How Weather Influences Exterior Paints
Temperature fluctuations that include very cold weather followed by milder temperatures can literally cause the paint to peel right off your home! As the wood or other materials under exterior paint expand and contract, the bond between paint and painted surfaces grows weaker. Paint – especially lower quality exterior paints used by disreputable painting companies – can crack, flake off, or bubble under the stress of rapid, intense temperature changes.
On top of everything else, frigid winter lows can even change the color of your exterior paint! In the coldest weather, dark colors of budget paint can look frosted… or even turn white!
Weather Affects Paint
Before you set a date for your renovation, here are some critical weather facts to remember before you start painting your home:
Sunlight and U.V Radiation Affects Paint Job
A beautiful sunny day might be great for spending the day outside, but it can cause premature paint failure. Direct sunlight, especially when it’s extremely hot, deteriorates the binding agents and pigments of paint. This causes chalking, fading and erosion. Low quality paints are more susceptible to sunlight as well.
Water and Moisture
It’s a no brainier that you don’t want to paint when it’s raining. But even after the rain is gone, you need to make sure that the surfaces hit by rain are given enough time to properly dry out before applying paint. Failure to do so can result in cracking, blistering and flaking, especially on permeable surfaces like wood.
Too Cold
When it’s cold outside, paints get thicker and are harder to apply. Drying also takes much longer making it difficult for the paint to bond to surfaces. This affects paint jobs and results in cracking and chalking.
Too Hot
Hot weather causes paint to dry much too fast. This not only affects the overall lifespan, but also makes applying the paint more difficult. Paint that dries too fast is hard to spread and clogs up brushes and rollers.
HOW WEATHER AFFECTS EXTERIOR HOUSE PAINTING
Humidity
There is a reason that you never see anyone out in the rain painting their house, and that reason is humidity. For paint to dry, it’s best to have a sunny, dry day. If it’s raining or extremely humid, the paint will take longer to dry and will also deteriorate faster. Of course, there is always some level of humidity in the air and if you wait for it to be gone, you may never paint the house. It’s best to aim for as dry a day as possible when looking at exterior house painting in Atlanta, and to make sure that the surface you’re painting is not wet or damp.
Temperature
Temperature fluctuations can cause paint to expand in the heat and contract in the cold. Over time, this leads to cracks in the paint. As the wood or other material under the paint also contracts and expands, this will result in peeling paint. UV lights, which typically come with warmer temperatures, will also cause your paint to fade more quickly.
You cannot change the temperature outdoors, but painters can decide what temperature to complete exterior paint jobs in Atlanta. Painting in moderately cool weather decreases the drying time of the paint, which correlates with a longer time between re-coats of paint. On the other hand, extremely cold temperatures can cause color changes in the paint. These temperature considerations are important when considering exterior painting in Atlanta.
Wind
Paint drying too quickly does not sound like a problem, but excessive wind can cause paint to dry so quickly that the integrity of the paint is compromised due to weakened bonds. When paint dries, it must form a film, which may not happen with excessive wind. Over time, wind may also cause damage to your home and your paint job, as it wears down paint and makes re-coats necessary. During painting, it’s also good to remember that wind carries dust and other particles, which can get stuck in the paint as it is being applied.
How Temperature and Humidity Affect Paint and Painting Application
The type of paint is also important, when it comes to temperature and humidity. By way of example, temperatures above 45 degrees Fahrenheit are recommended when using oil-based paints; however, latex and acrylic paints work much better in temperatures that exceed 50 degrees Fahrenheit. It is important to check the optimum working conditions for any paint you choose.
- Temperature and Drying Paint
Temperature recommendations are cited for a reason. Depending on the paint, the temperature can either increase or reduce drying times. Lower ambient temperatures cause some paints to thicken, causing a longer drying time.
Thicker paint that takes longer to dry will result in running or sagging. The result is an ugly and uneven surface, which will often require starting the project from scratch after re-preparing the surface. This will cost you both time and money that could have been avoided by following the manufacturer’s instructions.
- Humidity and Drying Paint
High humidity creates increased water vapor in the air and on surfaces. Water-based paints rely on a calculated ratio of solvent (water) to pigment, resin, and additives. Too much humidity adds solvent to the paint, thinning the mixture and preventing it from drying within expected timescales.
Painting wooden surfaces is also problematic in high humidity, as wood is porous and will absorb any excess moisture from the air. Added moisture will usually cause the paint to peel and bubble as it dries. It doesn’t matter how many coats you use, if you continue to apply paint in conditions with adverse humidity, the results will likely be the same.
Exterior Paint and the Influence of Weather
To ensure that a quality paint job is achieved and will last, take preparation of the surface as seriously as paint application. Proper preparation of the surface involves:
- A thorough cleaning of surfaces to remove mildew, mold, and dirt. This can be achieved with a pressure washer or a bleach solution.
- Scrape as much old paint off as possible.
- Repair splinters, cracks, and chips on the exterior surface.
- Before applying primer, be careful to allow the surface to dry completely.
- Apply the appropriate primer prior to painting the exterior.
If you have any questions about choosing the right exterior paints, contact they professionals. They will be able to guide you in the right direction, as far as ensuring that your exterior paint job can adequately stand up against harsh weather.