With the days warming and summer approaching, it’s understandable if you think it’s a great time to repaint the exterior of your home.
Surely, summer is the best time of year to break-out the brushes because there’s less threat of the rain and damp that would compromise the drying of the paint?
Admittedly, one downside is the prospect of working in the Antipodean heat. Never underestimate the power of the sun, especially if you’re on a ladder. Always cover up, and never paint without a hat.
On the plus side, summer offers quicker drying times and, generally, a more consistent temperature. Experienced painters will tell you a sharp temperature drop can change the colour of a paint, albeit very slightly.
By comparison, colder temperatures can make your paint thicker and harder to apply. Drying and curing times will be longer.
However, here are three big problems with painting the exterior of your home during the summer:
- Humidity, Not Heat: So, it’s not the heat of summer that’s the problem but the higher humidity. When the air becomes humid, the paint will not dry properly. If there’s a heavy dew in the morning, which most of us experience, the integrity of the paint can be compromised.
- No Need For Speed: If the paint dries too fast in the summer sun, it tends to not level properly, showing brush strokes. As a consequence, it’s harder to apply.
- Flash Drying: Be aware that in the heat, paint may dry quickly on its surface but remain wet underneath. In this scenario the paint doesn’t stick to the surface. The result is blistering, flaking and peeling.
- Floating Problem: If it’s breezy and pollen is in the air, you’re going to find it impossible to clean the surfaces on which you intend to paint. Painting over pollen will compromise the paint’s ability to penetrate the surface and may discolour.
Quick tips:
- Read Instructions: Check the manufacturer’s instructions on the paint tin to check the ideal temperatures in which to paint.
- Consider Spring: The big plus is lower humidity, although you’ll likely have to contend with a few more showers and the possibility of sharp temperature swings. So, check the weather forecast.
- Autumn Alternative: There are good and bad points to painting at this time of year. Rain is increasingly likely, and leaves and grime swirling on the wind will not help.
- Perfect Time: The ideal window of opportunity is most likely to open in spring. But check for bad weather and pollen alerts before breaking out the brushes.