When Is It Too Cold to Paint Your Home’s Exterior?

The weather is one of the most overlooked factors that contributes to the success or failure of an exterior painting job. After all, you could hire the best crew in town and buy the finest product, and still your project will fail if nature doesn’t cooperate. 

Temperature extremes are detrimental to the curing process of paint. That’s why many homeowners are reluctant to change their home’s finish   during the winter. But you’ll be glad to know that winter exterior painting is feasible as long as you plan the project properly.

So, how cold is too cold? Any trusted residential roofing and painting contractor will admit that there’s no straightforward answer to this question.

Water-Based or Oil-Based

To determine the optimal temperature range for your paint to dry adequately, you must first learn the content of your chosen product.

Generally, oil-based paints are easier to apply when it’s hot, but water-based ones can freeze if it gets too cold. Any temperature below 75°F can negatively affect the curing process.

Then again, every product, be it oil- or water-based, can have specialized contents that help maintain its consistency when the temperature falls.

When scheduling siding, gutter and roofing inspections, it helps to ask your contractor about the properties and curing attributes of the various paints at your disposal.

Surface & Air

Checking the weather forecast for the day or days when you intend to schedule the project is essential so you’re aware of the anticipated air temperature for that time. However, keep in mind that air temperature is different from surface temperature. Surface temperature matters more since it directly impacts the curing of the paint. That’s why it’s imperative to hire a painter that uses an infrared thermometer and doesn’t rely on guesswork.

Day & Night

Experts in storm damage repair and painting understand that air and surface temperatures between day and night can vary significantly. If your chosen product needs at least 24 hours to cure sufficiently, you ought to take both temperatures into account to ensure quality work.

Exterior painting can be trickier than it seems, so tap Lifestyle Home Improvement Roofing and Construction to overcome the winter elements and flawlessly carry out your project. Call (405) 470-6999 to schedule an inspection with us and get a free estimate!