Handy painting tips
It’s not just about the stroke of the brush, but dry surfaces
THROWING a fresh coat of paint whether it is for the interior or exterior of the house, is a project that can be exciting and one that could depend highly on the weather.
You would often find yourself checking weather forecasts, hoping for the skies to be crystal clear, blue and sunny, so the painting adventure can begin
So it can be very helpful to have a guide on whether you can paint during seasons that are not so perfect because paint and water aren’t the greatest partners.
The question of whether you can paint on a rainy or semi-rainy day and whether the paint’s colour and texture will be affected are some things to consider, as you do not want your time and money to go to waste.
An article by ‘The Spruce’, suggested never painting when the surface is wet and when it has been recently wet, however, interior painting is usually fine.
While low temperatures can stall paint curing, it was also stated that you can paint if the surface has not been affected by humidity, but if condensation forms on the surface, it would be unwise to carry on.
“You can paint both the exterior and interior of your house when it rains, but not with rain touching the painted surface,” the article read.
“This applies to the entire painting period — beginning with the initial unpainted (and dry) surface to the eventual fully cured painted surface.
“Interior surfaces can be painted when it is raining outside, as long as rain does not reach the inside of the house.
“Since it is common to open the windows while painting, be careful that rain does not splash through open windows or screens onto painted window sills or walls.”
During humid conditions of a rainy day than on a dry, sunny day, exterior and interior surfaces can take longer for the paint to dry.
“Many experts recommend against applying paint even at the slightest hint of rain. But if you live in a rain-prone area, this is usually not possible,” the article read.
Professional painters especially cannot afford to stop exterior painting every time a rain cloud comes onto the horizon.
“Painting season is determined by climatic conditions such as moisture and temperature, not by terms like fall or winter.
“As long as you are safely within those climactic boundaries, painting season can be considered.”
The article said an exterior wet wall may require four hours of drying time in direct sunlight and temperatures at or above 72 degrees Fahrenheit (22 degrees Celsius) to be fully dry for painting.
“Ideally, you would want to wait a full day for the surface to dry.
“Even if the flat surfaces have dried, other areas might not be, such as sections that are hidden from the sun, trim and moulding, hairline cracks in the siding and nail holes.
“A common scenario, you touch the wall and it feels dry. But when you run your brush across a nail hole, it releases built-up water.
“If you do not catch this right away, the water drips down your newly painted surface, creating light streaks. The only cure for this problem is an additional coat of paint.”
The article adds that temperature and moisture work in conjunction with each other and the lower the temperature, the longer it will take for your exterior surface to dry.
“Will temperatures drop below minimums? Do not paint if the prediction is for temperatures to drop below the minimum within 10 hours of the paint application. Check the paint can label for the temperature recommendations.
“It is difficult to fix a painted surface that has not yet cured but that has been rained on. The water forms rivulets down the painted surface, affecting both the paint’s colour and its texture.
“The best way to fix this is to wait until the paint has fully dried. Next, cut away the raised lines of paint with a straightedge razor.
“The affected area may need light sanding. After you have smoothed the surface back down again, the surface must be repainted.”