It depends on the wall more than the calendar
A repaint schedule is a rough guide at best. The same paint lasts longer on a shaded north wall than on a west wall that takes the afternoon sun, and stucco holds paint differently from wood. Watch the surface, not the years.
Signs the exterior is due
- Chalk on your hand when you wipe a sunny wall.
- Faded or uneven color between the sunny and shaded sides.
- Cracked caulk around windows, doors and trim.
- Peeling or blistering paint.
- Soft or dark wood at the bottom of trim and door frames.
- Hairline cracks opening in stucco.
Signs the inside is due
- Marks that won't wipe off in hallways and kitchens.
- Nail pops and cracks at corners and over doors.
- Faded walls in sunny rooms.
- A color you're simply tired of.
Make it last longer
Wash the outside every year or two, keep sprinklers off the walls and gutters clear, and recaulk joints as soon as they crack. Touching up the sunniest walls early can put off a full repaint.