The appearance of your home’s exterior matters, especially if you are putting it on the market. It affects your property’s curb appeal and potential to attract would-be buyers. It also impacts your home’s value. Hence, it is wise not to take your exterior walls for granted.
Unlike interior painting, applying a fresh coat of paint outdoors can be challenging. This is primarily because the weather plays a huge role in this endeavour. Without favourable weather conditions, painting your home’s exterior cannot commence. Moreover, paint may not cure properly, resulting in a sloppy paint job.
Aside from spring, summer is a good season to paint outdoors. So, if your external walls need a fresh coat of paint, you can work on them now. Please note, however, that this is not an easy project. Unless you have the required tools and skills to achieve an excellent outcome, it is best to hire pros. Keep in mind, the paint job needs to be durable enough to withstand various elements. With their experience, skills and tools, professional house painters can guarantee high quality and long-lasting exterior paint job.
Helpful Tips for Exterior Painting in Summer
Meanwhile, if you wish to go the DIY route, below are some useful tips for exterior painting in summer.
Monitor weather forecasts to determine the ideal time to do outdoor painting. It does not mean that, just because it is summer and the temperature is hot, you can paint any day you want. Basically, you do not want the temperature to go beyond 21℃. When it is too hot, the paint job is going to easily flake and crack.
Furthermore, the temperature of the surface to be painted on cannot be too hot as well. This is why the best time of the day to paint is early in the morning. Also, when applying paint, observe the “chasing-the-shade” technique. To avoid working under the sun and on an extremely hot surface, follow the shade around your house.
You must also take note of the humidity level because this can affect the paint’s ability to adhere to the surface. Furthermore, it is going to determine the length of time it would take for the paint to cure. Ideally, anywhere between 50 to 60 per cent is good for outdoor painting. When the humidity hits over 70 per cent, your paint is going to take time drying and curing.
Lastly, avoid painting on a very windy day. While the wind can help shorten the drying time of the paint, it can also affect the quality of the paint job. The breeze can carry dust and other debris which can stick on your walls. Hence, too much wind is not going to do your outdoor painting project any good.
Make sure you have the necessary gears and tools. The summer heat can be too much for your skin. Hence, you need to wear the appropriate attire like caps or hats and put on sunscreen. Your painting tools also affect your output. So, invest in high quality brushes and rollers. Most importantly, use the right type of paint, one that is specially formulated for outdoor use. In addition, in terms of colour, it is best to pick light ones over darker hues. Lighter colours absorb less heat and energy (both of which weaken the bonds in the paint), thereby making them more durable. They are also less likely to fade quickly.
Just like in interior painting, proper prep work must be done when working on your home’s external walls. This is an essential step that has a huge impact on the appearance and durability of your paint job. So, thoroughly clean the surface – sand or scrub and power wash it. Fill any holes or cracks, too. Prime the surface and let it dry. Apply the paint and be sure to observe the recommended drying time before applying your second coat.
Learn more tips for exterior house painting in summer. Talk to our trusted professional house painters. Call us at 086 608 1817 / 085 139 0233 today!
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Photo by TAFE SA TONSELY 
