It is important to find the right time to undertake your paining project. This way, you end up with a good paint job. The fall or winter times are the best for undertaking an interior painting project. Of course, there are also disadvantages attached to painting in the wintertime and knowing what they are should help you better decide whether or not to paint during this time.
A look at the advantages and disadvantages of painting in the wintertime
Advantages
- In case the painting is done before the temperatures really drop, then the paint will dry fairly fast. It will dry in such a way that it really sticks to the surface as opposed to paint that dries in the summer time faster than it actually sticks to the surface.
- There is no much humidity in the wintertime. The is important because when too much moisture gets into the paint before it has time to dry then chances of it properly drying become slim. The end result will be cracking or peeling paint on the painted surface overtime.
- You have plenty of time to do your painting in the wintertime because there are not many activities calling your attention on the outside.
Disadvantages
- The wintertime tends to be a very cold period and if the temperature really drops then chances of your paint properly drying becomes slim.
The following are some of the reasons why you should consider panting in the wintertime.
There are great deals to take advantage of
Since many people look forward to paining in the summer or spring time, the wintertime tends to be a slow time for painting contractors. As a result, when you choose to do your painting during this period, chances of you getting great deals from the contractor are pretty high.
There is no need to open all the windows
Much as paint fumes can be quite toxic, when you do your painting during the winter time, there is no need to open up all the windows. During this time, the most important thing will be having proper ventilation and when the need arises you can also heat up the room.
Paint gets better cured in the wintertime
The wintertime is great for curing paint. When you paint in the summer time, paint may dry so fast that it doesn’t really have a chance to properly stick to the surface. Painting during the wintertime however helps ensure that the paint is properly cured. This is because there is not much humidity present in the wintertime. As a result you don’t have to worry about having to wait too long for the paint to dry-as long as there is just enough air in the room and the temperatures don’t drop too low.
You get to cut down on your expenses
When you paint in the wintertime, you get to cut down on your expenses. This is because not many people are painting during this time. This will in turn free up your budget to be utilized on other things during the summer or spring time.
Tips to getting the job done right
In order for your winter paint job to become a success, the painting needs to be done when temperatures are not in their 50s or below. This helps do away with unwanted occurrences such as water spotting in latex paint, poor color uniformity, film cracking or a rather slow and inconsistent drying time.
What you need to do;
- You need to check the surface to ensure that it is warm enough to accept paint. Ideally, the best temperature to aim for in order to get a great paint job is between 70°F and 80°F. In case you are not there yet, you may consider making use of a heat gun or hairdryer to bring the temperature on the wall to just what you need.
- Make use of additives since paint has a tendency of getting thicker in the wintertime thus making it harder to use. You need to find the right additives for water-based or oil-based paint in order to get the job done right.
Ultimately, with the right temperatures, a winter paint job stands greater chances of being better than a summer time paint job.
Credits
Visions Painting and Stucco – Burlington Painters
Popular Mechanics – 7 Smart Tips for Painting Your House
