It is recommended that homeowners repaint the exterior of their home every six to eight years, depending on the color and how much air pollution is in the area. Picking up the phone to call a painter is definitely an easy call to make. Some homeowners may even want to tackle the job themselves.

The first step in painting the exterior of a home is to determine what type of material is under the existing paint—aluminum siding, vinyl siding, wood, brick or stucco.

The next step is deciding whether to paint it the same color or choose a new color. If the paint is a custom color, it may be impossible to match unless a sample was saved from the original paint job—and then it's often difficult to get the color exactly the same. Using the same brand of paint or stain may make things easier, but this just might be the time for a whole new look.

Although people often think peeling paint indicates poor quality paint or a faulty paint job, it could be due to moisture. Check for any sources of moisture to avoid repainting every year.

Painting or staining the exterior of your home has many advantages, with protection at the top of the list. New paint also freshens up a home and makes it stand out from all the rest.

Information provided in this column is presented by the Realtor members of the Silicon Valley Association of Realtors at www.silvar.org. Send questions on any topic to jnewton@jnpr.com.