Summer Heat and Commercial Painting: What You Need to Know
Planning to paint your commercial space in summer? Here is everything you need to know about interior and exterior commercial painting in hot weather.
Impact of High Temperatures on Paint Application and Durability
Temperature is one factor that dictates how well a paint job will turn out and how easy it will be to execute. Be sure to consider it when scheduling your painting project.
High temperatures cause the paint to dry too fast. A short drying period makes summer seemingly ideal for painting a commercial property because it means getting the job done faster and minimizing downtime. However, high temperatures are not necessarily beneficial. Many issues arise when the paint dries too quickly.
If the paint dries fast, it will be hard to smooth out brush strokes and ensure even application, resulting in a poor finish. Rapid drying prevents paint from properly bonding to the surface, resulting in a less durable paint job.
What Temperature Is Too Hot for Painting?
The optimal painting temperature is between 50 and 85 degrees Fahrenheit, depending on the paint type. Thankfully, this range is within average temperatures in North Carolina. But you’ll also need to consider other factors, including humidity and wind speed, particularly if you’re painting outdoors. Avoid painting when it is humid or windy.
Summer Surface Preparation Tips
Surface preparation can be labor-intensive, especially when painting old surfaces. Nevertheless, this process is necessary to achieve a smooth and durable finish. Here's a brief guide you can follow:
Clean the Surface: Ensure it is free of dust, grime, mold, or anything that could contaminate the paint.
Remove Old Paint: Before doing so, find out whether the paint contains harmful lead. When a paint layer starts to crack and appears like a reptile's scales, it likely contains lead. Another sign of lead content is chalky residue when you rub the paint off. If you suspect the paint contains lead, leave it to professionals to remove.
Repair Damage: Surface imperfections like pinholes and cracks will compromise the paint's durability.
Seal and Prime: Doing so helps to create a smooth base and offers extra assurance that the paint will adhere to the surface.
Preparing the substrate is daunting and time-consuming, especially with a large surface area. You can avoid the hassle and save time by hiring commercial painting contractors near you instead.
Choosing the Right Paint
The right paint for a commercial space will depend on various factors, such as substrate (the surface you need to treat) type, surface area, and the nature of the previous coating. Also, consider unusual conditions, like damp environments, heavy foot traffic, high/low temperatures, and whether it is exterior or interior.
Choose color carefully as well, as it can impact people’s perception of the business and employee productivity and performance. To choose the right paint color for your commercial building, consider color psychology, color theory, and your brand (if you already have an existing color palette). Find out whether your location has paint color-related regulations and respect them to avoid trouble.
Application Tips and Techniques
If you plan to DIY instead of hiring a commercial painter, below are a few tips and techniques you can keep in mind:
If you’re painting the exterior, start on the shady side to avoid the sun’s glare and heat. In the absence of a shady area, consider setting up a tent or anything that can provide shade.
Avoid direct sunlight and extreme heat by painting early in the morning or late in the afternoon.
Dark surfaces tend to get hotter in the sun, so paint them when they are in the shade or before they heat up.
Clean your rollers and brushes as soon as you finish painting because paint adheres to these tools much quicker in the heat.
Never leave your paint tin outdoors in direct sunlight. Instead, pour the paint you need for a session into a paint pot and leave the main can indoors.
Hire Professionals for Hassle-Free and Quality Commercial Painting
Commercial painting services by reputable contractors remove the hassles that come with upgrading the appearance of your commercial space. If you need one in Raleigh, NC, Wilmington, NC, or the Greater Triangle Area, the Anderson Painting team is just one call away. Contact us for more details or a quote!
