What’s Really Lurking Under Your Old Paint?
So you’ve decided it’s finally time to repaint your home’s exterior. Maybe the color’s faded. Maybe you’re just tired of looking at those peeling spots near the garage. Either way, you’re probably thinking about colors and costs right now.
But here’s the thing most homeowners don’t expect: that fresh coat of paint? It’s going to tell you stories about your house you didn’t know existed.
When crews start prepping surfaces for Exterior Painting Services in Smyrna TN, they often uncover problems that have been hiding for years. Sometimes decades. And honestly, that’s not a bad thing. Catching these issues now beats discovering them during a rainstorm or when you’re trying to sell your place.
Let’s walk through what painting contractors typically find—and what it means for your home.
Rotted Wood Hiding in Plain Sight
Wood rot is sneaky. Really sneaky. Your trim might look perfectly fine from the street, but once someone starts scraping and sanding? That’s when the soft spots show up.
The most common trouble areas include:
- Window sills and frames where water pools
- Door trim that’s been exposed to sprinklers
- Fascia boards behind clogged gutters
- Corner boards near foundation splash zones
Paint actually does a decent job masking rot. The surface might feel solid enough. But prep work requires getting down to bare wood in damaged areas, and that’s when the truth comes out. Small soft spots can usually be treated with wood hardener. Bigger sections? Those need replacement before any paint goes on.
Why This Matters Long-Term
Painting over rotted wood is basically throwing money away. The new paint will fail within a year or two because the substrate underneath can’t hold it. Worse, rot spreads. What starts as a small problem in your window frame can work its way into the wall framing itself.
Caulking Failures You Never Noticed
That flexible stuff around your windows and doors? It’s working harder than you think. Caulk serves as your home’s first defense against water intrusion at every joint and seam.
And it doesn’t last forever. Most exterior caulk breaks down after 5-10 years depending on sun exposure and temperature swings. Gaps form. Cracks appear. Water finds its way in.
During surface preparation for Exterior Painting Services in Smyrna TN, contractors examine every caulked joint. They’re looking for:
- Cracks or separation from surfaces
- Sections that have pulled away completely
- Discoloration indicating moisture behind the caulk
- Hardened, brittle texture that’s lost flexibility
Re-caulking before painting isn’t optional. It’s necessary. And catching failed caulk now prevents water damage that could cost thousands to repair later.
Foundation Cracks That Need Attention
Painting crews spend time working around your foundation line. They’re down there masking, protecting landscaping, and prepping lower sections of siding. And they notice things.
Small hairline cracks in concrete or block foundations are pretty normal—houses settle over time. But larger cracks, stair-step patterns in brick or block, or cracks that show recent movement? Those warrant a closer look from a structural professional.
Exterior Painting in Smyrna TN often brings these foundation concerns to light simply because someone’s finally paying close attention to areas that usually get ignored. That visibility is actually valuable.
Gutter and Fascia Damage
When’s the last time you really looked at your gutters? Not from the ground—actually looked at them up close?
Painting contractors work from ladders and lifts. They’re eye-level with your roofline. And they frequently find:
- Gutters pulling away from fascia boards
- Fascia wood rotting behind gutter brackets
- Standing water damage from improper gutter slope
- Rusted sections that have corroded through
Your fascia boards can’t be painted properly if they’re compromised. Professionals like Innovations Painting LLC recommend addressing gutter-related damage before moving forward with exterior coating work. Otherwise you’re just covering up problems that’ll resurface quickly.
Insect Damage and Pest Entry Points
Carpenter bees, termites, woodpeckers, wasps—they all leave evidence behind. And that evidence becomes obvious during paint preparation.
Carpenter bee holes in fascia and trim are pretty common. They look like someone drilled perfect half-inch circles into your wood. Termite damage shows up as hollow-sounding sections or visible mud tubes. Woodpecker damage appears as irregular holes, usually in patterns.
Beyond the damage itself, these areas create entry points. Bugs get in. Water gets in. Problems multiply.
What Happens Next
Minor insect damage can often be filled and painted. But active infestations need treatment first. No point painting over termite damage if termites are still munching away behind your siding, right?
Moisture Problems Behind Siding
This one’s trickier to spot, but Exterior Painting in Smyrna TN projects sometimes reveal it. Bubbling or peeling paint that keeps coming back in the same spots usually indicates moisture trapped behind the siding.
Causes vary. Could be a flashing problem. Maybe a bathroom exhaust vent isn’t properly routed outside. Sometimes it’s just condensation from temperature differentials between inside and outside.
Whatever the source, painting over moisture issues never works. The new paint bubbles or peels within months. Finding and fixing the moisture source first is the only real solution.
What All This Means For Your Budget
Nobody loves surprise expenses. But discovering these problems during a painting project is actually better than most alternatives.
Think about it this way: you were already planning to spend money on your home’s exterior. You’ve already got contractors on-site. If repairs are needed, handling them now—before the new paint goes on—is more efficient than calling someone back later.
Smart approach? Build a small contingency into your painting budget. Maybe 10-15% extra. Older homes might need more. If you don’t use it, great. If you do, you won’t be caught off guard.
For additional information on home maintenance and improvement projects, doing your research before starting helps set realistic expectations.
Frequently Asked Questions
Should I get a home inspection before exterior painting?
Not usually necessary. A good painting contractor does thorough surface inspection as part of their preparation process. They’ll identify problems that affect paint adhesion and longevity. If they find structural concerns, they’ll let you know and recommend appropriate specialists.
How do I know if wood damage requires replacement or just repair?
Generally, if you can push a screwdriver more than a quarter inch into the wood, replacement is probably needed. Surface-level soft spots can often be treated with consolidants and fillers. Deep rot means the structural integrity is compromised.
Will painting over old caulk cause problems?
If the existing caulk is still flexible and properly adhered, painting over it works fine. Cracked, brittle, or separated caulk needs removal and replacement. Painting over failed caulk just hides the gap temporarily—water still gets through.
Can these hidden problems be spotted before painting starts?
Some can be identified during initial estimates if the contractor does thorough inspections. Others only become apparent during active prep work when old paint is removed and surfaces are closely examined. This is why reputable contractors discuss the possibility of discovered repairs upfront.
What happens if major problems are found mid-project?
Work typically pauses on affected areas until repairs are completed. Good contractors communicate immediately when they find issues. They’ll explain what they found, show you the damage, discuss repair options, and provide updated pricing before proceeding.
