What Time of Year is Best for an Exterior Painting?

Without a doubt, an exterior painting project is more difficult to plan than an interior one. Interior projects can be done in a controlled environment but exterior projects are more weather dependent. It’s difficult to do a good job of painting your house’s exterior in the rain or even in extreme heat.

When it comes time to paint the exterior of your house, you might be wondering what the best season is. In most places, winter is too cold and snowy so summer is often regarded as the better season. In other places though, summer is too hot and winter is a better time. Keep reading if you’re wondering when the best time to paint the exterior of your house is when you’re looking to hire exterior painters in Orlando.

Best Weather to Paint In

Paint is affected by the weather. The temperature and humidity influence how the paint dries and can change how well the paint job turns out. In order to have the best results, you’ll need certain weather conditions and temperatures. 

What to Keep in Mind

Warm, dry days are the best for completing an exterior paint job. You’ll also want good weather a few days before and after you paint. Rain or humidity before you paint can delay the job as the siding will need to dry out first. While the paint is curing, rain can damage it.

Temperature fluctuations are also an important factor. Large temperature fluctuations will make the paint react in a way that prevents it from curing properly. While it may be the ideal temperature during the day, if the temperatures drop drastically overnight, your paint may be ruined.

What Time of Year is Best for an Exterior Painting?

Depending on where you live in the country, the seasons may look drastically different or stay relatively the same. We’ll go through some general tips but you’ll need to keep in mind your region’s unique seasons.

During autumn, temperatures may not vary as much. Early in the season, day temperatures and night temperatures stay relatively the same. You won’t have either extreme as the season begins to change. However, the temperature may quickly drop so you’ll need to keep an eye on the predicted weather. 

In southern states, winter might be the best time. Many paint manufacturers will post a minimum required temperature so as long as your weather meets it, you can continue to paint outdoors. Generally, it is better to paint in temperatures that are no lower than 50 degrees.

Here in Florida, late Winter, Autumn, and early Spring are often ideal. This is because there is lower humidity with just the right temperature and calmer winds.

That being said, professional painters in Florida like us do paint house exteriors in summer too as we have the experience to use professional techniques that allow us to still produce great results. 

It can be difficult to know when the best season is as each state is different. To help you choose the best time, here is what we recommend. 

1. Wait for Warm Weather

Avoid painting in extremely cold or hot weather. Instead, wait until it’s nice and warm out during both daytime and nighttime. As long as night temperatures are still above your paint’s minimum temperature, it’s safe to apply it during the warmer days.

2. Avoid the Rain

Rain is particularly bothersome when it comes to painting your home’s exterior. When you pick a date to paint on, it’s important to make sure there isn’t rain a few days before or a few days after. 

If it rains right before you paint, you’ll have to wait for your siding to dry out again which can delay your entire project. It’s best to avoid the rainy season entirely and just wait for dry weather.

3. Get Good Quality Paint

Regardless of the weather, using good paint should be your top priority. Poor quality paint will be even more sensitive to bad weather and can result in your exterior needing another paint job sooner than necessary. To do the job well, invest in high-quality paint that will withstand the elements and still look good over time.

Conclusion

The season you decide to paint will depend on where you live and the weather patterns. Ultimately, the specific time of the year doesn’t matter as much as the quality of the paint used and the knowledge of the painters you hire. 

As professional painters here in Orlando for the last 21 years, we are familiar with the seasons here and know how to work around unpredictable weather. We have the right experience and expertise with Florida weather and houses to deliver successful and high-quality exterior house painting, no matter what season it is.