Painting contractors are well aware that bad weather is one of their worst opponents in the Painter Of The Night. At some seasons of the year, the distinction between excellent and bad weather conditions becomes hazy. Before painting the exterior of a house, there are a number of factors to consider.
If a homeowner plans to paint their home during the winter, the cold weather can be a severe issue, depending on where they live in the country. Cold temperatures, even when utilising low-temperature paints, can cause paint breakdown if the weather conditions are too extreme.
Some low-temperature paints allow you to paint in temperatures as low as 35 degrees if the temperature will stay above 35 degrees for a set number of hours during the day. The time it takes for paint to dry varies based on the type of paint you use. However, in my experience, as long as the humidity does not rise, you should be fine. Rising humidity indicates that a dome of humid air is entering the region, which will cause the paint to dry more slowly. If the low-temperature paint’s drying time is slowed, it may not have enough time to dry above 35 degrees before freezing temperatures set in during the evening. In this circumstance, the paint is at a significant danger of freezing, making paint failure a distinct possibility.
Painting companies usually look ahead 48 to 72 hours to determine what the weather will be like for painting. Will they be confronted with increased humidity as a front approaches, or will the humidity remain low for an extended period, allowing the moisture in low-temp latex paint to evaporate? Will there be enough time for the paint to dry if the temperature rises above 35 degrees before the temperature drops below freezing?
Another thing to think about is how windy it will be. It’s nice to have a windy day with low humidity. The Painter Of The Night will be sped up by the wind. Make sure you’re dressed appropriately for the weather. This is a better situation when the humidity is consistent.
Another factor to consider is the temperature of the surface of the substrate to which the paint is being applied. It will take time for the exterior of your home to get to 35 degrees if overnight temps were in the mid to low 20s. So it’s not a good idea to start painting as soon as the thermometer reads 35 degrees for the atmosphere. Before you can securely apply paint, you’ll need to wait 2 or 3 hours.
It’s important to think about how much sunlight you get. On a clear day, the sun’s radiant radiation will assist warm the surfaces of your home to temperatures above 35 degrees. Sunlight is undoubtedly a factor, and I recommend painting the side that faces the sun. Follow the path of the sun. Temperatures may improve enough in a few days for places that receive no or very little sunlight to be painted during a safer temperature range.
I personally do not allow my painters to apply low-temperature paint to a customer’s home unless the temperature is expected to rise above 47 degrees and the humidity is steady or decreasing. I also take into account the humidity level for the most of that day. I think about what the low temperature will be the night after a paint job. If the temperature drops into the low 20s, I’m sure we’ll have less painting time that day before we approach the danger zone. When temperatures drop this low the night after what appears to be a wonderful day, I often quit whatever painting I’m working on due to the shorter drying time.