InstaBidsHow long does exterior paint last?
USDA’s 2021 Wood Handbook lists 10–20 years for exterior paint on vertically exposed wood with primer and two topcoats. Its 20-year case specifies top-quality latex on saw-textured wood of gradual-transition species. Other wood species and textures have different estimates below; this range does not cover every siding material.
Source: USDA Wood Handbook (2021), read 2 November 2026. Updated 2026-10-27
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How long it lasts, by source
USDA’s 2021 Wood Handbook gives expected paint lives by wood species and surface texture. Its table assumes an ideal paint system: one primer and two topcoats.
Methods: USDA compiled these estimates from observations by many researchers for an average location in the contiguous USA. The handbook publishes no sample size or observation years for these tables.
| Type | Measure | Figure | Area | Data years | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Exterior wood paint | expected service life; primer plus two topcoats | 10–20 years | Contiguous USA; exterior wood | Observation years not stated; handbook 2021 | USDA Wood Handbook (2021), read 2026-11-02, n not published by the source. |
| Cedar and redwood, smooth vertical grain | expected service life; primer plus two topcoats | 10–15 years | Contiguous USA; exterior wood | Observation years not stated; handbook 2021 | USDA Wood Handbook (2021), read 2026-11-02, n not published by the source. |
| Cedar and redwood, smooth flat grain | expected service life; primer plus two topcoats | 8–12 years | Contiguous USA; exterior wood | Observation years not stated; handbook 2021 | USDA Wood Handbook (2021), read 2026-11-02, n not published by the source. |
| Cedar and redwood, saw-textured | expected service life; primer plus two topcoats | 15–20 years | Contiguous USA; exterior wood | Observation years not stated; handbook 2021 | USDA Wood Handbook (2021), read 2026-11-02, n not published by the source. |
| Pine, fir, spruce, smooth flat grain | expected service life; primer plus two topcoats | 6–10 years | Contiguous USA; exterior wood | Observation years not stated; handbook 2021 | USDA Wood Handbook (2021), read 2026-11-02, n not published by the source. |
| Pine, fir, spruce, saw-textured flat grain | expected service life; primer plus two topcoats | 8–12 years | Contiguous USA; exterior wood | Observation years not stated; handbook 2021 | USDA Wood Handbook (2021), read 2026-11-02, n not published by the source. |
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Questions
How long does paint last on smooth cedar or redwood siding?
USDA’s 2021 table lists 10–15 years for paint on smooth, vertical-grain cedar and redwood siding, and 8–12 years on smooth, flat-grain siding. Both estimates assume an ideal paint system of primer and two topcoats.
Source: USDA Wood Handbook (2021), read 2 November 2026.
How long does paint last on saw-textured cedar or redwood?
USDA’s 2021 table lists 15–20 years for paint on saw-textured cedar and redwood siding. Its estimates describe an average location in the contiguous USA and an ideal paint system of primer and two topcoats.
Source: USDA Wood Handbook (2021), read 2 November 2026.
How long does paint last on smooth pine, fir or spruce siding?
USDA’s 2021 table lists 6–10 years for paint on smooth, flat-grain pine, fir and spruce siding. The table’s paint column assumes primer and two topcoats; its life predictions depend on climate and exposure.
Source: USDA Wood Handbook (2021), read 2 November 2026.
How long does paint last on saw-textured pine, fir or spruce?
USDA’s 2021 table lists 8–12 years for paint on saw-textured, flat-grain pine, fir and spruce siding. These are expected service lives compiled from researchers’ observations for an ideal primer-and-two-topcoat system.
Source: USDA Wood Handbook (2021), read 2 November 2026.
Why does exterior paint peel down to bare wood?
The National Park Service’s 1982 brief states: “Peeling to bare wood is most often caused by excess interior or exterior moisture that collects behind the paint film, thus impairing adhesion”. This guidance concerns exterior paint on historic woodwork.
Source: National Park Service Preservation Brief 10, read 2 November 2026.
What does alligatoring in exterior paint mean?
The National Park Service’s 1982 brief identifies cracking and alligatoring as advanced stages of crazing. It describes an overall pattern of horizontal and vertical breaks resembling reptile skin, with bad flaking in advanced stages.
Source: National Park Service Preservation Brief 10, read 2 November 2026.
Does mildew on sound exterior paint mean it needs repainting?
USDA’s 2021 guidance says that sound paint discolored with mildew can be washed and does not need repainting. It distinguishes this appearance problem from a failed coating.
Source: USDA Wood Handbook (2021), read 2 November 2026.
Will repainting solve moisture-related peeling?
The National Park Service’s 1982 brief states: “There is no sense in repainting before dealing with the moisture problems because new paint will simply fail.” Its guidance concerns peeling on exterior historic woodwork.
Source: National Park Service Preservation Brief 10, read 2 November 2026.
You can describe peeling or worn exterior paint on InstaBids and compare written bids for the painting job.
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Sources for the figures on this page
- USDA Forest Service, Forest Products Laboratory, Wood Handbook, Chapter 16: Finishing Wood (2021), read 2 November 2026. U.S. government work, public domain.
- National Park Service, Preservation Brief 10: Exterior Paint Problems on Historic Woodwork (September 1982), read 2 November 2026. U.S. government work, public domain.