Summer, especially early summer, may seem like the best time to paint the outside of your house. The sun is shining, and the temperature is comfortable. It seems perfect for outdoor work. But there are caveats to painting your house in hot weather. Here are some tips to make sure your work, or the work of the professional you hire, is successful.
Don’t Wait Until It Gets Too Hot
Interestingly, temperatures that are too high can prolong the time paint takes to dry and may even make it harder to stick to the surface. The ideal temperature for exterior paint is between 45 and 85 degrees Fahrenheit, so try to get out there in the morning when the temperatures are cooler. Since it might take more than a day to paint your entire house, choose a span of days that are cooler than normal, if possible.
Try to Avoid High Humidity
High humidity can also cause problems when it comes to paint adhering and drying. Try to have the house painted on a day when the humidity level is low. Of course, don’t paint the house if a rainstorm is in the forecast.
Don’t Paint the House on Windy Days
You should also refrain from having your house painted on windy days. You may believe that wind helps the paint dry faster. While it does, too much wind causes the paint to dry so quickly that it doesn’t cling strongly to the surface of the house. Wind can also blow debris, dust, and sand into the paint, where it will get stuck.
Don’t Paint in Direct Sunlight
Another tip is to not paint in blasting, direct summer sunlight. Like high wind, direct sunlight causes the paint to dry too quickly. But instead of causing debris to mar the paint, sunlight can lead to blistering and peeling. Painting experts recommend starting early in the morning on the south side of the house, which gets the most sunlight during the day. Then, move to the east side, the west side, and finally the north side, which receives no direct sunlight at all.
Add Water or Ice to the Paint
Adding water to paint that has lost some of its water to evaporation is called reconstitution. Professional painters know exactly how to do this to restore the paint to its right consistency. If it’s really hot, some pros even add ice to their paint tray to make sure the paint’s viscosity is where it ought to be.
Get in Touch With Us for Exterior House Painting Tips
Painting your home in the summer can be rewarding, but you’ll have to keep the vagaries of summer weather in mind. If you need exterior painting services, get in touch with our pros at 1st Choice Coatings in Pensacola, Florida.
