While you can paint your home’s interior year-round, painting the exterior is a significant endeavor that requires the right weather conditions. It’s not common to see house painters working outside in cold or rainy weather. Painting the exterior of your house means you’ll need to work around inclement weather conditions for the best results.
When exactly is the best time to paint your house’s exterior? Keep reading to find out how you should form your exterior painting schedule.
The Best Season to Paint a House
Painting in Summer
Summer is often considered the best time of year to paint your house’s exterior since warm weather is ideal for painting. Warm temperatures allow paint to dry relatively quickly, but be aware that paint that dries too quickly can lead to an uneven coating. It’s best to paint each side of your house at a time when it doesn’t receive direct sunlight to avoid this problem.
You should never paint in rainy weather, so be sure to check the forecast before starting your paint job. Since north Georgia is prone to sudden summer storms, it may be better to paint in a different season to avoid complications. Additionally, it can be helpful to get a head start on your exterior house painting if you live in an area subject to natural disasters such as hurricanes.
Painting in Spring or Fall
Spring and fall can be good times of year to paint your house’s exterior thanks to their moderate temperatures. In the South, summer temperatures may be too high, causing drying issues. In spring or autumn, your house’s exterior is less prone to developing brush marks or other aesthetic problems from paint drying too quickly.
While spring in Woodstock tends to have good temperatures for painting, it’s also more likely to rain. If you want to paint your home’s exterior in the spring, check to make sure there’s no chance of rain in the forecast.
Fall tends to have lower humidity than summer, making it ideal for painting. However, some paint can only withstand certain temperatures, so it’s essential to be mindful of the paint you choose and make sure you’re not painting on a day that’s too cold.
Painting in Winter
Painting in winter isn’t ideal, but it is possible. When a situation forces you to paint or repaint your home during winter, you still get good results if you buy paint suitable for colder temperatures.
Exterior paint dries much slower in winter due to colder temperatures. Typically, you should avoid painting a house’s exterior if the temperatures are below 50 degrees Fahrenheit. Fortunately, in Georgia, you may be lucky enough to get a winter day that’s above that temperature.
Considering the freezing point of water, water-based paint is more likely to freeze if you’re painting during the winter. Acrylic paint is also more suited to warmer weather. However, you can apply oil-based paint in temperatures lower than 32 degrees Fahrenheit.
Best Weather Conditions for Painting House Exteriors
The right weather conditions are essential for a polished result when picking the best time to paint your house’s exterior. It can be challenging to know when weather conditions are ideal for painting outside or when conditions could cause your paint to bubble, dry too quickly or too slowly, or disrupt film development.
Low Humidity
The National Preservation Society says exterior paint must be able to withstand years of varying humidity and temperatures to avoid wood deterioration. Older homes are much more susceptible to problems such as paint bubbling in high humidity conditions. Wood is exceptionally porous and can soak up humidity in the air, making it difficult for paint to soak into exterior walls.
It’s best to wait for a day with low humidity and begin painting early. As the sun comes up, humidity levels change as dew evaporates into the air.
However, in the South, it’s not always possible to wait for a day with low humidity. Some paints can still dry adequately in more humid environments, but the lower the humidity, the better.
Mild, Sunny Weather
Mild weather conditions are best for painting a house exterior. Sun and cloud coverage affect paint’s drying time significantly. Heavily cloudy weather can lead to longer drying times, while no clouds and too direct sunlight can create an ugly mess by causing the paint to dry almost instantly.
What to Avoid When Painting Your House Exterior
● Painting in wet weather: Rain and snow are not suitable for applying paint. If you’ve recently had weather that increased the humidity in the air, you should wait for the surfaces to dry out substantially before attempting to paint.
● Painting in extremely high or low temperatures: While it’s not impossible to paint your house in extreme temperatures, it makes it more challenging to get good results. The ideal weather for painting is when the temperature is between 60 and 85 degrees Fahrenheit.
Hire a Professional
Professional painters know how to determine the best time to paint your house’s exterior. Years of experience in the home improvement industry allow professional house painters to complete painting jobs quickly with advanced tools that make painting large surfaces quick and precise.
Painting your house’s exterior requires planning to avoid running into inclement weather before the paint has dried properly. Professionals such as AP Contractors can help you find the best colors for your home and know which paints to use during different seasons.
A&P Contractors is a top residential painter in Woodstock, GA. We get the job done when you need an exterior painting contractor in Roswell and the surrounding areas. Contact us at 470-615-1775 with your questions on preparing for exterior painting and more.
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