Painting your home’s exterior is a massive project, in addition to you lot may induce got been putting it off due to fourth dimension or budget restraints. But directly that the temperatures induce got dropped, is it likewise mutual frigidity to pigment outside? Below is advice from paradigm professionals on the ideal temperature arrive at for exterior painting, the lowest temperature to pigment or stain at in addition to full general tips for paradigm in addition to staining your home’s exterior.
How Low is Too Low?
When the temperature is likewise low, dust in addition to insects volition survive attracted to the wet paint. Image: John G Holmes Architect
To a for certain extent, optimal temperatures for exterior paradigm vary past times the type of paint. “When taking on exterior pigment projects, e'er proceed inwards take heed that the best temperature for latex pigment falls betwixt 50 in addition to seventy degrees F, spell the best temperature for oil-based pigment falls betwixt 45 in addition to ninety degrees F,” explains Tina Nokes, Owner of Five Star Painting of Loudoun, VA. However, she says that some paints are rated downwards to 35 degrees.
When you lot croak below 35 degrees, Nokes says you lot tin run across several problems. “You opportunity the pigment taking likewise long to cure, which attracts insects, dirt, grime in addition to other debris to the wet surface,” she says. “Oil-based paints volition also thicken inwards depression temperatures, causing stiffer brushing, heavier application in addition to less coverage per gallon.”
According to Mike Mundwiller, Benjamin Moore Field Integration Manager, you lot should e'er cheque the data for the production you lot computer program to use. “While some exterior paints tin survive applied downwards to 35 degrees, it’s non exclusively of import to survive aware of your ambient temperature merely also the temperature of the surface you lot are painting.” In add-on to the electrical flow temperature, Mundwiller advises painters to survive aware of the forecasted temperature, since this volition make upwardly one's take heed how long it volition induce got the pigment to dry.
Follow the Dominicus in addition to Avoid the Warmest Part of the Day
“Following the Sun closed to your household volition forestall paradigm inwards straight sunlight in addition to on an overheated surface, which tin survive a occupation fifty-fifty inwards cooler temperatures,” explains Nokes. What does it hateful to follow the Sun when you’re painting? “In other words, displace closed to the household behind the Sun every bit it moves in addition to hence the surfaces are warm merely non in addition to hence hot that pigment dries likewise fast.”
The warmest business office of a wintertime twenty-four hr menstruum seems similar the perfect fourth dimension to paint, merely Nokes advises against it. “While it tin survive tempting to pigment at the warmest parts of the day, brand for certain you lot move out plenty fourth dimension for the pigment to dry out earlier sunset, which volition convey fifty-fifty cooler temperatures in addition to the formation of dew.”
If You Have to Paint When It’s Bitterly Cold
“If you lot induce got no selection merely to pigment inwards temperatures below 45 degrees F, buy latex pigment specifically formulated to perform inwards temperatures every bit depression every bit 35 degrees,” Nokes advises. “This pigment contains coalescing agents that bolster film-forming attributes during depression temperatures.” Different types of paints are rated for unlike temperatures in addition to she says it’s vitally of import to role a pigment rated for the colder weather.
When the air temperature is 35 degrees F, substrates may survive colder. “Prior to painting, cheque to survive for certain the air, surface in addition to cloth temperatures are to a higher identify 35 degrees F in addition to at to the lowest degree 5 degrees F to a higher identify the dew point,” advises Mundwiller. “Do non apply when air or surface temperatures may drib below 35 degrees F inside 48 hours.”
Exterior Painting Tips
“Prior to painting, take away surface contaminants amongst an appropriate cleaner, rinse thoroughly in addition to permit to dry,” advises Mark Eichelberger, Senior Product Manager at Sherwin-Williams Consumer Brands Group. “Remove peeled or damaged paint, sand glossy surfaces until tedious in addition to brand for certain that cracks in addition to imperfections are patched or caulked.” To avoid occasional pigment drips or splatters, he recommends starting at the exceed in addition to working your agency down.
When paradigm vinyl siding, Eichelberger says you lot should repaint amongst a color similar to the master color to avoid excess heat absorption, which prevents buckling or warping.
What About Staining?
There’s also a temperature bound when staining inwards mutual frigidity weather. “Applying stain finishes becomes to a greater extent than hard every bit the temperature gets colder, every bit it won’t dry out or adhere every bit good inwards depression temperatures,” says Jenny Burroughs, Senior Product Manager of PPG’s Architectural Coatings. Depending on the product, you lot tin apply a stain when the temperature is every bit depression every bit twoscore degrees F.
It’s of import to protect your home’s exterior forest surfaces past times applying a stain or sealant before temperatures laid out to drop, every bit mutual frigidity weather condition in addition to snowfall tin motility peeling, leading to wet intrusion in addition to forest rot.
Burroughs also recommends assessing your home’s exterior forest surfaces for vulnerabilities earlier you lot stain or seal. Some fundamental signs that your home’s exterior forest surfaces take to survive refinished include:
- Water is beingness absorbed in addition to is non beingness wicked from the surface.
- Paint and/or stain is peeling, pulling or lifting from the surface.
- Areas of the abode seem to survive faded or discolored.