The appearance of the exterior of your house is just as important as its interiors, especially if you are planning to sell your home. If you want to make the outside of your house look immaculate, a fresh coat of paint can do the trick. Exterior painting should be done at least once every four to six years. However, certain factors like the quality of the previous paint job and the climate in your area may cause you to repaint earlier than expected.
Admittedly, outdoor painting is more challenging than indoor painting. One reason for this is that exterior painting cannot be done any time you want to. Favourable weather conditions are necessary before you can proceed to doing this task.
So, when is the best time for exterior painting? Spring is the optimal time to paint outdoors. This may come as a surprise to many since the prevailing notion is that summer is the right time for exterior painting. This belief rests on the fact that with summer comes high temperatures which make paint dry quicker. However, hot weather can be bad for a paint job.
When it’s too hot (like during the summer), latex paint dries faster which can ruin the formation of the film. This can result in blisters, bumps, cracks, discolorations and other imperfections on the painted surface. Additionally, paint on the brush may also dry quicker resulting in clumps of paint. This can make it tough for you to achieve a professional-looking paint job and to accomplish the task faster.
Simply put, when paint is applied during an extremely hot weather, the durability and aesthetics of the paint job decline. For best results, latex paint requires mild temperatures, not lower than 10°C, for it to properly dry and adhere to the surface well. This is why spring in Ireland, with average temperatures of 8°C to 12°C, is the preferred time for outdoor painting by most professionals.
Furthermore, scheduling exterior painting during spring allows you to discover problems brought about or exacerbated by winter. The harsh conditions during winter can cause the paint on your walls to soften and swell. Eventually, the paint chips off, flakes or gets peeled. Moreover, growth of moulds and mildews is highly likely under high moisture conditions. Finding these issues early on allows you to address them before they become too expensive to repair.
Lastly, the mild temperatures during spring can make it more comfortable for you to do this chore. This is primarily because you do not have to contend with the scorching heat of the sun. If you paint outdoors when the weather is too hot, you run the risk of suffering from heat exhaustion and heat stroke.
However, given how unpredictable weather conditions can be in Ireland, it pays to plan ahead for an exterior painting project. Check the weather forecasts to determine the ideal time in spring to start painting outdoors. Meanwhile, if you think your exterior walls require repainting ASAP, do not hesitate to tap the services of professional painters. Trained and equipped with the essential tools, experienced painters can come to your aid and work on your exterior walls when you need it.
In need of exterior painting services? Call us at 86 608 1817 / 085 139 0233 and schedule a consultation with our highly experienced painters.
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Image courtesy of Max Pixel.
