Problems with Home Exterior Painting in the Winter

If your home’s exterior paint isn’t in tip-top shape, it can bother you every time you see it, especially if you’re trying to sell your home and the curb appeal isn’t too appealing. Unfortunately, winter is quickly creeping up on us here in the northern region of the United States, so painting your home might have to wait. Listed here, we have explained some of the challenges you might face if you attempt home exterior painting in the winter in Philadelphia.

When Preparing to Paint

Most houses have to be pressure washed or sanded in order to prepare for the newest coat of paint. In the wintertime, you can understand how pressure washing might be a disaster, especially if the temperatures outside are below freezing. Weather conditions like snow and ice can make it difficult to keep the surface clean, so that your new coat of paint might not stick properly.

If there is any rotten wood that needs to be replaced before the new coat of paint can be applied, that will cause your house to be under construction during the wintertime. Unfortunately, it is best to have these kinds of issues fixed as soon as possible, but with ServiceWhale you can easily find a contractor who is able to help your family out, even in the dead of winter. After the construction is complete, you should still consider waiting to paint.

Painting in the Winter

Temperature has a lot to do with painting when it comes to exterior painting in the winter. If the temperature of your home’s surfaces drops to a certain degree, then your water-based paints might not set or dry properly. This is an issue because wet paint is more susceptible to attracting bugs and dirt when drying, which can make your new painting job look anything but.

A good rule of thumb is to wait until the temperature does not dip below 40 degrees outside. Though this is not below freezing, the surfaces of your home can actually cool faster than the air. Oil-based paints can be more forgiving, while latex paints are not. If the temperature is supposed to stay in the 50 to 60 degree range, then it is more likely that your paint, no matter what kind, will dry more quickly.

When is Painting Season?

While painting in the wintertime isn’t impossible, it is less challenging to have your home painted in the warmer weather. Without the obstacles of snow, ice and blustery winds, your paint will be able to dry in an appropriate amount of time while reducing the risk of dirt and bugs sticking to the wet paint. As a result, you will have a fresh coat of paint that makes the exterior of your home look like new.

Spring and summer conditions make it more comfortable for the contractor painting your home and provides ample time for the paint to dry properly. You can hire a contractor to paint the exterior of your home in the winter, but almost all might advise you to wait until the summer.

In Philadelphia and other regions that suffer blustery winters, it is best to wait until the conditions outside improve when painting the exterior of your home. Stay in-touch with us at ServiceWhale for updates and deals on painting the outside of your home when the weather warms up.