Painting the outdoors of a house is a duty that all homeowners ultimately have to deal with, regardless of whether your home is in severe need of a fresh coat of paint, you’re ready for a drastic color change, or you want to DIY style freshen up your trim.
Additionally, when the time comes, you must know the ideal temperature to paint outside to get a gorgeous, durable finish.
Better Roofing and Remodeling is here with their unmatched exterior house painting services. This blog will clear the doubts about what to do when you have to paint outside, like cleaning walls before painting, and much more.
Timing Is Everything for Exterior Painting Temperature
- According to a general rule of thumb, latex paint is best applied between 50° and 85° F, and oil-based paint can be used when the painting temperature is between 40° and 90° F. For most exteriors, however, latex paints are preferred (we suggest 100% acrylic).
- The perfect day to paint your exterior painting temperature should be between 60° and about 85°F and little to no wind. The paint may dry too quickly if there is too much wind.
- The ideal humidity range for good paint drying is between 40% and 70%.
- Your paint may not adhere properly if the temps are too high or too low, which can cause unpleasant cracking and peeling. High temperatures can make it challenging to apply latex paint.
Concerns For Cool Weather
A range of premium 100% acrylic latex paints and primers are available at Better Roofing and Remodeling. They have been carefully developed to be utilized in temperature for exterior painting as low as 35°F. But remember that for 36 hours after application, the air and external temperatures should not fall below 35° for the paint to completely dry and cure. We advise painting in weather no less than 50°F to be safe and prevent unwelcome speed bumps. For best results, we suggest painting from 10 a.m. until 3 p.m.
Be patient because lower temperatures result in slower drying and longer curing times. Give yourself plenty of time between coats, usually 24 hours. This advice is essential when painting.
What Occurs When Exterior Painting Is Done at the Wrong Outdoor Paint Temperature?
House paint won’t go through the required chemical reactions to bind properly under extreme heat or cold. Extreme temperatures can therefore affect how long paint lasts or cause paint to fracture and peel after it has dried.
As you paint your house, poor weather conditions can also affect the consistency of the paint. While thinner paint requires fewer coats for solid coverage, thicker paint is more difficult to apply. Both ultimately result in using more color than you had anticipated—the best temperature for painting outside ranges from 60° to around 85°F.
Optimum Temperature to Paint Outside
77 degrees Fahrenheit, or several degrees warmer or colder, is considered optimum. Also, consider surface temperature. The air may feel one temperature, but the siding of your home will be warmer if the sun is shining directly on it. This will impact how well the paint sticks to the siding. It is, therefore, preferable to avoid painting or staining in the sun. Never paint before or right after it has rained. The paint may not cure correctly as a result of the dampness. Additionally, water droplets may form on your color.
What Are the Dangers of Temp to Paint Outside When It’s Too Hot?
On the other hand, from the cold, paint can dry out too quickly in the heat. The exterior of your property may develop lumps and blisters.
When painting in sweltering weather, many things might go wrong. Painting a surface in direct sunlight could make the paint dry too quickly, which might mean the color doesn’t fully adhere.
It can also result in an uneven appearance in sheen or texture. We’ve seen instances when the paint dries as soon as it touches the wall, making it impossible for the painter to keep a wet edge and causing an uneven sheen and surface.
How Rain Affects Temperature to Paint Outside
Painting the exterior of your home requires a clear sky.
To ensure proper paint adhesion, the surface of your home must first be arid before painting. To ensure that the paint dries precisely and that the water doesn’t harm your paint job, you should paint on a day when it won’t rain.
Try to paint when you anticipate a few days of clear skies, if feasible.
How Wind Affects Exterior Painting Temperature
Too much wind can cause paint to dry too quickly and unevenly or blow more particles into your paint before it can dry. Try to paint your house outside with the least amount of wind. A good guideline is to keep the wind at or below 8 miles per hour.
How Painting Temperature Fluctuations Affect Painting Outside
You already know that paint will apply and look better at the proper exterior painting temperature, but did you also realize that temperature variations should also be considered?
You want to be sure the temperature for exterior painting will remain steady on the days you paint. If the temperature falls too low, dew will form at night, adding moisture to your paint. Temperatures are not unusual to reach a comfortable level during the daytime, only to drop by 20°F when the sun sets.
Paint early enough in the day to dry before sundown to help with temperature changes.
Other Considerations Outdoor Paint Temperature
Most painting specialists begin their work by tracing the sun’s shadow around the home. Using this technique can prevent painting in direct sunshine, which can cause the paint to dry up too rapidly. A decent rule of thumb is to wait until the color is touch-dry before the sun sets for the day. After the sun sets, the air becomes more relaxed and humid, which can lead to possible issues.
What Temperature Should You Not Paint Outside?
It is strongly advised not to paint in temperatures lower than 50 degrees Fahrenheit if you use latex-based paint. Anything below 40 degrees Fahrenheit is too chilly if you use oil-based paint, but you can get away with it otherwise. Why is the temperature critical when painting outside? If it’s too cold, your color might not adhere properly, resulting in undesirable peeling and splitting—lower temperature to paint results in slower drying and 24-hour curing periods. Also, watch out for peeling or a lack of adhesion to surfaces like siding.
Best Paint for Outdoors
You want to conduct your research to make the most fantastic choice, just as with any significant and expensive decision. You’ll want to know what kind of paint to look at before choosing your favorite color.
Latex Paint
Since the 1950s, latex paint has been the most popular option. Latex paint frequently has a water-based formula, which is better for you and the environment. Low VOCs, ease of application, quicker drying time than other paints, and simplicity of cleaning all characterize latex. As a result, latex paint is the kind of paint we suggest most for indoor and outdoor painting jobs.
Acrylic Paint
Acrylic comes the second place among popular paint kinds. You might be shocked that latex paint isn’t always preferred over acrylic paint. This is because of its increased flexibility and endurance. Much more so than latex paint, acrylic paint can resist direct sunshine. However, latex is much more frequently employed.
Read More: How to Clean Vinyl Siding
On A Final Note
In conclusion, choosing the right temp to paint outside is crucial for achieving the best results. Painting in temperatures that are too hot or cold can cause problems such as cracking, peeling, or bubbling, which can be costly to fix. The ideal temperature to paint outside is between 50- and 85-degrees Fahrenheit, with low dampness and no rain in the forecast. Following these guidelines ensures that your paint job will dry properly and last for years. Remember, taking the time to paint in the right weather conditions is a small investment that can make a big difference in the longevity and appearance of your home’s exterior.
