, high-quality paints are also often easier to use and dry while being durable and weatherproof. One downside of these high-quality paints are their premium and slightly more expensive costs.
Your Paint’s Color
This may appear slightly odd, but it is definitely a fact that what color you choose to paint on your walls is capable of affecting how long a paint job can last.
For your paint job to last as long as possible, you should consider using the following colors:
- White
- Green
- Blue
- Gray
Regardless of different kinds and shades, these colors are all known for their ability to withstand the test of time. Not only do they last long, these colors are also quite popular in general among recent homeowners!
On the other hand, lighter and more vibrant colors are not long-lasting and you may find yourself having to redo the paint job all over again sooner than you think.
Location of Paint
This is another big factor when it comes to how long a paint job can last. For starters, how long a coat of paint can last varies depending of where it is painted around the household. The following is a list of some places commonly found within a house and how long do paint jobs last around it:
Kitchen
This is perhaps one of the most heavily used part of a house. Not only do the cooking and eating go on around here, but it is also one of the places where the entire family mostly gathers. Together with prolonged usage, it is not uncommon to find that the paint job around the kitchen lasts only around 8-10 years. After 10 years at most, you’ll likely notice that the paint will become increasingly faded while cracking and peeling in some areas. It is also worth noting that there are certain places in the kitchen which the paint job may last considerably less, and this is often attributable to the amount of cooking done; smoke, grease, and heat from cooking can deteriorate the durability of a paint-job.
Bathroom
This is another area in a house which is regularly used, and thus, the paint job around it will generally last shorter compared to other areas of the house. On average, the paint job in a bathroom that is consistently used every day will last approximately 3-4 years.
One of the main reasons why a bathroom’s paint job is much shorter in terms of how long it can last is due to the steam produced when we shower (assuming that its occupants do shower in hot water).
When the paint job is constantly exposed to steam, the binding component which holds the paint to the wall will start to break down and this will lead to the colors of the wall become duller. However, if you do happen to have a guest bathroom which is rarely and seldom used, its paint job could potentially last up to 5 or 6 years.
Living Room
This area of the house is also heavily used like the kitchen and bathroom, with the only difference being that it’s not exposed to smoke, grease, heat, and steam. Thus, speaking generally, the living room’s paint job is capable of lasting longer. On average, a living room’s paint job can last up to 10 years, if not more.
Bedroom
A bedroom is also similar to the living room in the sense that it’s not exposed to anything that can quickly wear out the paint job. Even if you are using your bedroom for more than 8 hours a day, the paint job in your bedroom can last up to 10-12 years before it needs a repaint.
