How Hot Weather Impacts Oklahoma Exterior Painting
Exterior Painting in Excessive Heat
If you’re like most people, you look forward to the warm weather of the summer months. For homeowners, it can seem like an opportune time to have the exterior of their home painted. Before searching Google for “painters near me,” you might want to consider the potential impact of excessive heat on exterior painting. Our team at Kaleidoscope Paint has many years of experience in painting homes in Edmond OK. We want to let you know about any perils or pitfalls of painting your home’s exterior when it’s hot out.
The Importance of Paint Curing
You know not to attempt painting a home when it is raining and that it can be dangerous to climb a ladder when it’s windy. You may not realize, however, that excessive heat can cause problems while painting your home’s exterior. The main point is to understand the importance of paint curing and that this is not the same thing as paint drying.
Paint can feel dry to the touch fairly soon after it is applied. This is especially true on a hot day. Paint curing, on the other hand, takes about two weeks to fully finish. This is how long it takes the paint to be completely dry throughout and to reach maximum hardness. On a very hot day, the surface of the paint might feel dry to the touch, but it may not be dry all the way through. Because excessive heat can make the surface dry faster than usual, it can cause the paint to form cracks, blisters and bumps. It can also become discolored.
Is There an Ideal Temperature Range for Exterior Painting?
Most exterior home painting services tell their customers that paint should be applied to homes on days that are between 60 degrees and 90 degrees. Latex paint, in particular, should be applied at temperatures between 50 and 85 degrees.
Beyond the air temperature, you need to pay attention to the temperature of the surface being painted. The side of your home that is in direct sunlight can be 10 to 20 degrees warmer than the air. As a general rule, any surface being painted should be less than 90 degrees.
How to Manage Temperature Issues
A little planning can go a long way in keeping high temperatures from being an insurmountable problem. For example, if you know you need to paint a side of your home that will be in direct sunlight, paint that side in the morning. This will enable the paint to be applied and have some time to dry before the heat becomes excessive. You can then paint the sides of the home that are never in direct sunlight during the afternoon. Our professional painters have the expertise to manage paint jobs to achieve the perfect result at a variety of temperatures.
Can Humidity Be a Concern?
The moisture present on humid days can negatively affect the paint. It will effectively thin the mixture of the paint by increasing the ratio of water to solvent. This will cause it to take longer to dry. Some of the moisture from a humid day may also get on the surface being painted. If this surface is a porous material, such as wood, this can cause the paint to bubble and peel.
What Can You Do to Avoid These Problems?
You will certainly want to monitor temperature and humidity levels during any exterior painting project. This will enable you to know the best days and times to paint various surfaces of your home. You might also consider having the painting done during the spring when temperatures are milder. If your home is in or around Edmond OK, your best solution will be to have us handle it for you! The team at Kaleidoscope Paint has the knowledge, training and tools to achieve a perfect result on every home we work on.
Get Your Free Exterior Home Painting Estimate
Our company is one of the premier exterior home painting services in Edmond OK. We bring years of home remodeling experience to every project we undertake. Our family-owned company guarantees your satisfaction, and our warranty is included in every job we do. You can put your mind at ease knowing that we are fully licensed and insured. We would love to add your family to our growing list of happy customers. We will consult with you on colors, schedules and every other aspect of your project. Please fill out our online contact form so that we can schedule your free estimate at a time of your choosing.