Changes in weather can impact the quality of a paint job, particularly exterior surfaces. Whether it be hot days, cold days, wet days, or high or low humidity, they all impact painting projects.
The prime time of the year for interior and exterior restoration painting can also be dependent on your environment. For example, if many trees are hindering your structure, hiring a professional residential and commercial painting company during the spring before the leaves have fallen would be a better outcome than the summer, when the foliage gets in the way and hinders the painters.
How Painting Application Can Be Affected by Temperature and Humidity
When humidity rises, there is moisture on surfaces causing a slow paint drying process. Temperature also impacts how paint dries. Professional painters understand how temperature and humidity can affect the quality and will know how to avoid unfavourable conditions.
1. Effect of ambient temperature
Low ambient temperatures delay the drying process and can run the risk of having paint sag or crease. Paint is also more challenging to apply in the cold. Professionals suggest painting in temperatures between 10 and 32 degrees Celsius.
On the other hand, the paint dries too fast when the temperature gets too hot, leading to bumps and wrinkles. This is especially true when the surfaces are in direct sunlight on hot days.
2. Effect of humidity
Humidity plays a prominent role in how the paint holds to surfaces. When humidity is too high, surfaces are exposed to water vapour. When paint is applied on top of moisture, the paint will start to form bubbles or peel as a result. Paint can adequately adhere to surfaces in the humidity of between 40 – 70 per cent.
3. Effect of wind
Cracking or blistering of paint can also be due to paint being applied on a windy day since paint needs to cure steadily over 24 hours. If you are painting in the wind, the paint won’t have time to cure adequately and will dry too fast, causing this cracking and blistering outcome.
Painting in the summer season
The ideal environment for painting is during the summer. However, contractors avoid painting in direct sunlight. Therefore, it is best to select a contractor that uses the right paint and applies it under the right conditions. Summer has more ideal weather days than any other time of the year. Now let’s look at some top reasons to take on a painting project in the summer.
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Faster job completion
There is more daylight in the summer with up to 15 hours of sunlight. More sun means painters can work longer hours, which leads to faster completion. Summer is the optimal time for getting a job done quickly and not getting drawn out due to unfavourable conditions.
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Quicker drying process
Summer provides optimal conditions for the paint to dry at the right speed – not too fast and not too slow. The faster the paint dries, the quicker turnaround for another coat of paint.
Painting in the autumn season
While autumn seasons can have a vast amount of rainfall, it is the perfect time for interior restoration painting. Paint can dry very evenly in this type of environment. Painting in the autumn season can also allow you to open up windows to let the paint aromas out without worrying about letting in hot or cold air that can negatively impact the quality of the paint.
There is less moisture in the outside air meaning the humidity on interior surfaces subsides compared to the summer months. However, you can expect quality residential and commercial painting outcomes during the autumn season.
Painting in the winter season
Winter is another season where it is the perfect time for climate-controlled interiors to be painted. Many people are cooped up inside during the winter as temperatures tumble down and the days shorten. This is a time when people start to notice that interior restoration painting is needed. Here are a few justifications for why winter is a good time for these projects.
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More availability
With summer being taken up by exterior painting projects, there is not much availability for interior jobs. As winter hits, painting contractors are eager to get interior paint jobs to keep their crew busy until the next busy season.
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More affordable
Some contractors can attest that in the winter months, painting projects start to slow down. However, contractors tend to lower their prices slightly to lure more customers and bring in more projects.
Painting in the spring season
In the springtime, precipitation builds up, limiting exterior painting work. Wind speed is also a factor in the spring. When winds kick up in the spring, too much wind can cause debris to surface onto the wet paint, causing the paint to dry too fast.
Now let’s look at some top reasons you should take on a painting project in the spring season.
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Low humidity levels
Humidity starts to go down in the spring, which is perfect for painting. However, you don’t want to run the risk of getting moisture trapped between the surface and the paint. This ultimately means that the paint will adhere to the surface and will last a long time.
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Not too hot, not too cold
Weather in the spring can tend to bounce from warm and sunny days to wet and cold days. It will rarely get too hot or too cold to paint. Experienced painting contractors will choose those perfect spring days to tackle almost any project.
Ready to Get Your Restoration Painting Project Started?
Hiring trusted professionals to do the job for you is essential no matter what season you choose to have your interior and exterior painted. Some projects are better suited to certain weather conditions, so it is vital that you plan these projects in advance. For example, you don’t want your painting project to disrupt your workflow – you want your property to look great and have that vital layer of protection.
So, when you are ready to take that extra step, reach out to a skilled contractor who will deliver you the best residential and commercial painting services. Speak to your contractor about all the variables to nail down the perfect time of the year to complete your interior or exterior work.
