Is It Better to Touch Up Paint or Redecorate?

There’s the situation we’re all familiar with as property owners: you’re moving around the house and notice the walls don’t quite look as spotless as they once did. It might be a scrape from moving furniture around, or the paint has started to show its age. The question is then whether you need a touch-up or the moment has arrived for complete redecoration. Having it turn out right will not only be money- and time-saving, but preserve the value and appeal of your property.

When Touch-Up Paint Makes Perfect Sense

Small Issues Call for Small Solutions

Touch-up paint works best for small, isolated problems. Pet claw scratches, little furniture scuff marks, or tiny stains can typically be repaired with spot treatment. These types of flaws typically represent less than 10% of a wall’s surface area and are not indicative of overall shortcomings in the painted job itself.

The key to successful touch-ups is to have the proper paint on hand. If you’ve saved what’s left over from your original job and stored it properly, you’re halfway to success. But even if you have to purchase a new supply of paint, colour matching is a simpler process than ever before, thanks to colour-matching technology at most paint shops. Visit Bricon Industries for high-quality touch-up paint, for instance.

Cost and Time Benefits

The least costly way of maintaining walls in good condition is touch-ups. A little tin of paint is $10-20, while full redecorating of a room costs several hundred dollars. The time aspect is also attractive – touch-up work for the most part takes an hour or two, while full redecorating takes days of prep work, painting, and cleanup.

This method especially suits investors of rental property who must repair tenant damage in a cost-effective and speedy manner between tenancies.

When Full Redecoration is Necessary

Widespread Destruction Calls for Comprehensive Solutions

Some issues need more than spot fixing. When your walls have wide scuffing, various stains, or widespread colour loss, touch-ups will likely produce a patchwork appearance that draws attention to the issues rather than eradicating them. Whenever damage covers over 20% of the surface area of a wall, a full repaint will produce better results.

Homes with children or high-traffic areas reach this point faster than other homes. The wear and tear that has accumulated is simply too extensive for spot touch-ups to be a good solution.

Aesthetic Update and Design Changes

Homeowners often use redecorating as an excuse to completely renovate their home. Changing colour schemes, moving to modern colours, or preparing a property for sale all justify the additional cost of redecorating. Paint colours and finishes on the market today can actually influence the perceived size, brightness, and overall appeal of a room.

Real estate agents typically recommend neutral, contemporary colours when houses are being staged for sale, since these will be attractive to the greatest number of potential buyers.

Solving Root Problems

Wall problems at times reflect underlying issues warranting full consideration. Paint issues may be a sign of water damage, mildew, or structural settling that exceed appearance. Full surface preparation and painting are required in such situations to ensure long-term success.

Making the Right Choice for Your Home

Whether you will redecorate or touch up depends on your individual case, budget, and objective. Take into consideration the level of damage, age of the existing paint, your time constraint, and whether you are okay with existing colours. Touch-ups are ideal for minor upkeep, whereas redecoration takes care of wider aesthetic and practical requirements.

For most homeowners, regular touch-ups can make painting jobs last much longer, delaying full redecoration by several years while maintaining the appearance of the house.