Painting your home is a big investment that will increase both its value and your enjoyment of it. Picking the right colors is only the beginning of the decisions you will make. Some of those will depend on whether your project is interior painting or exterior painting.
It’s not as simple as buying a few gallons of paint and throwing on a couple of coats. To get the best results it’s important to consider the weather – and it might not be in the way you think.
When is the Best Time of Year for Your Interior & Exterior Painting?
Your local climate will tell you a lot about proper timing. Generally speaking, interior painting is best done in cooler weather with low humidity. It can’t be too cold or damp, or the paint won’t dry properly.
Exterior painting, on the other hand, is typically done in warm weather, and humidity will play a role in how fast and how well the paint dries.
One of the benefits of working with paint professionals is that they understand how to give you the best results for all your projects. In the Nashville area, Harpeth Painting is the local expert in both interior and exterior painting for your home or business. They understand weather-related issues that might affect the outcome of your job.
When to Paint the Inside
One of the good things about indoor painting is that the temperature and humidity can be controlled to some extent. You can paint your interior spaces almost year-round. But there are a few things to watch out for before you start.
- Extremely cold weather. The paint will not dry properly if it’s too cold. Even in heated buildings, outside walls will sometimes be cold. And it gets expensive to run the heater for long periods.
- Extremely hot weather can also affect the way paint dries. It’s more likely to streak as it dries. It’s hard to keep a consistent temperature, even with air conditioning.
- Big temperature drops at night. Again, consistency is important for even results.
- High humidity can keep the paint from sticking to the wall properly. Bathrooms can be especially tricky. Dehumidifiers can be the answer to this problem.
- Avoid painting just before a big party or holiday dinner. Paint does take some time to dry thoroughly and you don’t want to rush the job to meet a deadline.
The perfect time to do your interior painting is when temperatures are at least 40 degrees Fahrenheit and the humidity is low. You should allow enough time for the paint to dry properly before adding a second coat.
When to Paint the Outside
In addition to the factors listed above, painting the exterior of your home has a few more environmental requirements.
- The exterior must be dry. Paint will not stick to wet surfaces.
- Outdoor temperatures should be warm enough so the paint dries properly, but not so hot that it dries too fast. Warm, late spring through fall weather can be perfect.
- The long-range weather forecast should be free of storms for several days.
- Windy conditions are not good for outdoor painting. Wind can cause paint to go places you don’t want it to go, and high wind can drive grit and debris onto your wet paint.
Calm and warm days with low humidity and temperatures between 50 and 90 degrees Fahrenheit are perfect for painting the exterior of your home.
Look for a long stretch of good weather to start, if you can. There’s not much you can do to regulate temperature or humidity outside.
Request an Appointment With Harpeth Painting
Many factors can affect a simple paint job. You may be overwhelmed by the number of things that have to be taken into consideration. But don’t despair – get help.
The professional painting contractors at Harpeth Painting in Nashville, Tennessee would love to give you a quote on your residential or commercial project. They are a local company with no ties to national painting companies.
Request an appointment for a quote today!
