Getting a fresh coat of paint on your home’s exterior is one way to give it a new, refreshing feel. Summertime is usually when most people think is best for exterior painting since it’s usually warm and dry, especially here in California. While it’s true that you should get your house painted when there will be a long period of warmth outside, many people make the mistake of waiting until it’s blistering hot out to hire a professional painting company. In areas that experience particularly hot summers, such as California, your home has a high risk of suffering from paint defects due to the heat. Keep reading to find out the main ways hot weather can affect your exterior paint job.
High Heat Can Mess Up Paint Curing
The best paint jobs require careful, expert application with good quality paint, preferably done by professionals and allowing the paint to cure properly. Curing is the process of paint fully bonding to the material to which it is being applied to. Until paint has properly cured, it is at a high risk of being damaged when touched, and it will wash away when exposed to water.
Here’s an important reminder that drying and curing are two different things. Paint can appear to be dry to the touch in minutes or hours, but the process of curing takes at least two weeks or up to 60 days depending on the type of paint and environment. The heat can make paint dry faster but accelerated drying actually hinders the curing process. When left to dry in high heat, a coat of paint can experience these issues: Fading, bubbling, cracking, discoloration, chipping and scratching.
High Humidity Can Make Drying and Curing Difficult
Many of the hot days in summer also tend to be humid, meaning there is moisture in the air. The increased moisture in the air makes it difficult for the water within the paint to evaporate, which extends its drying time. If there is enough water vapor in the air, the paint will start turning into a gel-like consistency, making application and solidification very difficult. Also to note, when painting on porous surfaces, like wood or concrete, high humidity will make the paint peel, blister and discolor/fade.
In certain areas that tend to get high levels of humidity in the summer frequently, you’ll need to schedule an appointment with a professional painting company for the best results. NOTE: Never get your home painted when the humidity is higher than 70%.
If you live in a humid place, we suggest you schedule appointments during the driest times of year, like autumn or spring, and between late morning and early afternoon when the humidity is usually at its lowest point for optimal results.
How Hot is Too Hot?
Between 80-90 degrees Fahrenheit is technically safe for exterior painting, but depending on other factors, such as humidity and wind, you may start to experience heat-related problems while painting. NOTE: you should not paint the exterior of your home when it is over 90 degrees Fahrenheit out. In addition, the surface on which you’re applying the paint will be much higher than the temperature outside if it is in direct sunlight. Wood surfaces will be between 10 and 20 degrees hotter than the air temperature, concrete can be about 30 degrees hotter in direct sunlight, and metal and plastic can skyrocket to dangerously high temperatures in the sun!
For optimal results, you should have your house painted when it’s between 40 and 80 degrees Fahrenheit in the sun, if you’re using oil-based paint. If you’re using latex paint, the best temperature range is between 50 and 70 degrees Fahrenheit.
How to Work Around Heat-Related Painting Problems
We highly suggest you schedule painting jobs on days when the weather forecast predicts several days of clear and warm weather within the recommended temperature and humidity levels. Professional painting companies, such as Brown’s Family Painting, will also follow additional tricks for beating the heat, such as working on walls when they’re not in direct sunlight (whenever possible), using the highest quality paint, and working with you to set a painting schedule that will work effectively with the weather.
Schedule Your Exterior Painting Consultation Today
If you live in the greater Sacramento, CA area and you’re struggling to find a painting company who you can trust, who uses high-quality products, and who prides themselves with exceptional customer service, then look no further than Brown’s Family Painting. We will provide you with a quote and an extremely professional paint job that will last for many years. Contact Brown’s Family Painting today to get your estimate before the scorching heat of the California summer truly sets in.
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