When Can You Paint the Exterior of Your Home?

In Connecticut, spring weather has already arrived. Because of the early warmth, some homeowners looking to add a new coat of paint might think they can jump-start their house-painting project.

blog-hpUnfortunately, simply having a few balmy days doesn’t make for ideal conditions. Particularly, spring can still be wet from rain and have cool nights, which prevent adhesion. So, although you’ll have to wait to start your project, consider these points for finding the right time to paint your home.

The Start of the Season

In northern states, house-painting season usually starts anywhere from mid-March to late spring and lasts through fall. However, summer is considered the best time for adding a few coats.

Beyond the time of year, you need to look at the weather patterns. During spring or summer, try to find a few days of dry weather with little rain or humidity.

If it rains, allow at least one full day to pass before applying the paint. Any time that moisture is present, your paint may dampen, not adhere correctly or become wet from the inside.

Variable Temperatures

House painters also look for a time with few temperature fluctuations: when daytime temperatures aren’t too far off from those in the evening. Fall might end up being the perfect time to paint because of the small differences in temperature from day to night.

Many people do not realize that paint needs a minimum outside temperature. For a long time, that was about 50 degrees, but newer formulations decrease it to 40 or even 35 degrees. While the day might be a pleasant, warm temperature, if the night dips down below the 40s your paint job could still experience issues.

Considering getting your house or business painted? As the temperatures get warmer, work with a professional to start your project. To learn more or schedule an appointment, give M. Brett a call today.

Should You Paint Your House in Fall?

Come October, you’ve been noticing cracked, chipped, and faded paint on your home’s exterior. So, re-painting it seems like a no-brainer, right?

Not exactly. Unpredictable weather, more so than regular cold or days of heat, is actually the worst time to do an exterior paint job. Consistency means avoiding cold and damp evenings, which ultimately make it harder for the paint to dry and properly bond to the surface.

Because of this, more risks arise when you plan to paint in fall. Things might seem okay at first, but because of the conditions, some of the ingredients eventually rise to the surface, over a year or two, and the paint begins to flake off again.

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6 Reasons a Paint Job Doesn’t Last as Long

painted-houseOn average, your house should be painted every 15 years. Of course, location plays a part; in certain regions, expect to add a coat every five to 10. Yet, when it’s only lasting one to three years, something’s wrong.

Multiple instances play a factor:

Temperature

Especially if you’re doing the work on your own, realize that the weather influences how your paint dries. Never paint when it’s too cold and damp; the paint takes extremely long to dry, and in the process, it’s exposed to moisture and debris.

When it’s too hot and humid, however, water-based paints dry too quickly.

What’s ideal? Aim for a temperature of 50°F to 85°F for at least 48 hours without rain. This weather allows the paint to stick to the siding and dry in the right amount of time.

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13 Common House Painting Issues

You add a fresh coat of paint, but in just a year, it’s already flaking off. So, before you make the same mistake again, think about what went wrong.

The following issues often become evident after you’ve painted a house, resulting in peeling, uneven coloration, and other visual distractions:

Blistering: An issue for flat and acrylic paints, blistering emerges as small- and medium-sized bubbles under the paint film. These may form when paint is added to wood siding and trim, especially when the job is done in direct sunlight, on an uneven surface, on a hot substrate, when the wood is damp, when moisture escapes through the walls, or from poor surface preparation.Alligatoring: Paint starting to look like scales on an alligator results from a second coat applied before the first one dried, incompatible paints, or aging oil-based paint. This is particularly an issue for older homes, which often use oil-based paints.

Efflorescence: This condition occurs when white salt deposits bubble through the paint from the masonry. When the surface is poorly prepared, moisture ends up migrating through the walls.

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4 Signs Your Home Needs a New Coat of Paint

Paint isn’t just an aesthetic aspect – it serves a protective purpose, as well. And when its appearance starts to fade, something more serious could be occurring. Wood, particularly, is more susceptible to rot, mold, and mildew, and if you’re not attentive enough, these could already be forming, exacerbating the damage in the process and resulting in more expensive repairs down the road.

Painter-at-work-on-the-exterioSo, before you deal with structural issues, look out for the following signs:

Fading

It’s an obvious choice. Paint tends to fade in areas that receive the most sun, usually the south and west sides. In these and other spots, chalking may accompany fading. Aren’t sure? Check with a wet rag; if there’s chalking, a white film will come off.

As well, fading indicates moisture may already have entered any wood boards. Look for signs of warping just to be sure. In any case, a fresh coat helps keep out the elements.

Peeling

Places receiving the most moisture start to peel, so check your window sills and the trim at the bottom of the garage and door. In these spots, because it’s easy for water to get through, check if the paint’s coming off in large areas or if it’s chipping.

Layers that peel away indicate poor adhesion. For the last paint job, the surface likely wasn’t prepared properly; often, the paint already had bubbles and blisters. However, layers may also indicate moisture has entered or that low-quality paint had previously been used.
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Never Paint Your Home in These 3 Weather Conditions

Painter-painting-exterior-trimWhen a homeowner requests house painting services for the exterior, one question that frequently comes up is, “Is it the right time of year for a fresh coat of paint?”

While there’s no perfect instance, certain conditions are ideal for priming and adding two coats to a surface. On a very general level, this ideal range tends to be between 50°F to 90°F – so, a good deal of the year for those in New England – and not too sunny, too wet, or too windy.

That being said, there are a handful of exceptions. Some acrylic paint formulas allow you to apply a coat in temperatures down to 35°, or a bright day with lots of sun in winter is far better for getting the job done (or, at least part of it) before the dark and wet conditions set in.

However, not painting in desirable weather ends up having long-term consequences. Specifically, the job simply doesn’t last as long, with cracks forming sooner. For your home’s exterior, this reduces any barrier the paint creates – not to mention, it starts to give the property a worn appearance.

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