In most of the US, late spring and summer are the ideal periods for painting the exterior of your home. With precipitation low and temperatures warm, paint cures at a proper rate. So, how early and late can you push your outside painting season? You may want to consult with an exterior painting contractor.
With today's improved paint technology lets you push down as low as 35 degrees F (as long as you buy a certain type of paint). If you are in the Northern states, stop around November. In the Southern States, stop around December. Or like in Jacksonville, FL. It can vary!
Surprisingly, fall can be the best season to paint because the difference between highs and lows is less than in other seasons. Optimal season for exterior house painting is usually thought of as summer. The weather is warm, rain scarce, and in general, it is a weary task made less grinding by the inclusion of sun and warmth. But if you cannot paint your home during that perfect season, when can you? How far can you stretch the painting season? Can you paint during the dead of winter? If painting in Jacksonville, Florida, the answer is usually an astounding, yes!
With today's improved paint technology lets you push down as low as 35 degrees F (as long as you buy a certain type of paint). If you are in the Northern states, stop around November. In the Southern States, stop around December. Or like in Jacksonville, FL. It can vary!
Surprisingly, fall can be the best season to paint because the difference between highs and lows is less than in other seasons. Optimal season for exterior house painting is usually thought of as summer. The weather is warm, rain scarce, and in general, it is a weary task made less grinding by the inclusion of sun and warmth. But if you cannot paint your home during that perfect season, when can you? How far can you stretch the painting season? Can you paint during the dead of winter? If painting in Jacksonville, Florida, the answer is usually an astounding, yes!
Painting in Static Temperatures
As paint quality has improved over the years, so too has the minimum temperature point. For a long time, it was recommended that you never paint a house when the ambient temperature is 50 degrees. Today, this tends to hover around 40 degrees, but some premium paints can be applied down to as low as 35 degrees. As long as you stay above that minimum temperature, you should be fine. And always keep in mind; temperatures drop at night. So what may be fine at 3 pm in the afternoon, may not be good at 11 pm.
As paint quality has improved over the years, so too has the minimum temperature point. For a long time, it was recommended that you never paint a house when the ambient temperature is 50 degrees. Today, this tends to hover around 40 degrees, but some premium paints can be applied down to as low as 35 degrees. As long as you stay above that minimum temperature, you should be fine. And always keep in mind; temperatures drop at night. So what may be fine at 3 pm in the afternoon, may not be good at 11 pm.
Painting in Temperature Fluctuations
Just as important are the differences between temperature highs and lows–the fluctuations.
Paint is not happy when temperatures during the day are 105 degrees and then suddenly drop down to 33 degrees in the evening and night. For that reason, early fall may be a good time of the year in your location to paint. Daytime and nighttime temperatures are often closer than during other times of the year.
Just as important are the differences between temperature highs and lows–the fluctuations.
Paint is not happy when temperatures during the day are 105 degrees and then suddenly drop down to 33 degrees in the evening and night. For that reason, early fall may be a good time of the year in your location to paint. Daytime and nighttime temperatures are often closer than during other times of the year.
What About if There's Moisture Present?
Paint should only be applied to a dry surface. Your painting surface can become moist either by direct contact from rain or snow or by humidity in the air. Even interior surfaces can be affected when painting in humid conditions.
To combat this; Sherwin Williams has actually developed Resilience® Exterior Acrylic Latex. This new formulation of exterior paint gives painted exteriors moisture resistance so you don't have to stop painting when the forecast calls for rain, and lowers concerns about oncoming dew.
After a hard rain, wait at least one full day before painting. Check the surface to be painted. Does it feel wet? Even if it does not feel wet to the touch, it may be wet within, especially for porous surfaces like bare wood and masonry. Remember, moisture happens indirectly, too. Dew forming overnight or in early evenings can quite easily mess up exterior paint–even though it was a dry, balmy 70 degrees just six hours earlier. Be sure to keep this mindset; it could help your exterior painting costs.
Paint should only be applied to a dry surface. Your painting surface can become moist either by direct contact from rain or snow or by humidity in the air. Even interior surfaces can be affected when painting in humid conditions.
To combat this; Sherwin Williams has actually developed Resilience® Exterior Acrylic Latex. This new formulation of exterior paint gives painted exteriors moisture resistance so you don't have to stop painting when the forecast calls for rain, and lowers concerns about oncoming dew.
After a hard rain, wait at least one full day before painting. Check the surface to be painted. Does it feel wet? Even if it does not feel wet to the touch, it may be wet within, especially for porous surfaces like bare wood and masonry. Remember, moisture happens indirectly, too. Dew forming overnight or in early evenings can quite easily mess up exterior paint–even though it was a dry, balmy 70 degrees just six hours earlier. Be sure to keep this mindset; it could help your exterior painting costs.
