Painting the outside of your home can be as much fun as trying a new color in your home’s interior. Yet because the weather is such a huge factor when you’re painting outside, you may only have a limited window in which to complete your project.
If you’re planning an exterior paint job, opt for May. For the vast majority of the U.S., May brings mild temperatures and less rain than its springy predecessor, April, without also introducing summer’s soaring humidity that will make it nearly impossible for your paint to dry.
So if you’re thinking about painting outdoors, now is the time to do it! A couple other tips?
1. Prep your surface. Whether you’re tackling a door, shutters, trim or your whole house, make sure your surface is properly prepped. Give it a good washing with a hose (or, better yet, a pressure washer. And it’s a good idea to use primer, too, to better help the paint adhere to the surface. Primer also helps if you’re switching from a bright hue like a red or green to something more neutral.
2. Pick the right paint. Latex paints are always a great bet. If you’re painting a metal surface, opt for a primer and/or paint designed for the same material. And if you go for an oil-based paint, be sure you allow plenty of drying time–at least 8 hours if the temperature is 70 degrees or above, or longer if the temps fall below 70. Several paint companies, including Sherwin-Williams, also make exterior paints, some of which are able to withstand lower temperatures, so you may want to consider one of those formulas if you find yourself needing to paint in less-than-desirable weather.
Are you planning an outdoor painting project? We’d love to hear about it!
Photo: HGTVPro
No Comments