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Interior painting can easily be done at any time of the year, because of the controlled environment of the indoors. In contrast, exterior painting is subject to the elements and leaves many people wondering when the right time to tackle outside painting jobs is. Turns out, now is the perfect time – the beginning of summertime!
So, why is now the best time for exterior painting? It seems like rising temperatures would be a cause for concern when you consider painting outdoors. But it turns out, there are a wide variety of reasons to paint during the summer:
Temperature Requirements
Early summertime provides the necessary temperature range for exterior paint jobs. Paint needs several days to cure, and large dips in temperature can affect how well the paint holds up over time. Some sources claim that it should be at least 50⁰F when applying paint and should not drop below 32⁰F at night (source). In addition, colder conditions and an excess of moisture can result in staining or mildew.
So, what is too hot? Although there is no hard rule regarding an upper temperature limit for exterior painting, many people claim that if the surface is too hot to touch for more than a few seconds, it is too hot to paint. Early summertime provides the right temperature range for exterior painting because it is typically cooler than late summer.
Dry Conditions are Better than Moist Environments
A big rule of thumb is to only paint during dry conditions. As previously mentioned, excess moisture can result in staining or mildew instead of a beautiful, clean finish. Springtime brings excess rain and more dew than summertime, making it a less favorable time for exterior painting. Porous materials are at more risk of holding moisture, including materials such as untreated wood or masonry. Therefore, it is best to wait at least 24 hours after wet conditions to start or resume an outdoor painting project.
Predictable Weather Conditions
DIY exterior paint projects take significantly longer than professionally completed projects. While there is nothing wrong with taking your time on painting, summer does provide more predictable weather conditions than spring and fall. Professional paint jobs can take about 4-5 days, while DIY projects can take double or triple that amount of time (source).
In the spring, rain can often pop up when least expected, while wildly fluctuating temperatures in the fall can be unpredictable. In contrast, summer is a steady season with a predictable pattern of dry, warm conditions. For this reason, summer provides plenty of time to easily complete DIY projects.
How Andriots Can Help
Do you want to take advantage of the perfect exterior painting conditions? Andriots can help you find the high quality exterior paint you need to complete your projects. We offer premium paints and stains for a variety of different outdoor surfaces. Andriots strives to be THE destination for paint in both Shelbyville and Central Kentucky as a whole. If you have questions or need to purchase paint for an exterior paint job, contact us today or visit our store.
