Painting the exterior of your home can be a difficult task even during the summer days, but especially difficult during the winter. The two biggest issues painters face while attempting to paint during the winter is both moisture and temperature, but fortunately both can be controlled. Latex paint has a hard time in the cold because the latex particles will harden, curing is a delicate process with colder temperatures causing it to cure slowly and unevenly. Most will find the application process more difficult with thicker paint, which is another result from those colder temperatures.
Rain and dew are constant problems, which is why moisture is the second major problem for winter painting. Painters have to take extra considerations to minimize moisture to let the paint cure on its own year -round, so during the winter, this can be a particular challenge. Dampness and condensation can lead to discoloring and blushing, which can ruin your outside work.
All of those problems can lead to a poorly performed paint job that will need to be redone come summertime. While we cannot control the weather, we do a good job of predicting, so check the forecast for both temperature and moisture before starting your paint job. Keep reading to find more solutions for painting during those colder months:
- Cold temperature paints can help with the chilly weather because they are designed to cure at a lower temperature.
- Take your time. Colder paint takes much longer to cure, so make sure to give it longer than usual between coats.
- Plan to paint between 10 AM and 2 PM to help with the application. Paint thickens in the cold, so it will be more malleable during midday.
- If painting in the winter is the only option for you, try and remember to minimize the elements you can control. Tarps and heaters are a good way to get a bit of control.
In general, cold weather can be rough on your exterior paint, but it isn’t out of reach to paint during the winter. With proper insulation, moisture barriers and a sufficient amount of ventilation, you can avoid the condensation problems that come with exterior painting during the winter.