While we’re all thrilled to soak up every bit of the summer sun while we can, the heat, intense sunlight, and humidity of summer present challenges when it comes to house painting. But fear not – with the right strategies and insights, you can navigate these obstacles and achieve a flawless paint job that stands the test of time.

Expert Tips for Summer Home Painting Projects

With temps soaring this summer, painting can be more challenging than it is during the cooler months. Read these five tips from our expert painting crew to get the most out of your paint job this summer.

1. Paint in the Morning or Evening

Direct sunlight peaks at noon and begins to gradually die down until sunset. To avoid painting in extreme heat conditions, plan to paint before 11 am or after 4 pm.

2. Store Paint in a Dry, Cool Area

Paint can lose its consistency and become unusable in high temperatures. We recommend storing your paint cans in cooler, dryer places and avoiding keeping them out of spaces that reach more than 80 degrees Fahrenheit.

3. Prep Surfaces

To ensure your paint job lasts as long as possible, try removing all debris on your paint surfaces ahead of time. The cleaner, the better! This will help guarantee better adhesion to the surface.

4. Avoid the Wind

High winds tend to blow unwanted dust, bugs, and debris onto your home’s exterior. Therefore, we recommend monitoring the weather conditions and opting for a day when windy and breezy conditions are minimal.

5. Air it Out

Planning to paint indoors this season? Make sure to air out your house! Not only does it help ventilate unwanted paint fumes, but it also ensures your interiors don’t get too hot or humid and cause surfactant leaching.

Why Is It Bad to Paint in Extreme Heat?

Painting your home in extreme heat can have detrimental effects on the overall quality and durability of your home painting project. Here’s why it’s a bad idea to paint your home in temperatures above 95 degrees and in direct sunlight:

1. Rapid Drying

High temperatures can cause paint to dry too quickly. This rapid drying prevents the paint from properly leveling and bonding to the surface, leading to an uneven finish with visible brush or roller marks. These imperfections can mar the appearance of your painted surfaces.

2. Poor Adhesion

Paint needs time to adhere to the surface it’s applied to. In extremely hot conditions, the paint might not have sufficient time to bond properly with the underlying material. This weak adhesion can lead to peeling, flaking, or cracking of the paint over time.

3. Blistering

Intense heat can cause the solvent or moisture in the paint to evaporate too quickly, creating bubbles or blisters on the surface. These blisters can eventually rupture, leaving unsightly craters in the paint.

4. Uneven Application

Extreme heat can cause paint to dry before it has a chance to spread evenly, leading to uneven color and texture on the painted surface. This can be especially problematic on larger surfaces like walls and ceilings.

5. Difficulty Mixing

High temperatures can alter the consistency of paint, making it harder to mix thoroughly. This can result in uneven color or texture throughout your paint job.

Schedule Your Residential Painting Service This Summer!

Due to the difficulties of painting in summer weather, it’s always best to enlist the help of a professional painting service who has years of experience managing paint in extreme heat. If you’re ready to get started on your summer painting projects, count on your local PAINT CORPS! All of our locations are owned and operated by U.S. Military Veterans, so you can rest assured you have someone trustworthy and dedicated to service working at your home. Call today to schedule your free, no-obligation quote!