Summer seems like the ideal time to paint because of the warm temperatures and the decent weather, but this is far from the case. That’s because the temperatures don’t just get warm in this season; they get hot to such a point as to compromise the quality of the painting. As a year-round provider of exterior home painting services, though, Cornerstone Painting knows that it’s not impossible to have your project completed in summer. During your initial consultation with us, we can take the following factors into account.

The Importance of Paint Curing

It’s not so much wind and rain that affect the success of an exterior painting job, but rather the temperature. Paint when the temperature is too low, and you’ll have a hard time actually applying the paint because the oils and resins will thicken in the cold. Water-based paints, for their part, will freeze in low temperatures.

On the other hand, high temperatures, which is what we’re concerned with here, prevent the paint from curing properly. Curing is the process by which the paint bonds to the material it’s applied to and completely hardens; it’s not the same thing as drying, which is where the solvents evaporate from the paint and create a dry feeling only to the touch. In hot weather, the upper layer of the paint will dry quickly enough, but it won’t be cured. Worst of all is that as a result of the quick drying, the paint will develop bumps, blisters, and cracks and even become discolored.

The Ideal Temperature for Exterior Painting

Temperatures over 85 degrees Fahrenheit for water-based or acrylic paints are bad news, while oil-based paints will present problems in temperatures over 90 degrees. As for the lowest temperature that you could perform your exterior painting project in, this would be around 35 degrees. Ideally, you should paint outdoors when the weather is between the 60s and 70s.

Remember, though, that we’re talking about the surface temperature of the house, not the air temperature. The exterior of your home can be anywhere from 10 to 20 degrees higher than the air temperature, and you would need to factor in the rise in temperature that occurs when you’re in direct sunlight.

We would dissuade our customers from utilizing our exterior home painting services, then, if the air temperature is over 85 degrees and the house is being exposed to direct sunlight. However, our crew may be able to paint those sides of the home that are shaded. We know what it takes to work around the challenges that the weather brings.

The Effect that Humidity Has

With an annual average of more than 70% humidity, Woodinville WA is a tricky area to plan your exterior painting job in. High humidity means a higher amount of water vapor in the air, which gets into the paint and, if you’re using water-based paint, throws off the ratio of solvent to the pigment, resins, and additives. The paint will become thinner as a consequence and either take too long to dry or not dry at all, failing to adhere to the surface and protect it.

The water vapor also gets onto your surfaces, too, and if the surface you’re painting is wood, it will be easily absorbed. There’s the danger, then, of the paint peeling and bubbling.

Call Our Family-Run Company

You may be wondering, “Are there any painters near me who would take the time to consider all these variables?” At Cornerstone Painting, we believe we stand out from the competition because of our attention to detail and our commitment to customer satisfaction. We know that you have a busy schedule and want results in a timely manner, and our team will expertly balance that with a careful consideration of temperature and humidity levels. We’ll monitor the environment at all times during the exterior painting process and make adjustments according to the weather conditions that are being forecast.

Cornerstone Painting is proud to provide the people of Woodinville WA with exterior home painting services. We have a team of fully licensed and insured tradesmen with years of experience, and each has undergone a background check. As a family-owned and -operated company, we treat our customers like we would treat our friends. You’re guaranteed to love the results; they’ll be backed by a five-year warranty. Give us a call today, then, and we can discuss your schedule, the color you want for your home, and much more. You’ll receive a free estimate for your exterior painting project.