When to Paint (and When NOT to Paint) in New England

There are lots of things that can inspire you to paint. Maybe you’re getting a little bored with your current interior or exterior décor. Or could be that your siding and your walls are starting to show their age. Whatever your reasons for painting your home, there’s no right or wrong colors to use or styles to try! Have fun with it, and you’ll love the results.

It is worth mentioning, however, that there are definitely right and wrong TIMES to paint – especially where weather is concerned.

Here are some must-know dos and don’ts for painting interiors and exteriors:

DO read paint can labels. Paint manufacturers include temperature guidelines on their product and the recommended min and max temps have been set for a reason. Stay within the suggested range to get the best and longest lasting results.

DON’T rush interior paint drying times when it’s humid or wet outside. Always make sure that the coat you applied last is totally dry before starting your next coat.

DO open a window when you’re painting inside, even if it’s cold outside. Besides the fact that even the scent of low-VOC or no-VOC paints can make some people feel lightheaded, paint will dry much more slowly in a totally enclosed room.

DON’T even thinking about painting exteriors when it’s raining. Even if there is a slight chance of rain in the forecast, reschedule. A downpour will not only ruin your paint job, but may also splatter wet paint onto other surfaces.

DO start on the side of your house that’s in the shade and then follow the path of the sun so you’re applying paint in the shade as much as possible. Too much direct sunlight can cause lap marks and blistering.

DON’T paint when it’s too hot – if you’re using an airless paint sprayer, your paint can actually dry in the air before it ever hits the wall!

DO wait until the relative humidity is 40% to 70% to paint to get the best results. If humidity is high it can cause condensation to form on new paint when the temp drops, leading to streaks, fading, or poor adhesion.

DON’T paint when the wind is howling. When the wind is really blowing, leaves and other debris can blow onto wet paint and stick there. A strong wind can also cause paint to dry too quickly.

DO crank the heat and open a window when you’re painting indoors because heat plus air flow can help paint dry. Turning on a fan is almost never a bad idea.

Of course, if you’re working with a New England painting company that is concerned with quality, the team handling your painting project will be following these guidelines by default. Experienced painters know that drawing out a project because of weather is better than having to go back and fix the issues that extreme heat, cold, wind, fog, humidity, and rain can cause.

Every Massachusetts exterior painting and interior painting project is different, and unlike other MA interior painting companies, we will always treat your house, building, or surface as one-of-a-kind. Call us for a free estimate at 978-546-6843.

Categorised in: How-Tos, Interior painting, Painting Challenges