Best Weather Conditions for Painting Your Home Exterior
When painting your home’s interior, you have complete control over the conditions. You can set the room’s temperature, bring in some fans to speed up the drying process, and even lower the room’s humidity. Painting the exterior, however, is another story. You can’t control the weather or the general climate of your region. Plus, some conditions are certainly better than others for Raleigh house painting. If you want to to get the job done quickly and properly, you’ll want to wait until the time is right. Let’s explore the ideal weather conditions for painting your home exterior.
Optimal Temperature for Painting
No one wants to paint when it’s freezing cold or scorching hot. It turns out that the paint itself doesn’t like these extreme temperatures either! Paint has trouble binding when it’s too cold or hot, meaning it won’t adhere to the surface as strongly as it would otherwise. If the paint isn’t sticking well, it will peel away much quicker.
Because of these factors, Raleigh house painters should wait to paint outside until the temperature falls somewhere between 50 and 85 degrees Fahrenheit. There is some give and take here depending on the type and brand of paint being used, but working within this moderate 35-degree range is usually a safe bet. Keep in mind that direct sunlight can have a major impact on the temperature as well, so try to paint in the shade as much as possible to avoid major fluctuations in heat.
Wait for Low Wind Speeds
High wind speeds can really hinder an exterior painting job. At the very least, the wind is an annoyance. Drop cloths and covers may flap around or fly away completely, and using a paint sprayer might prove useless and messy. Too much wind can be dangerous, in fact, rocking ladders side to side and flinging debris around. Wind also affects the paint itself, causing it to dry more quickly than it should. Plus, all that dirt and debris might make their way onto the paint as it’s drying. And lastly, if nothing else, high winds usually indicate a coming storm or significant change in temperature. Either way, that’s a bad omen for exterior painting.
Relative Humidity Considerations
Sometimes we get so wrapped up in the temperature that we ignore other climate concerns, such as humidity. Relative humidity is essentially a measurement of water vapor present in the air. When this percentage is high, it indicates a lot of moisture, which also affects how paint dries outside. It makes sense that moist air would cause paint to dry more slowly. When this happens, you might end up with drip marks or streaking. Experts recommend that exterior painting occur when the relative humidity rests between 40% and 70%.
Rain, Rain, Go Away
This goes without saying, but rain can downright ruin an exterior paint job. Whether you’re painting some siding or applying deck stain, this falling water can undo the work you’ve already put in. At the very least, even a light mist can affect the appearance and dry time of your paint. While some rain clouds come about unexpectedly, forecasts are pretty good at predicting rain these days. If you’re preparing to paint your home’s exterior, make sure you pick a day that looks as clear as possible.
Fortunately, compared to other regions of the U.S., Raleigh, NC has pretty moderate weather conditions year-round. Still, things change on a day-to-day basis, so it’s important to look at the forecast thoroughly before deciding to paint outdoors. If you want more advice on ideal painting conditions, or need a reliable team to get the job done, Anderson Painting contractors can help. To learn more about us and all our services, call Anderson Painting today at 919-610-1855 or email us at info@andersonpaintingnc.com!
