The interior of your house can be painted anytime as the interior temperature, humidity, and other conditions can be controlled. When it comes to exterior painting, many conditions are to be considered, and the success of a painting project depends on the exterior elements that might encounter during the painting session. Painting your exterior is a job that can be done only some times of the year. As you cannot control the weather conditions, it is better to shift the painting time to the best time possible. So if you plan to paint your exterior, read on to know the best time of the year to paint the exterior of your house.
For any paint, the manufacturers have set a certain temperature to use. The exteriors should only be painted when warm enough, as the manufacturers set a minimum temperature for the paint. The painting should also not be done when it is too hot as it leads to bubbling or cracking of the wall paint immediately after painting. When there are too many temperature fluctuations, it is recommended to reschedule the work for two to three days until the temperatures are consistent for some days.
In most areas, summer is considered the optimal season for painting exteriors, but the temperatures should be manageable, and the rain should also be at its minimum. So when deciding to paint your exterior, it is better to focus on the weather conditions rather than the season. Here are some of the seasons when the painting can be done
Some areas might experience hurricanes towards the end of summer, so checking for monsoon conditions before even painting your exteriors is recommended. For places hit by hurricanes regularly, it is better to wait before the start of the season or wait until the crisp fall months.
Any paint, after application, takes time to dry, and the curing time depends on the paint used. Water-based Latex paint needs time for the water to evaporate, while oil paints take longer to cure naturally. When the painting is done in high temperatures, the heat or direct sunlight will prematurely cure the paint, causing the paint to dry instantly, which is not good for your exteriors. The painting should be done 1 or 2 hours after the sunlight has disappeared, and the areas would be ready for painting exteriors have cooled down.
During the autumn, the temperature fluctuations are higher, so the paint takes more time to dry. So it is recommended to paint the exteriors in the early fall as the morning and night temperatures are somewhat similar, and there is enough time for the paint to dry.
Most paint manufacturers recommend low outside temperatures to make the project successful. However, as the quality of paint increases, the required minimum temperature also increases. Now the increase in paint standards allows you to paint at a temperature as low as 35°F.
As a basic rule, paint should be applied only on dry surfaces, and checking the moisture on the exterior walls is always recommended before painting. Even if the exteriors are dry, moisture can be present inside the walls, so it is advised to wait for at least one day to allow the humidity to dry. Dew forming overnight can damage the paint easily.
In previous times, it was never recommended in low temperatures, but the improved technology of paint manufacturers allows you to paint at temperatures as low as 35°F. Previously, it was never recommended to paint the exteriors when the temperature was over 50 degrees. Still, the improved paint technology allows you to paint in high temperatures, but necessary precautions must be taken. But the general rule to paint your exterior is never paint your house in the dead of winter season unless it is unavoidable.
While preparing to paint your exterior, you should be careful when choosing the right paint. The paint to be used for your exterior should be according to the climatic conditions of your area. If your area receives much rain, then your paint should be able to shrug off the water, and for drier areas, you will need paint that can expand and contract without cracking at the same time and withstand the heat and extreme temperatures. Even if you have chosen the best paint suitable for your area, always be prepared to paint after two years.
Finally, you must follow these to get the best results after painting.
Painting your home exteriors is a job that is done infrequently as it takes time and money to complete the entire work. Exterior painting is a job that needs to be done at the right time, taking into consideration the temperature and climatic conditions. At Executive Touch Painters, we have over 30 years of experience handling all types of painting projects all over Ontario. Contact us at (416) 410-0164 to learn more about the best time of the year to paint the exterior of your house.