Beginners often assume that hot weather simply means that paint will dry faster, which is true; however there are dangers with having paint dry too quickly. While your area may not get as hot and humid, the dangers are still worth taking into consideration. Naperville Painters lay out the pros and cons of taking on a residential painting project in hot weather.
The Good:
- Spackle, Primer, and Joint Compound dry more quickly, which equals less prep time.
- Paint dries quickly, allowing you to apply a 2nd or 3rd coat the same day.
- The smell of paint disperses more quickly, especially for outside projects.
- The heat causes the can of paint to be hotter, which warms the paint and makes it thinner.
The Bad:
- It can cause paint to dry too quickly, causing unsightly speckling and an uneven finish.
- If the paint dries while still painting, it can look overlapped with neighboring sections, instead of blending in.
- Brushes and rollers may dry out and become extremely difficult to clean.
Dangers:
The Curing Process. In order for paint to set, a certain amount of liquid must stay with the paint while drying. If the temperature is too hot, the water in the paint evaporates too quickly and does not allow pigment and resin particles to fuse properly, which will result in cracked paint.
Health Considerations. Since hot air rises, painting inside on a hot day can cause paint fumes to collect quickly near the ceiling, which means anyone painting up on a ladder inside will be breathing in a lot of those toxic fumes.
Hot Weather Painting Techniques:
- For exterior jobs, start as early in the morning as possible, but after any dew has evaporated.
- As the sun rises and areas of the house become shaded, work around the house painting the shaded areas as the sun moves east to west.
- Paint interiors from top to bottom. Try to cover the ceiling and tops of walls while the day is still cool.
- Use plenty of fans and position them blowing away from freshly painted areas to help disperse the fumes.
While hot weather does not present the greatest of painting conditions, don’t be afraid to start a painting project in the summer. Just take the provided information and tips into consideration during your project for the best results.