It’s getting cold outside, or it has started snowing, and now you have realized it’s the right time to paint your house exterior. Should you do it now or wait until the summer? In this article, we will reveal what you should know about painting your house in the winter and whether the final result will be the same as in the warm season.
Can I Paint My House During Winter?
Painting a house during the cold weather season is possible, but prudent measures must be taken. In some aspects, painting during the cold season can be beneficial. For instance, the freezing temperatures and low humidity levels may lead to shorter drying times and lower solvent re-evaporation, thus leading to high adhesion and or higher durability of the paint. Nonetheless, some factors may discourage you from painting your home during the winter. Below are some difficulties you ought to be ready to face.
Difficulties Associated with Painting During Winter
1. Temperature: One of the most critical issues when painting your home in winter is the cold weather. Painting on frozen surfaces can be a challenge, mainly because every effort has to be made to ensure that your surface is smooth and even. Paint cannot stick to a surface at a temperature below the standard level; in this case, the quality and durability of the paint job will be significantly lower.
2. Weather: Weather during the winter can be very volatile, making it hard to time your painting project. When working, you are likely to be affected by rain, snow, ice, or even a temperature change that poses safety risks.
3. Wind: Strong gusts are not a friend of the painter as they make it difficult to place the paint uniformly and it freezes very quickly. This could lead to runs, drips, and uneven coverage that you would not wish to see on walls, ceilings, or any other surfaces that need painting.
4. Materials: Paint itself does not perform well in low temperatures because paint thickens and becomes very difficult to spread. So, where and how you store your paints and other materials can play a big part in whether your project turns out well, and that means you should store your paint and other materials somewhere warm and dry.
Preparing for Winter Painting
Before starting your painting project, take the following steps to prepare for the challenges of winter:
1. Check the weather: First, you have to check the weather for the next few days to see if there is an incoming storm or subfreezing temperatures, or any other challenging conditions.
2. Maintain the proper temperatures: When not in use, store your paint and other materials somewhere warm, 40-50°F (4-10°C) to be precise, to make them usable during the project.
3. Protect yourself: Wait until it warms up, wear gloves to warm your hands, and wear warm clothing.
4. Inspect the surface: Lower temperatures shrink the wood and other materials, making some small seams or cracks appear. Thus, you should go through the surface and look for any area that needs repair before painting it.
Painting Tips for Winter
1. Put on fewer layers of paint at a time, as it gets harder to apply thick layers of paint in cold climates, resulting in an uneven surface finish.
2. It is suggested to use a paint extender to minimize the chance of runs and drips and help the paint dry correctly.
3. It is essential to ensure that brushes, rollers, and other tools are maintained and cleaned immediately after use.
4. Paint in early morning or afternoon or during any break during the day to avoid paint freezing.
When to Wait for Warmer Weather
Despite taking precautions and planning your project accordingly, it might be best to wait for warmer weather if the following conditions apply:
- You live in a part of the world that gets terrible weather all year, and most of the time in winter.
- The circumstances are unfavorable to performing your tasks effectively.
