Homeowners repaint the exterior of their homes at various times – the window of time can be as large as four to fifteen years. Of course, how frequently your home needs repainting is dependent on the climate you live in and type of paint you use.
Protection is one of the main benefits of painting your home. Coastal homes endure the most damaging environment, combining salt, wind, sand, and sun. These are the homes that need repainting the most often. Obviously, homes in milder climates require less upkeep.
Routinely inspecting your exterior for damage, and repairing that damage immediately, will help your paint job last longer. If your home is ready for a total makeover, make sure to consider the best temperature to paint outside before you plan your project.
If you want to know the best time to paint the exterior of your house, keep reading.
When Is It Too Hot? 
If you live in the South, you may go through periods where you have a smaller window for exterior home painting. Not only do you have to avoid the extreme heat and humidity, but the rain as well.
Few homeowners consider the ideal temperature range for exterior paints. Most paint brands and professional painters advise painting in temperatures below 100 degrees Fahrenheit. Anything much above this temperature can cause the paint to dry too fast and causes bubbles or wrinkles. This is because the top layer of the paint is drying before the lower layers.
To help avoid this issue, make sure to work on the opposite side of your house from the sun. Direct sunlight on the paint will cause the surface temperature to be much higher than the air temperature. This means that even a mild day has the potential to heat up the exterior walls of your home beyond the ideal temperature.
When Is It Too Cold?
Just as it can be too hot to paint, it can also be too cold. While heat dries the paint too quickly, cold can prevent it from drying altogether. A lot of customer wish to paint their houses for the holidays.
Although some paint brands boast that they can be painted in as low as 35 degrees Fahrenheit, it’s still risky. The moisture in the paint needs to escape properly, but temperatures this cold may cause it to crystallize. Be sure to check the specific paint you are using for temperature recommendations.
Don’t Forget About Humidity
Humidity is how we measure the amount of water vapor in the air, and of course, this affects how paint dries. The ideal level of humidity when painting is 50% humidity.
High humidity affects how the paint’s moisture is supposed to evaporate. Instead of allowing it to evaporate properly, it reintroduces more water to the paint before it’s completely dry. This will typically cause the paint to dry much more slowly. With cheaper paints, it can also cause leaching, inhibit the protective elements in the paint, and lead to adhesion issues.
Best Temperature to Paint Outside
Knowing the best temperature to paint outside can help ensure that your home receives the best paint job possible. Of course, working with professional painters will also guarantee this.
At SurePro Painting, we help residential and commercial owners achieve their painting goals. Not only do we professionally paint the exteriors of home and buildings, but we also paint interiors and cabinets. Additionally, we offer many services to improve the appearance of your home or commercial space.
