Finding the optimal temperature to paint outside is critical to completing a professional painting job. However, when is it too hot or freezing to paint outside? And what temperature is best for painting the exterior of my home? These are just a handful of the many house painting inquiries homeowners have during the fall and summer.
There are a few crucial regulations to follow when painting outside, whether you’re doing it yourself or hiring a professional painter for Exterior Painting in Saint Paul, MN.
Before you begin any external painting project, you need to consider the weather, specifically your siding’s air and surface temperatures. As you might expect, temperature has an impact on the drying time, adhesion, and lifespan of your paint job.
Next, think about the dampness outside. Increased water vapor, particularly when exposed to direct sunlight, might cause your latex paint to blister.
The ideal temperature for outside painting
As a general rule, the best temperature for painting outside is 40 to 90 degrees Fahrenheit, with 50 to 70 degrees Fahrenheit being the perfect range.
This equates to a temperature range of 4 to 32 degrees Celsius as the best and 10 to 21 degrees Celsius as the optimum for painting exteriors.
As a result, you should choose days when the weather does not fall into either extreme of this range.
Painting at severe temperatures might have an impact on the lifetime of your project, which can also affect the Exterior Painting Cost if you need to redo parts of the job due to poor conditions. More particularly, paint needs suitable temperatures to dry and cure.
The appropriate paint temperature is also printed on the label of most exterior paint cans, which is often disregarded.
Midwest
Midwest temperatures can vary greatly, from sub-zero weather in May to 70-degree days in March. For outdoor painting, early summer and fall offer the best conditions.
These seasons typically bring lower rainfall and humidity, as well as minimal temperature changes between day and night, creating a more stable environment for painting.
Southern States
The warmer southern areas provide year-round temperatures ideal for outdoor work. However, it is critical to keep an eye on regular temperature variations.
Early fall is frequently the greatest time to paint your house’s exterior. Avoid painting in full sunlight or in exceptionally hot weather, as the tremendous summer heat in locations like Florida can cause paint to blister and bubble.
To combat this, we recommend applying UV-resistant paint. It will not only increase durability, but will also assist keep your paint color from fading in the hot summer weather.
Does Humidity Matter When Painting Outside?
Unfortunately, temperature isn’t the only weather issue to consider when painting your home. High humidity can have a significant, potentially detrimental impact on any newly painted surface.
First, too much water vapor in the air will lengthen the time it takes for the paint to dry. This means you’ll need to be more careful when applying a second layer. More precisely, avoid running your paint brush or roller through over-dried paint, as this can result in rough brushstrokes that are difficult to smooth out.
Second, excessive humidity levels combined with direct sunshine can raise the surface temperature of your siding and cause bubbles in the paint. If this happens, try not to pop the blisters for at least a day. Latex paint can flex in response to temperature changes and may shrink back to cling to the siding.
Finally, high humidity and water vapor can provide a breeding ground for bacteria and mildew. We’ve all seen it: green and black blotches appear on our siding. Cleaning up that mess is never a pleasant task. This is why we recommend mildew-resistant paint in high-humidity environments. Similarly, when considering any painting project, the average cost of painting a room can also vary depending on factors like humidity, which may require extra time or materials to ensure a flawless finish.
