You may have been told by friends and family that your painting projects will have to wait because it’s wintertime.  They are wrong. Cold temperatures no longer dictate when you can or cannot paint. Improved paint technology has enabled professional painters and homeowners to tackle their remodeling projects any time of the year, even during the winter.

Painting Interior Surfaces

Interior surfaces are usually in temperature-controlled environments which means you can paint them in the winter or any other season.  Temperature and humidity can be adjusted to give you the ideal scenario for painting.

Even if you are painting inside your house, paint does react to colder weather. There are some effects of cold weather on different types of paint. Be sure to consider these and take the necessary precautions to ensure your paint job is smooth.

1. Proper Ventilation  Opening windows allows air to flow in the room to aid in drying and defusing paint fumes. Cold temperatures may cause some homeowners to keep the windows closed. A lack of ventilation keeps the paint fumes in your home and presents a health risk to you and your family.However, many paints now are made with low, or even no Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC’s). Using this type of paint produces no noxious or harmful fumes. It enables you to paint indoors safely without ventilation.

2. New Construction or Renovation Painting an area during the process of building a new house in the winter can be a problem.  Being able to heat the rooms aids in the bonding of the paint. You need to use paint that is labeled as bonding correctly at temperatures that match or are below the temperature of the room you plan to paint.

3. Latex and Solvent Paints  The air in the room and the surface of its walls need to be 50 degrees Fahrenheit or more to apply latex house paint; otherwise, the paint will not bond correctly. If latex paint is applied in low temperatures, a brownish syrup material appears on the surface of the freshly painted wall.Solvent paints are affected by cooler temperatures too.  Paint thickens when the temperature is cold.  If this is applied to your walls, the result is a wrinkled surface on the paint.

Exterior Surface Painting

Paint manufacturers recommend a minimum outside temperature of 50 degrees F. However, with improved paint technology, there are certain types of paint where the minimum has been lowered to 35 degrees F.  There are other factors to consider when painting exterior surfaces during the winter.

1. Air Temp vs. Surface Temp The surface of your home’s exterior may be below the actual air temperature. Always check the surface temperature before you start painting.

2. Drying Time Paint takes longer to dry in the winter. Allow for enough drying time before temperatures start to drop as evening approaches.

3. Storage of Paint All materials such as paint, caulk, and patching materials should be stored at room temperature. When ready to use again, they can be applied smoothly to the surface.

4. Use Additives Paint gets thicker in colder weather which makes it harder to work with.  The best way to solve this problem is by using additives. Follow the manufacturer’s instructions for how much to add to your paint.

​Why Hire a Painter During the Winter?

A professional painter will know exactly what to do to get a smooth finish when painting in the winter.  Here’s why you should hire one during the winter season.

• Knowledge Experienced painters know the best time to paint in colder temperatures (sunny days between 8 am and 1 pm) and can explain how temperatures can affect paint.
• Projects Cost Less  Painting quotes are competitive in the spring and summer seasons because professional painters are in high demand.  Wintertime is considered the slow season for painters which means lower costs for projects. 
• More Flexibility  Due to the slow winter season, painting companies have more flexibility.  This allows painters to adjust to your work or vacation schedule. They can also add manpower to complete a project much faster.
• Maximize Home Value for Spring If you are planning to sell your home, you are likely waiting until springtime to enter the market.  A fresh coat of paint can help with the appearance to entice potential buyers. Choosing to paint the your home in the wintertime will help you gain an advantage over your competition.

Don’t Wait until Spring 

You don’t need to wait to paint your home until the temperature warms up. Contact Battle Born Painting to get your home painted now. We have the expertise for winter painting projects, both interior, and exterior.  If you’re looking for an experienced professional painter, call us for a free estimate today.