Should I Paint My House in The Winter?
New England has been known to have balmy winters, but is this season the best time for an exterior house painting project? Our professionals generally say no. There are many disadvantages of bringing out the paint brushes during winter.
If you’re considering an exterior upgrade, learn why holding off until spring or summer is often the best option.
Changes in Temperature
Although paint manufacturers are releasing more products that can be applied to an exterior surface in temperatures as low as 35 degrees, fluctuations in temperature can prevent proper adhesion. When it’s below freezing in the morning, but seasonably warm in the afternoon, it’s challenging to choose a “right time” for a job.
Increased Moisture
Another roadblock to adhesion, the high volume of moisture in New England during the winter months is not kind to exterior paint. When snow, ice and freezing rain pelt the outside of your home for months on end, it leaves the surface wet. Even if it feels slightly damp or even dry to the touch, the moisture trapped below the surface can mess with paint adhesion.
Dry vs. Cure Time
In our everyday lives, we dry many things: our clothes, dishes and nail polish to name a few. Yet, many people don’t know that there are two stages of paint drying – “dry” and “cured.”
The traditional term “dry” is the point when all the solvents have evaporated and the paint feels dry to the touch. However, paint is not completely dry until it has reached the “cured” stage. Curing occurs when paint has reached its maximum hardness. For oil-based paints, this process can take a matter of days, but most other paints are not 100 percent dry for several weeks. For this reason, it’s not recommended that exterior paint jobs are done in unpredictable weather conditions.
M. Brett’s team of professionals have years of experience painting residential and commercials exteriors in Connecticut, Massachusetts, Rhode Island and New York. As you wait for the spring or summer for your exterior touch-up, why not have your interior rooms painted? The dreary winter months are the perfect time to get indoor home improvement projects done.