What Happens After You Punch Out For the Day?
Homeowners tend to forget that paint is still drying after they stop painting for the day. Look at yesterday's evening low and today's predicted low. Even though lows tend not to occur until deep into the evening, it is prudent to assume that they might happen right after sunset.
Homeowners tend to forget that paint is still drying after they stop painting for the day. Look at yesterday's evening low and today's predicted low. Even though lows tend not to occur until deep into the evening, it is prudent to assume that they might happen right after sunset.
What Do Professional Painters Say About Painting Seasons?
Some painters are like the U.S. Postal Service: "Neither snow nor rain nor heat nor gloom of night" will prevent them from painting your house. However, if you hear a painting company express that, you should pass on them. While professional painters are good at stretching seasons, it is just not possible to paint during all seasons.
Exterior Painting Florida
However, if you live in Florida, you must have been trained to think in terms of “seasons” for exterior household maintenance. Since we don’t get snow – the last time was in 1953– and below-freezing weather is rarely an issue, the winter is typically thought to be the best time to paint the exterior of your home.
Exterior Painting in Summer
However, The main problems that are faced in the summer time in Florida for exterior work are heat, humidity, rain and hurricanes. While you obviously can’t paint the exterior of a home during a rain storm or hurricane, you can however, paint a house at any time of year. In Florida, more than any other location in the U.S., making sure that the paint on your house is of superior quality, and applied properly, is more important than when to apply it. Any good painter knows this.
Some painters are like the U.S. Postal Service: "Neither snow nor rain nor heat nor gloom of night" will prevent them from painting your house. However, if you hear a painting company express that, you should pass on them. While professional painters are good at stretching seasons, it is just not possible to paint during all seasons.
Exterior Painting Florida
However, if you live in Florida, you must have been trained to think in terms of “seasons” for exterior household maintenance. Since we don’t get snow – the last time was in 1953– and below-freezing weather is rarely an issue, the winter is typically thought to be the best time to paint the exterior of your home.
Exterior Painting in Summer
However, The main problems that are faced in the summer time in Florida for exterior work are heat, humidity, rain and hurricanes. While you obviously can’t paint the exterior of a home during a rain storm or hurricane, you can however, paint a house at any time of year. In Florida, more than any other location in the U.S., making sure that the paint on your house is of superior quality, and applied properly, is more important than when to apply it. Any good painter knows this.
Full Seal Painting in Florida
A lot of Florida's homes have exterior walls made of stucco. If the paint is applied unevenly, pin-sized areas of your outside walls are exposed to the outside elements – like wind driven rain, dust, mold and algae. If there’s nothing else in Florida, there’s humidity, and humidity breeds mold; mold spores can set up housekeeping in the tiniest crevice imaginable. Sadly, when they do, they don’t remain outside. They creep into the porous openings in your masonry and can migrate into your interior walls. Molds are one of the most common causes of respiratory illnesses in Florida.
A lot of Florida's homes have exterior walls made of stucco. If the paint is applied unevenly, pin-sized areas of your outside walls are exposed to the outside elements – like wind driven rain, dust, mold and algae. If there’s nothing else in Florida, there’s humidity, and humidity breeds mold; mold spores can set up housekeeping in the tiniest crevice imaginable. Sadly, when they do, they don’t remain outside. They creep into the porous openings in your masonry and can migrate into your interior walls. Molds are one of the most common causes of respiratory illnesses in Florida.
Florida Painting Methods
One of the best ways to protect your home from infection from molds is to ensure that the exterior walls of your home are sealed with quality paint such as Sherwin Williams or Benjamin Moore. Also, rollers, or using the back-roll method, not just spraying are the best tools for painting in Florida because it is proven to be the best way to apply paint to stucco walls. Sprayers just cannot work the paint into the tiny holes and cracks in order to give you a solid mil application that will protect your home.
So “weather” you do it yourself, or hire a painting contractor in Jacksonville, protect your home with quality paint and spend the extra time or money to make sure it’s done properly. Your investment will thank you for it.
One of the best ways to protect your home from infection from molds is to ensure that the exterior walls of your home are sealed with quality paint such as Sherwin Williams or Benjamin Moore. Also, rollers, or using the back-roll method, not just spraying are the best tools for painting in Florida because it is proven to be the best way to apply paint to stucco walls. Sprayers just cannot work the paint into the tiny holes and cracks in order to give you a solid mil application that will protect your home.
So “weather” you do it yourself, or hire a painting contractor in Jacksonville, protect your home with quality paint and spend the extra time or money to make sure it’s done properly. Your investment will thank you for it.
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