How Does Cold Weather Affect Paint?
When using water-based exterior paint, it is essential to keep in mind that it will require certain conditions to cure correctly. If you don’t paint in the right conditions and the paint does not cure properly, you may end up repainting your home sooner than you would like to, this is why it is best to contact professional painters in Pittsburgh such as MasterBrush Painting to ensure that your paint is applied in the right conditions.
The Best Paint Curing Conditions
When planning to paint your home’s exterior, it is vital to know the best conditions to paint in that will yield the best results. The temperature outside should be at least 50° F and shouldn’t drop below 32° F at night for several days. The fresh paint will take several days to cure completely.
If the temperature dips too low, it can lead to dew forming on the surface and will cause the water in the paint to evaporate slowly. While the temperature could be warm enough during the day, the paint won’t be able to form an adequate film if it gets too cold at night.
When the paint is unable to develop a good film, it will affect how the paint holds up against the elements over time and will also affect how it resists cracking. Moisture and cold temperatures can also lead to staining from mold or mildew.
It is essential to check the label on the paint can detailing any instructions about the ideal temperature range for the paint to cure.
Tips for Painting Your Home’s Exterior
In addition to painting in the right temperature conditions, there are also a variety of ways you can prepare your home for painting to ensure a job well done:
Protect surrounding surfaces – Be sure to cover plants, exhaust vents, and your air conditioner. You may also need to tie back tree limbs and shrubs.
Clean the surface – As long as your home was built after 1978, you shouldn’t have to worry about lead paint. Using a scrub pad or wire brush or gently with a pressure washer and detergent, clean the surface of the home. Using bleach and water or a commercial cleaner, you will also want to scrub away mildew and scrape out any rotten areas, filling them with wood filler and sanding them smooth. This will need to dry for several days prior to painting.
Prep the surface – Scrape any cracked or dried out caulking around windows, trim, and doors and apply fresh caulk where it is needed. For bare wood, prime it with a primer that the paint manufacturer recommended. Also, be sure to replace any rotted or cracked boards.
Professional Painting Services for Best Results
Save yourself the time and the hassle of painting your home and contact the MasterBush Painting for all of your residential and commercial painting needs. Pittsburgh customers can rest assured that the expert team at MasterBrush Painting has the knowledge and the tools to carefully paint their home for stunning, long-lasting results. Contact us today to learn more.
Author:
Henry Weber
Before starting Master Brush Painting in 1981, Henry worked at one of the top painting companies in Pittsburgh where he learned the trade from world-renowned experts. Since then expertise has satisfied clients in Pittsburgh and surrounding area as well as earning him awards such as the Angie's List Super Service Award.
Speak With An Expert
Ready to transform your space with our professional services? Fill out this form and one of our experts will reach out ASAP to schedule free, no-obligation quote today!
