KEY TAKEAWAYS
- Wood siding and trim usually need a repaint every 8 to 12 years on the coast.
- Stucco usually lasts 10 to 15 years, as long as the caulking is kept up.
- Sun, rain, failed caulking and skipped washing all shorten the cycle.
- Plan the repaint against your depreciation report, not the calendar.
Almost every strata council asks this when the depreciation report lands or when owners start pointing at the trim. There is no single number, but on the West Coast there are ranges you can plan around, and clear signs that tell you a building is ready.
Typical repaint cycles on the coast
- Wood siding, fascia and trim: about 8 to 12 years.
- Stucco: about 10 to 15 years, with regular caulking upkeep in between.
- Stained fences, decks and beams: often every 3 to 5 years, depending on the product and the sun.
- Railings and metal: inspect every year, and treat rust as soon as it appears.
These are ranges, not deadlines. Two buildings in the same complex can be years apart because of how they face.
What shortens the cycle
- South and west elevations, which take the most sun.
- Constant rain on exposed walls, and moss on the north side.
- Failed caulking, which lets water behind the paint.
- Skipping washing, so dirt and mildew break the coating down.
- A thin first finish. At Riverwalk in Vancouver, the builder had left a single coat, well below what a building on the Fraser River needs.
Signs it is time
- Chalky paint that rubs off on your hand.
- Peeling around entries, garage doors and window trim.
- Cracked or open caulking at windows and corners.
- Soft or dark wood at fascia ends and trim joints.
- Rust bleeding from railings or fasteners.
- Faded colour that no longer matches from building to building.
Plan it with the depreciation report
Your depreciation report lists the painting components, their remaining life and an estimated cost. Use it to set the year, then get a walk-through and a written price to replace the estimate with a real number. See Painting and your depreciation report.
This guide is general information for strata councils and property managers in British Columbia, not legal advice. Check your registered bylaws and the current Strata Property Act, or ask your property manager or a lawyer, before relying on it for a decision.
