A new season is along the way. This usually means preparing the household for spring cleaning, like doing some exterior painting and interior painting to give your place a fresh new look for the season. But does spring translate to good time painting?
Painting your house’s interiors and exteriors gives your property a new glow. Most people prefer doing their painting during the spring season to go with the symbolism of the season itself.
Parts of the House That Usually Need Painting
When you consider painting your house, do a quick assessment first. Look for the areas that badly need a paint job.
Interior painting is usually not as prioritized as painting the outside walls of a house since the walls are not that exposed to the elements. So the paint lasts longer and maintains its vibrancy longer. But, given the area, the interior paint can still undergo degradation.
These are the areas where the paint quality rapidly decreases according to its use.
1. Kitchen
The kitchen is an area that often experiences high temperatures because of cooking activities. Aside from the effect of high temperature, oil splatters and food crumbs that get stuck on the wall also affect the condition of the paint. There are instances when oil splatters can create layers of grease. It is vital to remove them first before repainting the area.
2. Bathroom
Constant exposure to water and the minerals it contains cause massive changes to a painted wall. Hard water stains are the most obvious because they alter the vibrancy of a painted wall. Scrubbing hard water stains may lead to the flaking and removal of paint. Cleaning water stains usually involves a solution that is specifically made to deal with water stains.
Another common problem with bathroom walls is the presence of mold or mildew. Places that are often exposed to water are susceptible to mold and mildew. They can mess up a painted wall with small black spots that grow continuously.
3. Fireplace
Fireplaces are built to enclose the flame and for the smoke to move upwards. However, there are moments when the flame changes directions, especially with old fireplaces, causing soot to stick to the painted walls.
Soot is a greasy, black substance that sticks to any surface. Like mold and mildew, scrubbing soot with brush and water alone can destroy your wall’s paint.
4. Deck
Most houses have an outdoor, elevated wooden surface called decks that usually serve as a recreation area or an outdoor dining area. Since the deck is a part of the house often exposed to the elements (extreme sunshine and heavy rain), it is easy to see the exterior paint lose its vibrancy.
Which Season Is Perfect For House Painting?
At what temperature can you paint outside? Knowing the right temperature for painting outside is just as important as knowing the right season for doing a paint job.
1. Spring vs. Summer
Painting the property is a common activity during spring. Warm air is slowly creeping in and mixing with the remnants of cold air during springtime, resulting in fickle weather. Although springtime is generally a pleasant season, the downpour can sometimes prohibit outdoor cleaning, especially painting the exterior property.
Meanwhile, the summer season brings forth warm temperatures and dry weather. While this can be advantageous in maximizing the time spent in painting the exterior areas of the property, it can also mean that you have to watch your paint and prevent it from drying.
Early summer is the ideal season for professional house painters to do some outside painting. There is no more rainfall during this time, and the temperature is still not that intense. Such a combination can maximize a painter’s efforts in painting both the exterior and interior of a house while avoiding drying the paint.
2. Autumn vs. Winter
Can you paint in cold weather? Cold air causes difficulty in painting the exterior parts of the house, including areas like the patio and the deck. As cold air circulates, the environment also starts to get moist. Good time painting is improbable during the wet months. You may still paint the outdoors during the early days of autumn when there are still remnants of heat from the previous summer season and less rainfall.
Winter can be a good season to do some interior house painting, especially since the cold weather from outside mixed with the warm temperature from the thermostat can aid in drying the paint. However, the downside to this is the fumes will cause some problems with the occupants.
You can maximize the winter season by prioritizing the rooms and areas that people do not frequent. For instance, the attic and the basement can be the first rooms painted while waiting for the season to change.
Spring Painting Tips
Spring painting is the key if you want to maximize the new season and give your house a chance for rebirth. Early spring can still be moist and cold, and this adds a little difficulty completing outdoor projects and exterior house painting.
Here are some painting tips to make it easier for you to accomplish exterior and interior house painting this season.
1. Use a pressure washer.
Before painting the entire house with a new color, you have to remove the blemishes and caked-up particles to make sure that your surface is flat for the paint to be even. While you can use the traditional hose and brush combination, it takes too long to finish a paint job using such materials. Nowadays, people use a pressure washer to remove easily any element stuck on a wall.
2. Do some sanding.
Although this step is optional, sanding can remove the existing finish of old paint. Removing the finish helps the new paint to coat a surface easily. Sanding also helps remove layers of old paint that can prevent the new one from achieving its maximum vibrancy.
3. Use a sealant.
Some paints contain sealants. They act as the paint’s finish and prevent the outside elements from damaging the paint to help extend its vibrancy for a longer period.
Applying a finish to your paint job helps save money. Sealant application depends on how long does it take for exterior paint to dry. If the paint has no sealant mixed, consider buying a separate one.
Summer Painting Tips
The only downside to painting during the summer months is the fluctuating increase in temperature to paint outside. It can be disadvantageous both to the painter and the paint. Here are some tips to accomplish your house painting project during the summer season effectively.
1. Reconstitute the paint.
Paint drying is a common occurrence during the summer. Instead of throwing them away, reconstitute the paint to use them again. For these dried-up paints to work again, add some thinner or water and mix thoroughly with some paint thinner. Paint thinner is relatively inexpensive and readily available in hardware stores everywhere.
2. Monitor the sun’s position and temperature.
Summer experiences full sun throughout the month, which usually leads to dry and humid environments. When doing house painting during the summer season, start early when the sun has not yet fully risen. Doing a paint job between 7:00 AM to 10:00 AM is ideal does well for the paint to dry.
How warm does it have to be to paint outside? Most professional painters go for a temperature between 32 to 50 degrees Fahrenheit.
3. Use an ice bath for paints.
If there are instances that you still have to paint under extreme heat – whether beating a deadline or maximizing the good weather – it is best to use ice baths to prevent paint from drying.
This method requires simple materials: just a tub of ice and a container to put your paint with the ice.
Jeff Schultz Painting Helps You With Your House Painting Projects
If you need help with your painting projects in the coming months, Jeff Schultz Painting is here for you.
Jeff Schultz Painting houses professional and highly-skilled house Painters in Sarasota, FL. We not only help you make your house look brand-new but also give tips on how to paint exterior house and maintain your house’s vibrant colors.
Call us now, and let’s start painting!
