How Often Should You Repaint Your Home in New Zealand?

How often you need to repaint your home in New Zealand isn’t just about looks. It’s about protection. Our mix of strong UV, coastal salt air, rain, and wind is tough on paintwork, especially on sunny or exposed sides of the house. Over time, even good paint starts to fade, chalk, crack, or peel. Repainting on a sensible schedule helps protect your timber, cladding, and trims from moisture and damage, and keeps your home looking fresh and well cared for. 

Let’s outline typical repainting timelines for NZ homes, explain how climate and materials affect how often you should repaint.

How often should you repaint in NZ?

In New Zealand, how often you need to repaint depends on the material your house is made of and the kind of weather it faces. Here’s a simple guide.

1. General guideline for most NZ homes
   

• As a rough rule, many exteriors in NZ need repainting about every 7–10 years.
• Very exposed homes or older paint jobs might need it every 5–7 years.
• Sheltered homes with high-quality paint can sometimes last 10–12 years if well-maintained.
  

2. Timber weatherboards
   

• Timber moves and absorbs moisture, so it needs more protection.
• In many NZ conditions, plan to repaint timber weatherboards about every 7–10 years.
• In very sunny, coastal, or windy spots, you may be closer to every 5–7 years, especially on the most exposed sides.
  

3. Fibre cement and modern claddings
   

• Fibre cement boards and some modern cladding systems are more stable than timber.
• These often need repainting about every 8–12 years, depending on the quality of the last paint job and exposure.
• You’ll still need to watch for fading and hairline cracks in high-UV areas.
  

4. Brick and rendered surfaces
   

• Brick doesn’t usually need repainting unless it has been painted before.
• Painted brick or rendered (plastered) surfaces often fall within the 8–12-year repaint range.
• In harsh sun or coastal areas, expect the upper end of that range to shorten.
  

5. Stained or oiled timber (decks, cedar cladding, trims)
   

• Stains and oils don’t last as long as solid paint because they soak in rather than form a thick film.
• Many stained or oiled surfaces need refreshing about every 2–4 years, sometimes even every 1–2 years in very exposed spots.
• Cedar and other soft timbers on north or west-facing walls usually need more frequent attention.
  

6. Climate and location effects

Your repainting schedule will change depending on where you live:

• Coastal areas (salt air, wind): paint can break down faster; expect shorter repaint cycles, especially on sea-facing sides.
• High UV regions (many parts of NZ, especially in the north): strong sun fades colours and breaks down paint, so you may need repainting on the earlier side of the ranges above.
• Cooler, damp areas: you may not see as much fading, but mould and mildew can grow; regular washing plus repainting roughly in the middle of the ranges is common.
  

7. Different sides of the house age at different speeds

Even in the same house, some walls age faster than others:

• North and west-facing walls get the most sun, so they often need repainting sooner.
• South-facing walls stay cooler and can be damp for longer. They may grow more mould and need cleaning and spot repairs.
• It’s common to see one or two sides looking tired years before the rest.
  

8. Quality of the previous paint job
   

• A good-quality paint system, applied correctly, lasts longer.
• Cheaper paint, poor prep, or thin coats can cut years off the finish's lifespan.
• If your last paint job was rushed or a DIY job with little preparation, expect to repaint sooner than the typical timelines.

These timelines give you a starting point. The best approach is to combine them with regular visual checks. If you see fading, chalky colour, cracks, or peeling, it may be time to move your repaint forward, even if the calendar says you could wait a bit longer.

Stay ahead of repainting with a simple plan

Knowing that most houses need repainting roughly every 7–10 years (sometimes sooner on sunny or coastal sides), and that different materials age at different rates, helps you plan ahead rather than waiting until the paint is clearly failing. Regular checks and a sensible repainting schedule keep your cladding, timber, and trims in better condition and can save you from expensive repairs later.

At Oncore NZ, we help you take the guesswork out of exterior care. We can assess your home’s current paint condition, consider your local climate and materials, and suggest a repainting schedule that makes sense for your property. If it’s time for a refresh, we can also coordinate the work as part of a wider maintenance plan, so your home stays protected, tidy, and well-presented year after year.

If you’re unsure whether your place is due for a repaint, get in touch with Oncore NZ. We’ll give you clear, practical advice and help you keep your home looking good and standing strong in NZ conditions.